Unity State Leaders Welcome Investigation into War Crimes by OMV AG Former Executives
Unity State leaders have welcomed the recent request for Austrian Prosecution to open an investigation against former executives of OMV AG for complicity in war crimes in Block 5A. This follows a criminal complaint submitted by the Austrian Centre for the Enforcement of Human Rights International (CEHRI) and the Dutch Peace Movement PAX on April 23rd, 2024.
Gizam Moses, Programme Officer of Civil Society Coalition on Natural Resources (CSCNR), emphasized the importance of holding all entities involved accountable for their actions. He stated, “We are confident that the Austrian Prosecutors shall refuse to condone international crimes by a corporate entity within the Austrian Jurisdiction. The right to remedy for the crimes is of a moral and ethical international responsibility to promote respect for human rights and accountability for rights violators.”
Youth Representative Ann Reagan Tut expressed her belief that justice would be served to the perpetrators, serving as a warning to any company considering violating human rights in oil-producing areas. Hon. John Manyiew Nhial, a Member of Parliament in the Unity State Legislative Assembly, commended CSCNR for organizing the update meeting and stressed the importance of information dissemination to the communities.
The Unity State community is hopeful that justice will be delivered, and the victims will finally see their rights to remedy addressed in this ongoing pursuit of accountability for past atrocities.
