Sir, - Amnesty International is concerned that Father Daniel Ude Asue's article (News Features, August 14th) stating that "many of the stories told about Nigerian oppression are lies and fabrications" and "Nigerians are capitalising on these fragile situations [i.e. ethno-religious difficulty] by twisting and magnifying them to earn a meal ticket on the streets of Europe" could give the impression that there are no longer serious human rights concerns in Nigeria.
Since Nigeria's return to civilian rule in May of 1999, Amnesty International has welcomed the government's clear commitment to the protection of human rights and freedoms. Concerns do remain, however. Among these are the reported killing of at least six men (possibly many more) by soldiers in an attack on Odi, in Bayelsa State, in November 1999 and reports of killings and assaults on local citizens by the military in the Niger Delta region. There are also concerns about the activities of armed vigilante groups which, while wanted by many communities because they feel under threat, are also feared by others because of abuses and harassment.
Nigeria's President Obasanjo himself does not deny that there are problems. An Amnesty International delegation which visited the country in July reported that the president acknowledged that a return to a civilian government does not necessarily bring to an end all human rights violations, and that serious abuses continue.
Within this context, Amnesty International would like to stress that each application for asylum in Ireland must be considered on its individual merits, and that it is misleading to make blanket judgements - Yours, etc.,
Mary Lawlor, Director, Amnesty International Irish Section, Fleet Street, Dublin 7.