Appeal for Public Trial for Henry Okah and Edward Atatah

cork | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Monday April 21, 2008 22:59 by Philip Ikurusi - Niger Delta Awareness

Henry Okah and Edward Atatah are undergoing trial in secret and this is a call for a fair and open trial.

This letter along with supporting documents is to draw your attention to the current situation in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria with specific reference to the ongoing trials of Henry Okah alleged leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and his colleague Edward Atatah.

In recent times the Niger Delta Area of about 20 million inhabitants has come to be recognised as an enclave of major social conflict. The political, economic and social dynamics of the region can only be understood in the context of ongoing oil exploration and exploitation.

The relentless exploitation of the natural resources of the area has given rise to social unrest, which is primarily aimed at seeking redress for and alleviation of over 50 yrs of neglect, deprivation and ecological devastation. Successive governments have dealt with the region unfairly, perfecting the art of deceiving the people of the region with development plans lacking action while systematically eliminating perceived enemies and giving the International Community the impression that all is well.

In 1995 Ken Saro Wiwa, leader of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) and 8 colleagues were executed as a direct result of their activities campaigning for redress, following these executions thousands of people are dying per year in armed conflict in the Niger Delta.

Okah and Atatah were arrested in Angola and later extradited to Nigeria to stand trial for treason and gun running. They have been denied all basic human rights including that of trial in an open court. Parallels can be drawn here between the trial of Ken Saro Wiwa and his comrades in 1995, the difference here being that whereas the struggle at this time was peaceful, since this time, in the absence of any significant changes in the situation the struggle has escalated to an armed one.

Our concern is that if Okah and Atatah are tried unfairly and executed it will escalate the situation still further, driving oil prices higher and adding to the conflict in the region with all the human suffering and environmental damage that this will entail.

We are asking you:
· To call on the Nigerian government to grant Okah and Atatah a
fair and open trial.
· To seek for justice and fundamental human rights for the people of the region through the relevant international bodies by:
a) Sending an independent team to investigate all the root causes of this conflict
b) Working to bring about dialogue aimed at bringing lasting peace and justice to the region

We thank you for taking the time to read this letter and welcome your input, actions or correspondence on the matter.

Yours sincerely,

PHILIP IKURUSI
For Niger Delta Awareness
Coordinator (Republic of Ireland)