URGENT ACTION MESSAGE
Regarding shareholder resolution directed at
ExxonMobil Corporation.
The resolution has been introduced by New York
City's pension funds. We are in the process of circulating it to
networks of academics and others who likely invest with TIAA-CREF
(a major target for the resolution "vote yes" campaign).
As university faculty and staff, you likely have
investment funds with TIAA-CREF. As an investor, you have the ability
to encourage fund managers to vote "YES" on upcoming resolutions
concerning the Indonesia operations of ExxonMobil by calling TIAA-CREF's
CEO Herbert Allison at 800-842-2733 or 212-490-9000. Calls are best,
but otherwise email [email protected].
As a major institutional investor managing $330
billion in pension funds from educational, medical, and other professional
communities, TIAA-CREF wields enormous clout with the companies
in which it invests; its vote on this resolution matters!
The proposed resolution calls for ExxonMobil management
to review and report to shareholders concerning the potential investor
risks and liabilities resulting from corporate payments to the Indonesian
military (Tentara Nasional Indonesia or TNI). ExxonMobil reportedly
makes annual payments of $6 million for "protection" of its natural
gas operation in Aceh.
BACKGROUND
a) ExxonMobil currently faces a lawsuit representing
families and victims of torture and murder by TNI troops stationed
at ExxonMobil's Aceh facilities;
b) Human rights investigators and journalists
have reported that the TNI has used ExxonMobil facilities to torture
its victims and used company equipment to dig mass graves for burial
of murder victims.
Urge TIAA-CREF to vote "YES" on the ExxonMobil
resolution.
Distribute this information to other TIAA-CREF
investors, especially to colleagues and other pension fund holders.
Inform TIAA-CREF that ExxonMobil must reconsider its support of
the Indonesian military.
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EXXONMOBIL CORPORATION
Resolution Submitted by William C. Thompson, Jr.,
Comptroller, City of New York, on behalf of the Boards of Trustees
of the New York City Pension Funds
WHEREAS, we believe that transnational corporations
operating in countries with repressive governments, ethnic conflict,
weak rule of law, endemic corruption, or poor labor and environmental
standards face serious risks to their reputation and share value
if they are, in any way, seen to be responsible for, or complicit
in, human rights violations; and,
WHEREAS, ExxonMobil has extensive natural gas
operations in the Aceh region of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia;
and,
WHEREAS, there have been numerous reports of human
rights abuses against the local population by the Indonesian military
in connection with security operations conducted in the area of
ExxonMobil's operations; and,
WHEREAS, due to its relationship with the Indonesian
military, the corporation has been named as lead defendant in a
pending lawsuit, John Doe 1,et al., vs. ExxonMobil Corporation,
et al., filed in the Federal District Court for the District of
Columbia, on behalf of Indonesian citizens who allegedly were victims
of human rights abuses by military forces guarding ExxonMobil's
facilities; and,
WHEREAS, it has been reported that ExxonMobil
has provided logistical as well as financial support for Indonesian
military forces stationed in the area; and,
WHEREAS, since 2002, ExxonMobil has been a participant
in the dialogue on the U.S.-U.K. Voluntary Principles on Security
and Human Rights, which call on companies operating internationally
to urge local security forces to provide security in a manner consistent
with human rights and ethical conduct; and
WHEREAS, ExxonMobil's Corporate Citizenship policy
states that the provision of security should be "consistent with
the law and respect for human rights",
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that shareholders request
that management review and report to shareholders, by September,
2005, on the corporation's security arrangements with the Indonesian
government and private security forces, including support, both
monetary and in kind, to the Indonesian government and military.
Furthermore, it is requested that this review and report to shareholders
should be conducted with a particular reference to potential financial
and reputational risks incurred by the company as a result of these
relationships.
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