PROTESTS this week against continued repression in Nigeria mark the first anniversary next Sunday of the execution of Ken Saro Wiwa, the Ogoniland human rights and environmental government continues to violate the human rights of its critics, including opposition politicians, journalists, human rights activists and members of the Ogoni ethnic group," Amnesty International said yesterday.
And a joint statement by the Body Shop Ireland and Amnesty yesterday said: "At least 19 Ogoni people are still in detention and facing a similar tribunal to that which resulted in the deaths of Ken Saro Wiwa and his eight friends". The statement called for an end to contempt for human rights in Nigeria".
Meanwhile, rallies in Nigeria to mark the anniversary will continue as planned in the southern Rivers state despite a police ban, one of the main organisers said in Lagos yesterday.
"We know that policemen and other security agents will try to stop us, but we will still forge ahead," said the president of the Niger Delta Human and Environmental Rescue Organisation, Mr Robert Azibaola.
And the head of another Nigerian group, Mr Clement Nwankwo of the Constitutional Rights Project, said yesterday: "Rights abuses by the military government could turn Nigeria into another Zaire if local and international communities don't stem the tide."
In Dublin on Sunday Sinead O'Connor and Roddy Doyle will be among celebrities leading a Ken Saro Wiwa commemoration at the Temple Bar Music Centre. A video showing the 19 in prison - they include the former head of state, Gen Olusegun Obasanjo, and a human rights defender, Dr Beko Ransome Kuti - has been produced by the Body Shop, which is organising a "write a letter, save a life" campaign.
Amnesty is offering commemorative pre printed appeal cards and the Body Shop says it will provide Christmas cards for those who want to send their solidarity to "the Ogoni 19".
Amnesty and Nigerian human rights groups called for the release of all prisoners of conscience, revocation of all military decrees allowing indefinite or incommunicado imprisonment of political prisoners, safeguards against torture and the abolition of the death penalty.