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ACTION ALERT*****ACTION ALERT*****ACTION ALERT*****ACTION ALERT HELP STOP THE BLOODSHED IN THE NIGER DELTA, OIL COMPANY CRITICS TARGETTED BY MILITARY
5 JANUARY, 1999 SUMMARY As many as 240 Ijaws have been reported killed by the security forces in Nigeria over the past few days for non-violently protesting against oil companies in the Niger Delta. Thousands of troops have been ordered into Ijawland, targeting key environmental and human rights activists. Dozens of people have been imprisoned; thousands of civilians have fled the violence. Oil companies have continued operating behind the shield of the Nigerian military. BACKROUND: THE KAIAMA DECLARATION After 40 years of environmental pollution, and little or no compensation, the Ijaw community mobilized against the oil companies late last year. Just like the Ogoni before them, the Ijaw demanded their rights to clean air, water and land and the right to peaceful protest. On December 11, 1998, the Ijaw Youth Council issued the "KAIAMA DECLARATION," a call for solidarity from groups around the world to join the Ijaw in a non-violent campaign for environmental justice targeting the oil and gas companies operating on Ijaw land. The Ijaw had had enough and asked the companies to extinguish their flares and leave the Delta by midnight, December 30, or they would shut down the oil fields. When the oil companies ignored their declaration, they launched "Operation Climate Change" and last week shut down 40 percent of the gas flares and oil flowstations in Ijaw land. They want to make it 100 percent to send a clear message of protest to the industry with actions set to continue until January 10th. But the response from the military has been brutal, with unconfirmed reports that 240 people have been killed. On December 30, 1998, the Military Administrator of Bayelsa State of Nigeria, Lt. Col. Paul Obi, declared a state of emergency, suspending all civil liberties and imposing a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the entire state. The military administrator singled out Chicoco (the pan-Niger Delta rights movement), Ijaw Youths Council and the Egbesu Boys of Africa for unspecified "punishment." Though the state of emergency has since been lifted, it remains unlawful to peacefully assemble in the Niger Delta. Thousands of troops have been massed in towns such as Yenagoa, Brass and Warri, eerily reminiscent of the brutal Ogoni saga of 1993 in which thousands were killed. In Ogoni, the oil companies colluded with the military in silencing their critics. Allegedly, industry officials are privately urging a strong military response to the Kaiama Declaration, too. We can expect more repression unless outside pressure is placed on the Nigerian junta to stop killing peaceful protestors and the oil companies to call off their soldiers. OIL AND GAS: PROPPING UP THE MILITARY Oil giants like Shell, Chevron and Mobil are among those who drill and export Nigeria's 2 million barrels of oil per day from the Niger Delta, making billions in profits from the land of the Ijaw and other oppressed minorities. Ninety percent of oil revenues goes directly to the illegitimate military junta. These companies are some of the most powerful financial backers of the brutal military regime in Nigeria. WHAT YOU CAN DO The oil companies must hear from you if we are to get the Nigerian dictatorship to listen to the pleas of the Ijaws, to stop the killings, and to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the crisis in the Niger Delta. Please write AT LEAST ONE of the following CEOs of the multinational oil companies, and demand (sample letter follows): 1) That they immediately shut down their flow stations, oil wells, and gas flares and begin discussions with the people to avoid unnecessary conflict; 2) Do all in their power to encourage the Nigerian military to peacefully resolve this crisis in dialogue with the true leaders of the oppressed ethnic minorities. Sample Letter (addresses follow) To: Jack Little, President, Shell
Oil ADDRESSES Shell (please write the appropriate Shell office nearest you): Mr. Jack Little, President Mark Moody-Stuart Shell Nederland Verkoopmaatschappij B.V. Shell INTERNATIONAL PETROLEUM CO.
LTD. ********************** Kenneth T. Derr, Chairman and CEO *********************** Lucio A. Noto, Chairman and CEO *********************** Peter I. Bijur, Chairman and CEO ********************************* Return to top |
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