Mark Thomas leads protest over dam project

Campaigning journalist Mark Thomas has led a group of protesters demonstrating against a construction group's involvement in a controversial dam project.

Around 60 demonstrators waved placards outside a central London hotel, where Amec is holding its annual meeting, to protest against the company's involvement in the Yusufeli dam project in Turkey.

Thomas and another protester stood behind a cardboard cut-out showing a naked businessman.

The cut-out was holding a briefcase and umbrella and wearing only socks with the slogan: "Exposed - get the naked truth behind corporate power."

The protesters, including members of Friends of the Earth, the Ilisu Dam Campaign and the Kurdish Human Rights Project, were kept behind barriers opposite the Radisson SAS Portman Hotel by about 20 police officers.

About 40 protesters used their rights as shareholders to attend the meeting to raise their concerns about the Yusufeli dam project.

Amec has a 46% shareholding in French company SPIE, which is leading the construction consortium planning to build the dam.

Amec withdrew from the consortium in March this year after a commercial review of the project.

Story filed: 11:18 Wednesday 8th May 2002