30 May 2006
Tibetans challenge Bombardier to adopt a human rights policy
(rushprnews) Tibetan exiles and their supporters, carrying placards and banners, demonstrated at the annual general meeting of Bombardier, the Canadian aerospace, engineering and automotive company in opposition to the company’s continued involvement in the controversial Golmud-Lhasa railway. Activists claim that Bombardier has not conducted human rights, environmental or socio-cultural impact assessments as promoted by international standards of corporate social responsibility. An international coalition of Tibetan rights groups have been campaigning for Bombardier to withdraw from the project which will link Tibet and China by rail for the first time, thereby strengthening China’s control over the region. Shareholders are being urged to vote in favour of a resolution calling on Bombardier to adopt a human rights policy and take concrete measures to ensure the railway will not further threaten the Tibetan people and their environment. The board and senior management of Bombardier are opposing the resolution.