B4-0223, 0239, 0246, 0257, 0265, 0278 and 0296/95

Resolution on human rights violations in Nigeria

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on Nigeria,

- mindful of the resolution of the ACP-EU Joint Assembly of 6 October 1994 (Libreville, Gabon), which condemned human rights violations in Nigeria and called for the unconditional release of Mr Moshood Abiola,

A. concerned about the retention of power by the Nigerian military regime, which, in defiance of the call by the international community, continues to disregard the results of the 1994 elections and to perpetrate numerous human rights violations,

B. whereas this dictatorial regime is arresting the leaders of the democratic opposition, dissolving the governing bodies of the trade unions and suspending fundamental political freedoms, such as freedom of speech and freedom of the press,

C. deeply concerned by the serious human rights violations in Ogoniland by the security forces which have executed extrajudicially at least 50 people and detained an estimated 600 people following raids on some 60 villages in Ogoniland, mostly during May and June 1994,

D. deeply concerned at the current trial of Mr Ken Saro-Wiwa, writer and pacifist leader of the movement for the survival of the Ogoni people (MOSOP), as well as 27 other opposition leaders who were arrested and imprisoned on 22 May 1994, charged on 6 February 1995 and will face trial for murder on 21 February 1995 by a specially appointed military tribunal,

E. noting that the 28 have been protesting at the destruction caused by oil extraction in River State Province; whereas since oil was discovered on their land in the 50's, the Ogoni people have experienced an ecological nightmare: oil spills, pipelines driven through farms and villages, brutal suppression of any protest,

F. fearing that Mr Ken Saro-Wiwa, who received the Swedish alternative Nobel prize last autumn and has been declared prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International, risks the death penalty,

1. Calls for the immediate release of Mr Abiola, Mr Ken Saro Wiwa, and other political and trade union leaders imprisoned for campaigning for justice and democracy in Nigeria as well as any other person imprisoned on political grounds;

2. Demands in particular that the Nigerian State grant the 28 unconditional release and stop using violence to suppress protest;

3. Calls on the Abuja regime to recognize the results of the elections of 12 June 1993 and the judgment of the Kaduna Appeal Court, which declared Mr Abiola's arrest to be unlawful;

4. Asks the Nigerian authorities to establish democratic rule, to respect fully their international obligations on human rights and to improve environmental legislation and its enforcement;

5. Asks the Nigerian authorities to find a solution to the problems of the Ogoni people which safeguards its rights and culture;

6. Calls for the establishment of an independent and impartial investigating body to examine the killings and extrajudicial executions in River State in 1993 and 1994, for its findings to be made public and for those responsible to be brought to justice in accordance with international standards;

7. Calls on the European Union to bring pressure to bear on the Nigerian authorities to ensure that democracy is restored in Nigeria and that an end is put to human rights violations;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Nigerian Government, the OAU and the Co-Presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Assembly.