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Acoanigeria7-22-94Opt.Pdf 17 John Street • New York, NY 10038 • (212) 962·1210 William H. Booth. President Wyatt Tee Walker. Vice President David Scott. Vice President Jennifer DavIs. Executive Director July 22, 1994 ACTION ALERT! PROTEST NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN ON DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT, SUPPORT CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTION 151 While South Africa sets to the task of strengthening its new democracy, the struggle for democracy in oil­ rich Nigeria, Africa's largest country, has taken on new urgency. The powerful oil workers unions have paralyzed the vital oil production and refining industries with strikes aimed at ending decades of military dictatorship. They have been joined by hospital, municipal and transport workers, students, civic and human rights organizations. Nigerian democracy leaders have asked for your support. BACKGROUND For 24 of their 34 years of independence, the people of Nigeria have lived under military rule. Economic mismanagement and widespread corruption have plunged the country into a deep economic crisis. Last year the Nigerian military, under mounting public pressure, agreed to a carefully controlled return to civilian rule. The army created two centrist political parties and handpicked their presidential candidates in advance of national elections held in June 1993. One of the parties, the Social Democratic Party, established a strong lead in early returns. Its leader, wealthy businessman Moshood Abiola appeared to be the clear winner in the race for president. But the army refused to step down, annulling the elections, banning political parties and muzzling Nigeria's independent press. Over 100 pro-democracy demonstrators were killed by the security forces in the weeks that followed. Later that year another general, Sani Abacha, took power and continued the crackdown, jailing democracy activists and sending troops against peaceful protesters. THE CURRENT CRISIS The current crisis began last ml"~'h when President-elect Abiola challenged the military by publicly claiming the presidency on the; ,', '1iversary of his election. He was arrested 'lnd held without bail on treason charges. On July 4 the largest of Nigeria's influential oil workers unions launched a national strike to win Abiola's release from prison and force the army to accept civilian rule. When authorities arrested union President Frank Kokori and dispatched troops to break the strike, the stoppage spread to other unions, paralyzing large parts of the Nigerian economy and attracting widespread public support for the workers' demands. On July 18 as many as 20 people were killed when state security forces attacked pro-democracy demonstrators. Trade union and democracy movement leaders have gone underground to avoid arrest. With the strike in its third week and the economy shut down because of fuel shortages, Nigeria has reached a flash point. Nigerian human rights organizations report that Abacha is under mounting pressure from within the military to end the crisis -- either by bowing to the peoples' demands and stepping down or crushing the pro-democracy movement by force. (more) Supporting African freedom and independence since 1953 • Established The Africa F'.II1d. 1966 • INTERNATIONAL ACTION COULD TIP THE BALANCE IN FAVOR OF DEMOCRACY. SPEAK OUT against human rights abuses and the suppression of the democratic aspirations of the Nigerian people. Call for the release of Moshood Abiola, Frank Kokori and all other Nigerian political prisoners. Urge the Nigerian military government to return the troops to barracks and abide by the results of the 1993 election. WRITE OR FAX: General Sani Abacha Chair, Provincial Ruling Council c/o Ambassador Zubair M. Kazaure Nigerian Embassy to the United States 1333 16th Street N. W. Washington, DC 20036 FAX: 202 775-1385 SUPPORT House Concurrent Resolution 151 (H. Con. Res. 151). This resolution, introduced by New Jersey Representative Donald Payne, calls for stronger United States action to promote human rights and democracy in Nigeria. This important resolution should pass by a wide margin to be effective. Urge your Member of the House of Representatives to become a Co-Sponsor of H. Con. Res 151 and to vote yes when it comes up for passage. Telephone calls to your Representative's district office is an effective way to focus attention on international issues. Or you can write: The Honorable _ House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Send copies of your letters to The American Committee On Africa. We will forward them to Nigerian democracy activists. PLEASE ACT NOW! Nigeria's democracy movement is a peoples' movement, led by labor, religious, students and civic organizations, and driven by the poverty and injustice of over two decades of military misrule. As repression and resistance escalate, the danger of civil war and violence involving tens of millions of people grows greater. Your action can help prevent another human tragedy in Africa. 