Sir, - Four newspaper editors are seized and held in secret detention. They are tried by a government appointed special military tribunal and sentenced to death. One of them is offered his freedom if he implicates another staff member. He refuses. Another is asked to assist in the arrest of a fellow journalist; he also refuses. These writers were accused of treason for reporting a coup plot which was later repudiated by the government; they also claimed lack of evidence against other prisoners who were tried secretly on treason charges aimed at silencing prominent government critics.
Later, their sentences were commuted to Is years, starting in 1995. They are now languishing in prison hundreds of miles from their homes and suffering from harsh conditions. All are in need of medical treatment.
This is what happens in Nigeria when the power of the pen is exhibited as a challenging force. Here in Ireland we take our considerable freedom of the press very much for granted. Were we subject to similar restrictions, our finest journalists would be under lock and key - or worse. The four mentioned above - Chris Anyanwu, Kunle Ajibade, George Mbah and Ben Charles Obi - are only symptomatic of a deep underlying fear of press exposure in Nigeria.
Amnesty International is looking for the support of the journalist community in Ireland in combatting these practices on a worldwide scale. We call on the National Union of Journalists and all concerned people to protest against unfair trials, false imprisonment, arbitrary arrest and death sentences to the Nigerian authorities and their representatives in this country. Yours, etc.,
Amnesty International Group 6, Goatstown,
Dublin 14.