April 30, 1999-Occidental Petroleum Stockholders' Meeting

16 Mar 1999 

Dear CSN:

I would like to thank your organization for compiling the various 
reports surrounding this terrible time in the lives of the indigenous 
people, the families of Terri, Ingrid and Lahe, the supporters of the 
indigenous people and the environment.

Because of your efforts, I and the public at large have been able to 
hear the voices of many people from all sectors surrounding this 
tragedy. 

I, my family and tribal families have been grieving since we were 
notified by Atossa Soltani of Amazon Watch in Malibu, California on 
February 26, 1999 of this terrible tragedy. The entire state of 
California is in mourning. Our tribes up and down the state are 
hurting for our sisters Ingrid and Lahe and brother Teri. They stood 
for who we are, and to strike them down as they were, is to strike us 
all. In their hearts, was our blood, as their hearts beat for us all.

In the last year the U'wa people have become a part of our family as 
was Teri. And as terrible as the negtive impact that Occidental has 
unleased against the U'wa and our people, it was because of 
Occidental's ignorance and refusal to recognize the indigenous people 
as a part of the human race that we came to know the U'wa. Our 
people are being negatively impacted by Occidental Oil as well.

On April 30, 1999 Occidental Oil will be holding their annual 
stockholder's meeting in Santa Monica, CA where many of the 
indigenous people and environmental people will be gathering for a 
press conference. At present we are also seeking Occidental 
Stockholders who will provide a proxy to indigenous people and 
environmental supporters in order to attend the stockholder's 
meeting in the Santa Monica Auditorium so that we can speak to the 
stockholders, board members and also to vote. 

Last year, 6 of us received proxies to enter the auditorium and 
attend the stockholders meeting. Roberto Cobaria, President of the 
U'wa Council, Edgar also of Bogota, Columbia, myself and several of 
Amazon Watch organizers. The auditorium held approximately 1,000 
stockholders. As the meeting unfolded, the stockholders were told of 
the great work Occidental was achieving in various countries, their 
commitment to excellence, their code of business ethics, their 
concientious relationship with indigenous people they came in 
contact with and the unexpected financial return they were 
receiving, much more than they had anticipated for the organization 
and stockholders.

The latter part of the meeting gave the stockholders an opportunity 
to address the board members and the stockholders in attendance. 
When the 6 of us spoke, the entire body of stockholders in that 
auditorium turned their attention to us. Questions were then being 
asked, why were they not informed, why was this information not 
provided to the stockholders. After the meeting, many of the 
stockholders came up to us, apologized and asked for more 
information.

This year, the atmosphere will be very different and more difficult 
because of this horrendous tragedy that has taken place. One of the 
people will be missing - Teri. Last year, the atmosphere outside the 
auditorium was very frightening to me, it was like an armed camp. I 
never saw so many police in one place. Uniformed police on foot in 
pairs, with walkie talkies, with dogs, in vehicles. Who would think 
that an American corporation's stockholders meeting required so 
much security. The quetions began to surface, Is Occidental afraid, of 
what and why??? As I went up to pass the security desk 
accompanied by Floyd Westerman, I noted that I was the only one 
who had her entire purse searched.

We will speak to the board members and stockholders to bring the 
message of the tragic impact their corporation is inflicting on the 
U'wa, indigenous people around the world and the environment. Also 
that they have the ability to turn that negative impact around and 
change that negtive image Occidental Oil has, provided they, the 
stockholders bring conciousness to their organization.

Again, thank you for your sensitivity and concern in bringing about 
mass awareness. Also, our household has only had e-mail, a 
computer and network services for only 1 week, it has really made a 
diffrence. 

Dee Dominguez, California Indian
Kitanemuk/Chumash/Yokuts
deedomi@gte.net
tele (626) 339-6785
fax (626)339-9715