Civic Groups Sound Alarm Over Tanzania's Crackdown on EACOP Dissenters

Tanzania is experiencing a fearful atmosphere caused by strict measures enforced against individuals who oppose the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). The suppression tactics reached an alarming level when Tanzanian police summoned and questioned nine Project-Affected People (PAPs) from EACOP-affected villages for several hours on March 11th.

After having their phones seized, these people were subjected to incessant interrogation regarding their opposition to the project and alleged links with civil society organizations that raised alarms over human rights violations and environmental hazards posed by EACOP. Despite being accompanied by lawyers for their second summon on March 14th, no charges have been pressed, leaving a cloud of uncertainty looming over them.

The frightful increase in these events mirrors a previous occurrence involving a Tanzanian activist during COP28 last year, heightening worries about organized repression of opposing views. StopEACOP and global human rights organizations are raising the alarm and calling for urgent action to stop harassment and intimidation of PAPs, as well as advocates who are rightfully expressing themselves through free speech or peaceful gatherings.

EACOP leaders, TotalEnergies, and CNOOC are urged to take immediate action to denounce these violations while valuing community rights and environmental preservation above all else.

The international community anxiously observes the controversial project taking shape, highlighting the imperative for global human rights organizations to oversee and probe these unsettling advancements to safeguard those who express opposing views. Click on this link to read the complete statement and list of supporters.