Anniversary Of The Execution Of Ken Saro-Wiwa And Human Rights In Nigeria

EDM number 169 in 1996-97, proposed by Austin Mitchell on 11/11/1996.

That this House notes that one year has passed since Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni environmental campaigners were executed by the Nigerian Government after grossly unfair trials; is concerned that a further 19 members of the Ogoni ethnic group remain in detention facing the same unfair tribunal and potentially the same fate; is further concerned that 43 people, including human rights and pro-democracy activists such as the former Head of State, retired General Olusegun Obasanjo, have tried and convicted of treason by a secret special military tribunal and are now facing long prison sentences; condemns the arbitrary detention of prisoners of conscience and the unfair trials and treatment of political prisoners in Nigeria; is deeply concerned about the allegations of extrajudicial executions by Nigerian security officials; welcomes the publication of Amnesty International's report on Nigeria, together with its proposals for human rights reform; calls on the Nigerian Government to release immediately all prisoners of conscience and implement a comprehensive and far reaching programme of human rights reform; and urges Her Majesty's Government to do all it can to ensure that respect for human rights is established in Nigeria.

This motion has been signed by a total of 116 MPs.