UNPO Member Update
Tuesday, July 6, 1993
*Saro-Wiwa Denied Food - More Ogoni Arrests*
Mr Ken Saro-Wiwa, in a hand written letter dated June 29, 1993, to the
Commissioner of Police, Imo State, has protested his denial of food.
According to the letter, Mr Saro-Wiwa and his two fellow MOSOP prisoners,
have received, from the authorities, only three meals in almost a week of
imprisonment.
"All requests for meals have received negative answers," writes Mr Saro-
Wiwa.
"Already my health is in decline and I am under instruction to have special
meals in consideration of my health," continues the letter from Owerri, Imo
State.
Attempts are being made to feed Mr Saro-Wiwa by sending food from Port
Harcourt. How much of that food reaches the imprisoned MOSOP leaders is at
present uncertain. Because of Mr Saro-Wiwa's deteriorating health attempts
are being made to move him to Owerri General Hospital.
Mr Saro-Wiwa is denied access to writing materials. Various documents and
reading materials, brought by visitors, have been confiscated. The number of
visitors he receives each day is also restricted.
Mr Ken Saro-Wiwa, Ogoni leader and vice-chairperson of UNPO was arrested on
Monday June 21, 1993. He was initially detained in Port Harcourt, then moved
to Lagos and then back to Port Harcourt. Uncertain of the security situation
in Rivers State, Security Forces finally moved him to Owerri, where they are
being held.
In Ogoni itself, three more arrests were reported by the Movement of the
Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) on Thursday July 1, 1993. As yet their
names are unknown.
Armed Nigerian soldiers, moved into Ogoni in the last week, have been
forcing their way into Ogoni homes to steal food. The Ogoni have refused to
sell the Nigerian soldiers food. Military road blocks are still in place on
the Port Harcourt-Ogoni road.
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.
[UNPO] MIC/1993/PR.14