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Human rights
SHELL'S MANAGING DIRECTOR APPEARS BEFORE RIGHTS COMMISSION IN NIGERIA
2001-07-30, Issue 32
http://pambazuka.org/en/category/rights/2427
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Mr. Ron Den Berg, the Royal Dutch/Shell Managing Director in Nigeria appeared today before the human rights violations investigation commission panel set up by the government in the country. Since October last year the commission has been investigating rights abuses committed before the present government in the country.
Shell's Managing Director was subpoena by the Movement for the Survival of
the Ogoni People (MOSOP) to answer the allegations of rights abuses
committed in Ogoni during the last military rule, particularly human rights
violations committed between 1993 and 1995 when Ken Saro-Wiwa, the renowned
campaigner for environmental justice in Ogoni, was murdered by the military
government in the country.
Allegations against Shell include environmental devastation, but
particularly use of military/police personnel in rights abuses in Ogoni.
MOSOP alleges that the oil company is still involve in activities which it
suspects are directed towards suppression of the protests by the local
people to claim their dignity and fundamental human rights.
While appealing for reconciliation and peace it was difficult for Mr. Ron
Van Den Berg to allay suspicion that his company or workers got involved in
reported vandalising of Shell's facilities in Ogoni. But MOSOP insists that
some unknown persons vandalises Shell's facilities in a bid to discredit the
Ogoni struggle.
The Shell's MD also claimed that there has not been any environmental
devastation associated with the operations of his company. But asked under
cross examination by Ledum Mitee if 12 000 barrels of crude oil spill in
Holland, his native country, could not be termed as environmental
devastation, he could not answer in the affirmative. He rather insists that
much of the oil spills in his company's operations are "caused by sabotage
(and) vandalisation of oil pipelines and other facilities".
In accusing the oil company, MOSOP leader, Mr. Ledum Mitee claimed that
there are instances were the local people arrested some vandals and Shell
refused to prosecute the culprits, only to turn around and insinuate that
the people of Ogoni are responsible for vandalisations. He further alleged
before the rights commission that the natives of Ogoni have also witnessed
vandals tampering with Shell's facilities under security guards who cordoned
off the area.
According to Ledum Mitee, Shell's workers have continued to work in Ogoni
under same security guard. He further alleged that army and police
personnel hired by Shell, purportedly to provide security for its workers in
Ogoni have been known to be committing gross rights violations against the
native people, even as he told Shell's MD that much illegality committed by
Shell and its workers pass without his (MD's) knowledge.
In the cause of the proceedings members of the panel, particularly the
chairman, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, have consistently been reminding both
MOSOP and Shell0of dhe need for following a peace process rather than
pursuing endless accusations and counter-accusations that ultimately profit
no one.
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Niger Delta Today is a daily electronic mail service of the Democracy and
Governance program of
ND-HERO focusing on the issues of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.Niger
Delta Today brings to you what is happening and what people are saying or
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available.
The Niger Delta Human & Environmental Rescue Organisation (ND-HERO) is a
non-governmental organisation working to achieve sustainable social change,
social security and economic self-reliance and development of the Niger
Delta region of Nigeria through the promotion, protection and defense of
human rights, democracy and governance, and environmental development and
justice in the Niger
Delta region.
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