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Nigerian action alert (fwd)




Date: Mon, 22 Jul 1996 16:27:01 -0800
From: Wood Reduction Clearinghouse <lesswood@igc.apc.org>
To: eaf-l@LEBA.NET
Subject: Nigerain action alert
>------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
>Date:          Wed, 17 Jul 1996 00:33:53 -0700 (PDT)
>From:          Steve Kretzmann <skretzmann@igc.apc.org>
>To:            cbesf@igc.apc.org, chrisclarke@igc.apc.org, cmbrown@igc.apc.org,
>               dkgordon@igc.apc.org, francesca@igc.apc.org,
>ggundrey@igc.apc.org,
>               INFOE-K@link-gl.dinoco.de, nmorgan@igc.apc.org,
>               REGENWALD@UMWELT.ECOLINK.ORG, rhayes@igc.apc.org,
>urgewald@gn.apc.org
>Subject:       ACTION ALERT : Shell and human rights in Nigeria
>Cc:            bep@igc.apc.org, bowhunt@igc.apc.org, elawchris@igc.apc.org,
>               jyoung@igc.apc.org, ktreakle@igc.apc.org,
>               nomining@keshena.wi.frontiercomm.net, pmhocker@msn.net,
>               saiic@igc.apc.org, sneej@igc.apc.org
>
> ************************************************************
>  PROJECT underGROUND                             OilWatch
> ************************************************************
>                     [URGENT ACTION ALERT]
>
>"SECOND SARO-WIWA" COULD FACE DEATH FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGNING
>
>         TELL SHELL TO INTERVENE FOR NNIMMO BASSEY'S FREEDOM
>
>
>"Our mistake in Nigeria was that we became the government"
>    -Murray Jones, Environmental Advisor, Shell International
>         #############################################
>
>Quito -- July 15, 1996
>
>Nnimmo Bassey, a leading Nigerian environmentalist and human
>rights campaigner, was detained on 5th June as he was leaving the
>country to attend a West African Friends of the Earth meeting in
>Ghana.  Bassey has led efforts within Nigeria to catalogue
>environmental damage caused by the oil companies (in particular,
>Shell), to document ongoing corporate collusion with the Nigerian
>military, and to organize an empower citizens through the
>establishment of Community Resource Centers in areas of oil
>company activity.
>
>Amnesty International - who released an urgent action about the
>Bassey case on June 13 - believes that although Bassey may not be
>officially charged with a recognizable criminal offence, he may
>become a prisoner of conscience. Amnesty fears that he may be
>facing ill-treatment in detention.
>
>Project Underground and Oilwatch believe that Mr. Bassey's arrest
>is a direct result of his environmental campaigning.  Although Mr.
>Bassey has been politically active in Nigeria for years, it is
>only since becoming a high-profile, vocal critic of the oil
>industry that he has been imprisoned.  Pressure brought on the
>Nigerian government has thus far been ineffective in securing Mr.
>Bassey's release.  Due to the ongoing close collaboration between
>the Nigerian government and Shell, we hold Shell accountable for
>the future health and safety of Nnimmo Bassey.
>
>Background information
>
>Nnimmo Bassey (37), chairman of the Nigerian organization
>Environmental Rights Action, Secretary-General of the Association
>of Nigerian Authors, and a leading member of OilWatch
>International, was arrested on June 5 while traveling to attend a
>meeting of West-African sections of Friends of the Earth in Accra,
>Ghana.
>
>Mr. Bassey is being detained under the auspices of the State
>Security Decree Number 2 of 1984, which provides for the
>indefinite incommunicado detention without charge or trial of any
>person deemed to have threatened the security or economy of the
>Nigerian state.
>
>We further understand that the only entry in his file reads
>"intercepted person".  No formal charges have as yet been filed
>against Mr. Bassey.  Ken Saro-Wiwa was held for 9 months before
>being formally charged, and subsequently illegally tried and
>tragically executed.
>
>Despite repeated requests, Shell publicly refused to intervene in
>Mr. Saro-Wiwa's case until it was too late.  Privately, Shell
>indicated at the time that they would help to free Saro-Wiwa only
>if protests against Shell were called off.  Repeatedly, Shell has
>maintained that it is not their place to interfere in the domestic
>politics of any nation.
>
>Shell continues to publicly adhere to this position despite the
>following facts:
>
>     -Shell admits to importing arms for the Nigerian military;
>
>     -Nigerian military officers admit that they have been paid
>     directly by Shell;
>
>     -Shell has provided logistical support to armed units of the
>     Nigerian police and military who have shot anti-Shell
>     protestors;
>
>     -Key witnesses for the prosecution at Ken Saro-Wiwa's trial
>     have signed sworn affidavits indicating that they were bribed
>     by the Nigerian military and Shell to testify against
>     Saro-Wiwa;
>
>     -Brian Anderson, Head of Shell Nigeria, admits there is a
>     "black hole of corruption", in Shell's operations;
>
>     -Shell continues to be the single largest source of income
>     for the brutal Nigerian regime.
>
>As the largest foreign investor in Nigeria, Shell has the unique
>opportunity and responsibility to intercede on Mr. Bassey's
>behalf.  In attempts to deflect criticism after the death of Ken
>Saro-Wiwa, Shell pledged their support for the Universal
>Declaration of Human Rights and subsequently committed to Baroness
>Chalker of Wallasey to attempt to persuade General Abacha to take
>immediate steps towards a restoration of accountable democratic
>rule in Nigeria.
>
>Oilwatch and Project Underground remain concerned about Shell's
>environmental and social operations within Nigeria, particularly
>the high degree of militarization which permeates the areas in
>which Shell operates, and the fact that in early July, 5,000
>barrels of oil was spilled from the Nembe Creek pipeline.  Shell's
>actions in regard to Mr. Bassey's imprisonment will help to inform
>us all of their future intentions
>
>WHAT CAN YOU DO
>
>Now that it seems that the Nigerian authorities in Abuja have
>arrested Nnimmo Bassey in order to avoid "a second Ken Saro-Wiwa",
>WORLDWIDE ATTENTION TO HIS CASE IS URGENTLY NEEDED. Nnimmo
>Bassey's name has already been shown on banners at demonstrations
>on June 12 in Dublin, London and Washington.
>
>A.  PRESSURE ON SHELL IS URGENTLY NEEDED NOW!  Urge them to both
>publicly and privately:
>
>1) ask to be informed of the reasons for Nnimmo Bassey's
>detention;
>
>2) explain how their ongoing silence in this matter is consistent
>with their stated desire for Nigerian democracy;
>
>3) call for the immediate and unconditional release of Nnimmo
>Bassey.
>
>Address your letters to:
>
>Mr. Cor Herkstroter Chairman Committee of Group Managing Directors
>The Royal Dutch/Shell Company Carel van Bylandtlaan 30 2596 HR,
>The Hague The Netherlands FAX: 31 70 377 2616
>
>B. Hold demonstrations at your local Shell stations, urging the
>immediate release of Nnimmo Bassey, and the demilitarization and
>cleanup of Shell activities in Nigeria.
>
>Please keep us informed about all your activities.
>
>Contacts:
>
>Esperanza Martinez                      Steve Kretzmann OilWatch
>Secretariat                    PROJECT underGROUND
>oilwatch@acecol.ecx.ec                  skretzmann@igc.apc.org
>
>OilWatch is a global network of communities threatened by the
>petroleum industry.
>
>PROJECT underGROUND supports communities in their struggles with
>mining, oil, and gas corporations for environmental and human
>rights.
>
>PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS ALERT WIDELY
>
>END