==================================
Atossa Soltani, the director of
Amazon Watch, said her group had
asked Occidental to "formally and
indefinitely suspend" the pipeline
project.
==================================
_______________________	
LOS ANGELES TIMES

Thursday, 23 April 1998


5 arrested in protest against Occidental 
---------------------------------------- 

Five environmentalists protesting Occidental Petroleum Corp.'s plan to build 
an oil pipeline in Colombia were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of 
trespassing and vandalism.

Activists from Amazon Watch and Action Resource Center splashed fake 
blood on the exterior of the oil company's headquarters and carried a 
"pipeline" of eight oil barrels welded together into the lobby of the building, 
located in the 10000 block of Wilshire Boulevard, said Sgt. William 
Guerrero of the Los Angeles Police Department. 

Sealed inside the barrels were three activists who had to be extricated by 
the Los Angeles Fire Department, Guerrero said. 

At the same time, two demonstrators rappelled from the Oppenheimer 
Tower across the street and unfurled a 1,500-square-foot banner protesting 
Occidental's plan to build an oil pipeline through the homeland of the U'wa 
Indians.

More than 75 law enforcement officers were sent to the scene in response 
to the 11 a.m. demonstration, snarling traffic along the boulevard until 
after 3 p.m., when the climbers surrendered to authorities. 

Atossa Soltani, the director of Amazon Watch, said her group had asked 
Occidental to "formally and indefinitely suspend" the pipeline project. 

Occidental officials could not be reached for comment. 

Copyright 1998 Times Mirror Company