Campaigners rally against ExxonMobil

SOLIDARITY campaigners protested in central London on Wednesday night against ExxonMobil's successful attempt to freeze Venezuelan assets as part of a compensation dispute.

After gathering outside an office block owned by the oil giant's British subsidiary Esso, the 20-plus protesters marched to the Royal Courts of Justice, where ExxonMobil had been granted the assets freeze and where the case was to be continued on the following Friday and Wednesday.

ExxonMobil has launched a $36 billion (£18.5bn) lawsuit against Venezuela and has won court orders in Britain, the Netherlands and the US to freeze up to $12 billion (£6.1bn) of assets. Venezuela has responded by stopping oil sales to the company, accusing it of "judicial terrorism" and acting as "a spearhead for imperialism."

A spokesman for Hands Off Venezuela, which organised the protest, called ExxonMobil's position "provocative and dangerous" and added that "it's common knowledge that Exxon is the power behind George Bush, who has made overthrowing Hugo Chavez his top priority before leaving office."

The spokesman promised that the campaign "will continue to put pressure on ExxonMobil and the British courts to end this legal circus and send a message to the company that it's time to get its hands off Venezuela's oil."