Nigeria to investigate political killings Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit Mon, 7 Jun 1999 08:55:21 -0400 Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People Port Harcourt, Nigeria Ph(+234) 84 230 250 e-mail mosop@phca.linkserve.com International office:, 3 Albion Place, Galena Road, London W6OLT U.K. Tel. (+44) (0)181 563 8614 Fax. (+44) (0)181 563 8615 e-mail: mosop@gn.apc.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MONDAY 7TH June, London UK Nigeria to Investigate Assassinations The Nigerian minority rights group MOSOP has welcomed news on the eve of a meeting with the new President Olesugun Obasanjo that Nigeria is to investigate political killings under the rule of General Sani Abacha. This is the time for General Obasanjo to confirm to the Ogoni people that the inquiry will include all of the circumstances surrounding the execution of MOSOP President Ken Saro Wiwa and eight of our colleagues, said Acting President Ledum Mitee today. When he meets MOSOP leaders on Thursday he can finally assure the Ogoni people that no effort will be spared to obtain the truth about a military tribunal which was condemned for judicial murder by British Prime Minister John Major. The President has taken a courageous first step in appointing Justice Chukwudifu Oputa as head of the investigating panel. He needs to reinforce this initiative by giving the panel a mandate to investigate the wave of killings and abuses which occurred in Ogoni under General Abacha. The military occupation of Ogoni and the trial of Ogoni leaders were the subject of investigations by the United Nations Secretary General, the British Commonwealth, and numerous non government organizations all of which called for an urgent re-examination of the actions of the military in Ogoni. Subsequent to the execution of Ogoni leaders during the meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government in Auckland New Zealand a wave of assassinations and arrests swept Nigeria including the killing of Kudirat Abiola, wife to detained President Moshod Abiola and the detention of General Obasanjo and others for alleged coup plots. No investigation of this kind has meaning unless it has the teeth to act on its findings. We hope that General Obasanjo will also be able to give the panel full authority to prosecute those found to have been involved into these systematic abuses. This panel may be crucial to the future of the Niger delta. Confidence in the rule of law has almost been eliminated by soldiers seeking to bury evidence of environmental and social abuse by attacking all who have been peaceful advocates for their people.  On Thursday 10th we will be appealing to General Obasanjo to begin to heal the wounds of our people and our neighbours. He can show that he will deal with the Niger Delta with integrity by doing justice to the Ogoni people. The steps we have consistently requested and which we believe he can swiftly meet are: ? The release for burial of the bodies of Ken Saro Wiwa, Dr Barinem Kiobel, Saturday Duobee, Paul Levura, Nordu Eawo, Felix Nuate, Daniel Gbokon, John Kpuinen, and Baribor Bera and all of those whose bodies were withheld from proper burial by the forces occupying Ogoni from 1994. ? An immediate investigation into the environmental damage done in Ogoni due to reckless oil exploitation by the government and operator Shell Petroleum. ? Appropriate provision for compensation for the victims of attacks by military and para military groups against villages across Ogoni. General Obasanjo can be assured that all Nigeria and many of her closest friends will be watching how he treats the people of Ogoni and will draw their conclusions on the prospects for freedom within our country. Editors Notes The trial of Ken Saro Wiwa and fourteen other MOSOP leaders which included then Deputy President of MOSOP Ledum Mitee was conducted before a military tribunal rejected as fundamentally flawed by observers which included Michael Birmbaum QC acting for the British Bar Association and Article 19. MOSOP has continued to call for a genuine investigation into the murder of four Ogoni chiefs which led to the arrest of MOSOPs leaders and the detention without trial of scores of MOSOP activists. For more Information: Port Harcourt (+234) 84 230 250 Chris Asigbo London (+44) 181 563 8614 / (+44) 7887 504 014 mobile (Chris Newsom) ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytaf-06.09.99-23:55:56-3296