wfn.org | UN interventions Nigeria,Sri Lanka

[mr@wcc-coe.org]

World Council of Churches
Press Release
For Immediate Use
10 April 1997

WCC CALLS ON UN TO APPOINT SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON NIGERIA

The World Council of Churches (WCC) has called for the
appointment of a United Nations Special Rapporteur for Nigeria.

The call was made by Mr Clement John of the WCC's International
Affairs staff during an intervention at the 53rd Session of the
United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, late on
Wednesday night 9 April 1997.

Mr John told the Commission, *Ever since the present regime took
power [in Nigeria], there has been an ongoing disintegration of
the rule of law in the country*.  He added, *Arbitrary
detentions, torture and extra-judicial killings have increasingly
become routine* and  *The regime has consistently persecuted and
silenced any forms of dissent within the country.*

Mr John *strongly urged* the Commission to appoint a Special
Rapporteur who should report at its next session in one year's
time.

SRI LANKA: In the same intervention, Mr John also referred to the
continuing ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka which, over 14 years, 
has so far led to more than 100,000 deaths.  Widespread
atrocities also continue to be committed by the security forces
and there has been an alarming increase in incidences of
disappearances and torture.

He urged the government of Sri Lanka to remove its tight
censorship and allow journalists, NGOs and churches to visit the
North and East of the country to assess  the extent of human
suffering there. The WCC also called on the government to lift
the economic blockade in the same areas in order that
humanitarian aid could get to the most affected communities.

The full text of the intervention (English only) is available
upon request. 
Clement John is available for interview. 
Telephone ( +41.22) 791.6218(Office); 348.07.44(Home)

 

**********
The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now
332, in more than 100 countries in all continents from virtually
all Christian traditions.  The Roman Catholic Church is not a
member church but works cooperatively with the WCC.  The highest
governing body is the Assembly, which meets approximately every
seven years.  The WCC was formally inaugurated in 1948 in
Amsterdam, Netherlands.  Its staff is headed by general secretary
Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church in Germany.

World Council of Churches
Press and Information Office
Tel:  (41.22) 791.61.52/51
Fax:  (41.22) 798 13 46
E-Mail: jwn@wcc-coe.org
http://www.wcc_coe.org

P.O. Box 2100
CH-1211 Geneva 2