UNPO PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
- June 29 1993 -
*Ogoni Demonstrate as Leader Arrested and Army Cracks Down*
Ogoni has been rocked by large demonstrations in the aftermath of last
week's arrest of the Ogoni leader, Mr Ken Saro-Wiwa. The Army has
responded by effectively sealing off Ogoni land, in south-east Nigeria.
On Tuesday, June 22, news raced through Ogoni concerning the arrest of Mr
Saro-Wiwa. In spontaneous demonstrations, in Bori, a major Ogoni city,
hundreds of Ogoni turned out, demanding the release of their leader.
Nigerian police opened fire on the demonstrators with live ammunition and
tear gas. The demonstrators were quickly dispersed with numerous people
injured.
In a second demonstration, on Wednesday, June 23, in Bori, fully loaded
military trucks and armed personnel carriers were called in to break up
the demonstrators. In the shooting that followed several people were injured.
Dornu Fimia, an Ogoni woman, was seriously wounded when shot in the
thighs.
As of Tuesday, June 29, she is still in a critical condition in a Port
Harcourt hospital. Two other Ogoni men were also wounded and hospitalized
by Nigerian Army fire: Barile Tabara and Fred Idam.
Those arrested included Needam Lucky Deeso, Friday Deezia Iddhe and
Ambrose Doopee. As yet there are no details as to charges laid against
them.
Immediately following the demonstrations the military dramatically
increased its presence in Ogoni. All the major entry points into Ogoni,
Eleme, Elelenwo and Onne junctions, are now patrolled by heavy troop and
police contingents. All Ogoni passing through these checkpoints are being
subjected to searches and harassment.
In telephone call to Ogoni, placed today, sources say large Army patrols
can be seen today in Ogoni land and particularly Bori, the focus of
recent troubles.
The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), in a press release
from Port Harcourt, dated June 24, has called on "the international
community to bring pressure to bear on the Nigerian Federal Government
for the release of Ken Saro-Wiwa and lifting of the siege in Ogoni land."
Mr Saro-Wiwa, spokesman for MOSOP and Vice Chairperson of the UNPO was
arrested on Monday, June 21, by the Rivers State Security Services. He is
currently being held at the O'Welli Central Criminal Investigations
Department.
Court proceedings are under way, at Isokpo, to secure the release of the
Ogoni leader. As yet he has not been officially charged with any offence
under a current law.
The Ogoni people are a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples
Organization (UNPO). The UNPO is an organization of nations and peoples
that are not adequately represented in international organizations, such
as the United Nations.
FOR MORE INFORMATION : UNPO International Secretariat: TELEPHONE
+31-70-360 3318, FAX : +31-70-360 3346. E-MAIL : unponl@antenna.nl
Richard Boele, Pauline Overeem. [UNPO]
MIC/1993/PR.14