wfn.org | WCC Ogoni Report

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World Council of Churches
Press Release
For Immediate Use
3 January 1997

OGONI - THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES: WCC PUBLISHES REPORT

"A quiet state of siege prevails even today in Ogoniland. 
Intimidation, rape, arrests, torture, shooting and looting by the
soldiers continue to occur".  That's one of the conclusions in a
World Council of Churches' (WCC) report, "Ogoni - The Struggle
Continues".

Published by the WCC's Unit III-Justice, Peace and Creation, the
report provides an overview of the history of the Ogoni people of
Nigeria and the current situation they face.  The author is Dr
Deborah Robinson, of the WCC's Programme to Combat Racism who
visited Ogoniland early in 1996.

In a preface to the report, Rev Dr Sam Kobia, Director of Unit
III, says the Ogoni case highlights a "socio-political malaise"
throughout Nigeria.  The Ogoni have dared to stand up for their
rights, "even unto death" and "have borne the worst brunt of the
military repression".

Kobia says the report contains "hard evidence and not mere
propaganda".  This includes "eyewitness testimony to oil spills,
dumping of oil into waterways and pollution, gas flares,
over-ground oil pipes that crisscross Ogoniland, the heavy
presence of military personnel, (and) interviews with people
whose lives are affected by these events".

Kobia says the report is a moral challenge to the international
community to do something about the situation: "The time to show
solidarity is now".

Claims and counter claims by the Ogoni people and the Shell
Petroleum Development Corporation are examined.  The concerns
include pollution, accidents, compensation, and whether oil
production continues in the area or not.  On a number of
occasions, the report questions Shell's version of events such as
a 1970 oil spill at Ebubu.

The report gives details of the role played by the Nigerian
authorities in the oppression of the Ogoni.  First-hand accounts
of arrests, beatings and torture are recounted.

Robinson heard many accounts of the harassment and arrest of
church leaders; one minister said sometimes pastors are told what
to preach and pray about.

Among a total of 28 recommendations, the report calls on the
Nigerian Government to restore democracy, release the Ogoni 19
and all political detainees, and release for proper burial the
bodies of the Ogoni 9, executed in November 1995.  The most well
known of the latter group was Ken Saro-Wiwa.  The WCC report
reproduces his closing statement to the military-appointed
tribunal which sentenced him and 8 others to death.

The report also urges Shell to accept responsibility for the
Ebubu oil spill, to clean up existing oil spills and allow
independent inspection of clean-up activities.

Shell is also urged to pressurise the Nigerian government to
release the Ogoni 19 and to guarantee freedom of movement and
association in Ogoniland.  The company should also protest
against human rights violations in Nigeria.

The WCC is urged to establish a fund for the defense and aid of
political detainees and to organise the collection of emergency
medical supplies for political prisoners as well as the two
poorly-equipped clinics in Ogoniland.

The report will be discussed at a forthcoming Unit III Commission
meeting (Nairobi 13-19 January) and requests for WCC action will
be passed to the Central Committee which next meets in September
1997.

(In December the WCC announced a US$13,000 grant to
MOSOP-Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni people. This was the
third year such a grant was made by the Special Fund to Combat
Racism)

Copies of the report are available upon request.
Deborah Robinson is available for interview.
Contact: John Newbury, WCC Press Officer (+41.22)791.6152

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

P.O. Box 2100
CH-1211 Geneva 2

**********
The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now
330, 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
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Amsterdam, Netherlands.  Its staff is headed by general secretary
Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church in Germany.