• Simon Deville Wednesday 19th April the Boupon the country due to the state of siege. A local conditions imposed by journalist called the state The international Mone of siege "an arbitrary tary Fund. From the start measure that reflects the of the strike three weeks have been arrested, many of them are being held in the most inhospitable areas of the country, either in the freezing snow of the • Bala Kumar ers and streams. Get Active!
End the state of siege! Release all political prisoners! Send protests to: Presidencia de la Republica, Nigoria oarns most of its wealth from the salo of oil. But oil production is also throatoning the survival of the Ogoni pooplo of southoastorn Nigoria. Oil mining is dominated by wastorn transnational companies liko the Anglo-Dutch giant, Sholl. Land used for agriculture is crisscrossed by plpelines which often leak. Oll spills onto the soll destroying crops, killing animals and fish in rivShell is more concerned about profits than the environment and does little to clean up its mess.
Not only are the Ogoni unable to make a llving but their health is endangered.
In the production process gas which comes to the surface is burned away In flares. This gives off a sickening smell and poisons people giving them nausea, vomiting and worse.
Even oll-rig workers complain of 'accidents' causing regular fatalitles; and high lead levels In their blood from old and unsafe technology. The Ogoni have not enjoyed much of the riches. There is no electricity, running water Is scarce and there are few schools and heath centres.
Of course the Ogonl people have not taken the occupation of their land and the attacks on their Ilvelihoods and llves without resisting.
Ogoni youth have led demonstrations In protest against Shell and attacked their facllities. Shell has retaliated by calling in the Nigerian army to launch brutal and horrific ralds on their villages, burning down homes and imprisoning hundreds Meanwhile Britain sells arms to Nigeria's military government and supports British companies whose activitles are endangering the environKen Saro-Wiwa, a leader of the Ogonis has