An European NGO called on oil companies and the government of South Sudan to respect and fulfil the right to compensation of oil production victims as established in the CPA and in the Interim Constitution.
European Coalition on Oil in Sudan (ECOS) programme officer Kathelijne Schenke told SCR News that the victims affected by the oil contracts during the war times are entitled to compensation.She added that the Transitional Constitution dropped the right to compensation to people affected by oil drilling and that there is a real possibility that the compensation rights are forgotten after independence.
Ms. Schenke added that ECOS has been lobbying both the SPLM and the NCP to include the right to compensation in their post-referendum negotiations but it has failed so far.
Ms. Schenke argued that an once established right cannot be negotiated away adding that the communities affected might remain dissatisfied by their governments regarding justice and reconciliation.