Ken Saro-Wiwa : Murdered by Shell's Silence

Ogoni Protesters Hung in Nigeria

The Nigerian military government committed the "quot;judicial murder"quot; of nine Nigerian environmental protestors on friday 10th november 1995. respect and condolences to the families and friends of :

Ken Saro-Wiwa, Dr Barinen Kiobel, John Kpuinen, Baribor Bera, Saturday Dobee, Felix Nuate, Nordu Eawoh, Paul Levurah, and Daniel gbokoo.

Who are the Ogoni?

The Ogoni people live in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The area is oil rich and provides 90% of the foreign income which is used to prop up the undemocratic military regime.

What has Shell got to do with it?

For the last 30 years Shell have been exploiting the oil reserves, laying pipelines through villages and causing on average 4 oil spills per week. The once fertile land can no longer be farmed and the rivers are coated in oil. Respiratory diseases have shot up (sound familar?) and the Ogoni are now amongst the poorest people in Africa, meanwhile Shell has extracted around £200 billion from the area.

What did the Ogoni think of all this then?

The Ogoni, with large input from the writer and environmentalist Ken Saro-Wiwa, founded MOSOP, - Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni people, to protest at the treatment of the land and the people by Shell.

Could this get in the way of business?

Just a little, Shell have their position in the market to think of, your car runs on petrol and the Junta needs that oil money to buy arms, (from UK PLC natch) to keep power. In May '94 Major Paul Okuntimo, Head of Internal Security for the Ogoni region called for "quot;ruthless military operations"quot; to allow Shell to recommence drilling. A fair description of the displacement of 20,000 Ogoni, over 1,500 killed and 30 villages burnt to the ground.

Did Shell hang Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni protesters on Friday 10th Nov?

No, the Nigerian military regime did, on trumped up charges of murdering 4 of their own people. This in spite of an international uproar, and total silence from Shell, who presumably had something to say in a secret meeting with the Nigerian government and military in March '95 to discuss a public relations strategy (see the news) over the difficulties in Nigeria. Ken Saro-Wiwa, before he was hung, claimed Shell gives protection money to the military.

Why should we boycott Shell?

If money is power, who are you giving your power and support to? It is unacceptable to be shocked at these further killings, and still give Shell your money. People not buying from Shell caused them to change their minds over littering oil rigs in the ocean. While Shell shows us 'cars in the rolling country' adverts we can show them that they must put people and the land before profit.

Boycott Shell!

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