17 John Street • New York, NY 10038 • (212) 962·1210 Tilden J. leMelle, Chairman Jennifer Davis, Executive Director THE NEW YORK TIMES July 15, 1994 Nigerian Democracy; Under Arrest Nigeda can be described as a giant-size coun­ and a strike, now in its 11 th day, by the powerful oil try under pint-size military rule. A year ago, Nige­ workers' union. AJI this has placed the ruling cabal ria's generals decided to allow their people a whiff in a whoJly untenable position. The demonstrators of democracy under highly controlled circum­ ask only for what they have been repeatedly prom-' stances. Two political parties were formed under ised: a return to civilian rule. military tutelage; two carefully screened candi­ Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and dates were allowed to contest the presidency. Even the world's sixth-largest oil exporter. Yet years of so, when voters failed to approve the regime's first misrule have made Nigeria a byword for chaos and choice, the military ruler broke his promises, an­ cupidity. A once-outspoken press is now stifled, the nuJled the election and robbed the presumed win­ narcotics traffic in Lagos is brazenly open and a ner, Moshood Abiola, of victory. potentiaJly prosperous economy is wasted by a huge The result has been a grass-roots pro-demo­ foreign debt, bribes and incompetence. The coun­ cratic uprising that the current military clique has try's best-known author, the Nobel laureate Wole been unable to quell. The crisis deepened a few Soyinka, even fears that "Nigeria will not survive weeks ago when Mr. Abiola, a Muslim and million­ as a nation" unless the current junta steps down aire with a following in Nigeria's non-Muslim south, and permits Mr. Abiola to assume office. proclaimed himself President on the first anniver­ AJI this has been noted and deplored in Wash­ sary of the canceled election. For that he was ington, but without suff~cient Urgency and passion. charged with treason, held incommunicado and This is an occasion for vigorous preventive diplo­ threatened with a life sentence. When a federal high macy. Ameri.cans have the right to warn and to court judge twice ordered the military to produce shame, espedaJly giv~n the dramatic democratic Mr. Abiola in open court, the junta ignored the transformation in South Africa. If Pretoria's white order. minority rulers can honor their promise to hold Predictably, the effect has been to widen the elections and inaugurate President Nelson Man-· rebellion. Nigeria's biggest city, Lagos, was shut dela, by what reasoning does Nigeria's cabal flout down yesterday by demonstrations, a work boycott the same principle? . Established by The American Committee on Africa, 1966 • Contributions are cox-deductible • THE WEEKLY MAIL & GUARDIAN June 24 to 30 1994 Nigeria's generals must learn from Mandela risk. in calling secret meetings. held Nigeria's generals should take a leafout of ••...''t.'4,.< separately. ofthe selected Senate and their SouthAfrican counterparts' book and, .. the House ofRepresentatives (both of hand over power peacefully, argues the ' which Abacha had dissolved). Both Moshood Abiola demandedAbacha'simmediateresig­ countIy's elected leader nation. The elected state governors ­ N MAY 10. Iwatched Nelson power on November 17 1993 have including some from the party that Mandela being sworn in as demonstrated that he is every bit a opposed me at the election. the president of South Africa. political trickster as Babangida. In National Republican Convention OThe fonnerpresident, FWde fact he went to parade himself as (NRC) - have also held secret meet­ Klerk. took the oath of office as sec­ Nigeria's leader at Nelson Mandela's ings. And state assemblies and local ond vice-president. Saluting the new illustrious inauguration in order to governments are all similarly being presidentwere theheads ofthe South consolidate his power and remain at galvanised into action. Finally, African anned services. the top indefinitely. Nadeco called on me to assume my It all signified that a change of Thatis why, once again, the people mandate and declare myself presi­ baton had peacefully taken place. of Nigeria have taken to the barri­ dent and that a new constitutional order, cades to chaseAbachaoutandinstall Trueto fonn. Abacha's government predicated upon majority rule, had the presidenttheyelected onJune 12 has reacted byarresting Nadeco lead­ come to replace the old Mdisorder", last year. The campaign is being ers. It also placed me under house based on racial oppression and organised by a new body called the arrest. Butthiswas a terrible mistake minority rule. National Democratic Coalition on the part of the military, For on Also watching this historic event (Nadeco). It embraces all the civil June II, the Nigerian people rescued was General Sani Abacha, Mhead of rights organisations that took partin me from under the very noses of the state" ofNi.geria. A yearago. predsely the civil disobedience campaign agents of the military government, the same sort of election that had which brought Nigeria to a standstill and I was able to drive into Lagos city brought Mandela to the podium in following the annulment of the elec­ and declare myselfpresident.
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