By Alfred and John Donovan
We have now published further parts of the deposition of Walter van de Vijver, the former Group Managing Director of the Royal Dutch Shell Group and Chief Executive of Shell EP. This is in connection with the Shell reserves fraud.
Some associated documents are marked “strictly confidential” and contain blunt criticism of Shell senior employees and how Shell proposes to pass the blame for misdeeds. There is also mention of “dirty washing”. It is a fascinating insight into senior management at Shell. Not a pretty sight. There is some duplication of documents we have already published.
Of particular interest in the 390 page deposition in the dramatic and emotional account of how Walter van de Vijver was pressurised into resigning. Read from page 35 onwards. A number of Shell notables were involved in the concerted plot to push him over the edge (apparently including Jeroen van der Veer). Basically it seems that there was an orderly queue of Shell directors waiting to enter his office every few minutes to knife him. He resigned as a result of the cumulative assault, shocked, humiliated and disgusted at the shabby inhuman treatment he received from his colleagues.
Frankly, we are staggered that Shell is allowing us to publish this amazing information on the open Internet. As a matter of courtesy we wrote to Michiel Brandjes before the publication of these confidential documents. He raised no objection. Perhaps Shell is pleased to get it all into the open?
Exhibit 289: Videotaped Deposition of former Royal Dutch Shell Group MD and Chief Executive of Shell Exploration & Production – Mr Walter van de Vijver, in Washington, D.C. 16 Wednesday, January 31st, 2007: 17 9:39 a.m. (first 390 pages)
http://www.shellnews.net/classactiondocs/365_2.pdf
Exhibit 290: Walter van de Vijver Deposition (70 pages)
http://www.shellnews.net/classactiondocs/ex290_365_3.pdf
Exhibit 291: Walter van de Vijver Deposition (65 pages)
http://www.shellnews.net/classactiondocs/ex291_365_4.pdf
Exhibit 292: Walter van de Vijver Deposition (60 pages)
http://www.shellnews.net/classactiondocs/ex292_365_5.pdf
Exhibit 293: Walter van de Vijver Deposition (65 pages)
http://www.shellnews.net/classactiondocs/ex293_365_6.pdf
Exhibit 294: Walter van de Vijver Deposition (61 pages)
http://www.shellnews.net/classactiondocs/ex294_365_7.pdf
Further parts of the Walter van de Vijver deposition and related documents will be published on Saturday 17November 2007
EBOOK TITLE: “SIR HENRI DETERDING AND THE NAZI HISTORY OF ROYAL DUTCH SHELL” – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
EBOOK TITLE: “JOHN DONOVAN, SHELL’S NIGHTMARE: MY EPIC FEUD WITH THE UNSCRUPULOUS OIL GIANT ROYAL DUTCH SHELL” – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.
EBOOK TITLE: “TOXIC FACTS ABOUT SHELL REMOVED FROM WIKIPEDIA: HOW SHELL BECAME THE MOST HATED BRAND IN THE WORLD” – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.
