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BAT Finally Sees the Light

Nov 6 2003

British American Tobacco (BAT) announced that it will finally withdraw from Burma today [1] following a campaign by the Burma Campaign UK, supported by Friends of the Earth. The company announced its intention to withdraw after following a formal request from UK Ministers earlier this year [2]. Friends of the Earth congratulates the Government for pressuring BAT to pull out of Burma. But the Government must take action to ensure that all UK companies behave responsibly all of the time.

BAT had insisted on operating in Burma despite repeated calls from Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi that foreign companies should pull out.

BAT's withdrawal represents a stark warning to other companies still supporting Burma's oppressive regime. Companies operating in Burma have not fulfilled their responsibilities to the Burmese people and continue to do business in the face of massive human rights abuses [3].

Friends of the Earth Corporates Campaigner Hannah Griffiths said:

"BAT has finally done the right thing, after having its arm twisted by Government. It is unacceptable that this UK company has repeatedly refused to take responsibility for the effects of its operations in Burma. British Companies like BAT will continue to act destructively while they can get away with it. The UKGovernment must force them to behave responsibly by introducing tough new laws to force all companies to operate in a socially and environmentally acceptable way."

Notes

[1] British American Tobacco has signed an agreement for the sale of its share in Rothmans of Pall Mall Myanmar Pte Limited (RPMM) to a Singapore based investment company.

[2] BAT chairman Martin Broughton met with Foreign Office Minister Mike O'Brien on 3 July 2003. BAT was asked to withdraw from Burma and to give a formal reply.

[3] Last year, the UK government also took the previously unprecedented step of calling on Premier Oil, another UK company that was operating in Burma, to withdraw. Premier withdrew in September 2003.

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