Submitted by Lars on Wed, 09/03/2008 

Updated press release  from Environmental Rights Action

September 3, 2008

Nigeria: Environmentalists Denounce Arrests in Gas Flaring-Affected Community


BENIN CITY (NIGERIA), September 3, 2008 -- Environmental Rights Action /
Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has condemned the September 2
arrest and detention of a group of around 25 people including
journalists attending a community forum on gas flaring at Iwherekan
community (Delta State).

The arrests were made by Nigerian soldiers at the Iwherekan community
gas flaring site operated by oil giant Shell.

Forum participants were released after approximately 5 hours in
detention but requested to report to a military commandant today
September 3 at 9 am local time.

The people detained included journalists from national newspapers and
televisions stations including the Federal Government-owned Nigeria
Television  Authority (NTA) as well as ERA/FoEN staff, community elders,
women, and children. The NTA crew camera was confiscated.

The plaintiff in a lawsuit against gas flaring, Jonah Gbemre, a member
of the Host Communities Network (HOCON), Comrade Che Ibegura, and
ERA/FoEN project Officer, Chima Williams, were also among those arrested
and detained by the soldiers.

Environmental Rights Action / Friends of the Earth Nigeria is demanding
an apology from the military and from Shell for the detentions.

"We are shocked that this  kind of reckless display of crude force which
we thought had died and buried with the military  junta of General Sani
Abacha  has  suddenly resurrected  under  Yar' Adua administration. Why
is governmnet colluding with oil companies to shield the world from
knowing the impact of gas flaring on the lives of Niger Delta people?", asked   Nnimmo Bassey, ERA/FoEN Executive Director.

"This action has shown clearly that this government is not concerned
about the impact of gas flaring on the livelihoods and health of Niger
Delta people. It is also a clear evidence that  what this administration
has to offer for the genuine agitation of Niger Delta people for an end
to gas flaring is, intimidation, crude force and cover ups. It is so sad
that this has happened under a government that has gone to the roof top
to profess  its belief in the  rule of law," Bassey added.

A Federal High court sitting in Benin, Edo State and presided over by
Justice V. C Nwokorie, had on November 14th 2005 ordered Shell to stop
gas flaring in Iwherekan Community, Delta State by April 2007, saying it
violates the fundamental right to life and dignity.

The suit was filed on July 20, 2005 by Mr.  Jonah Gbemre on behalf of
himself and Iwerekan community against Shell, Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Attorney General of the Federation,
asking for the stoppage of gas flaring in the community.

Nigeria has been the world's biggest gas flarer, and the practice has
contributed more greenhouse gas emissions than all other sources in
sub-Saharan Africa combined, according to a World Bank 2002 statement.

Flaring is bad for both the environment and the people in the Niger
Delta. It can lead to leukemia or asthma and premature death. It causes
acid rain which acidifies lakes and streams and damages vegetation.

The arrests of Tuesday September 2 apparently were to intimidate the
community and prevent environmentalists from their continued campaign for an end to
gas flaring.

Isaac Osuoka, Executive Director of Social Action, said in a solidarity
message:

"The gathering of civil society groups, community leaders and the media
in Iwherekan lay bare the  unity of Nigerians that gas flaring should
stop now.  Unfortunately the action of the soldiers demonstrates that
this government  has opted to side with corporate profit at the expense
of citizens' well- being and the protection of the environment."



FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT IN NIGERIA

Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director, Environmental Rights Action/ Friends
of the Earth  Nigeria. Tel: +234-80 37 27 43 95 (Nigerian mobile)

Philip Jakpor, Media Officer, Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of
the Earth Nigeria Tel: +234-80 37 25 69 39  (Nigerian mobile)

Chima Williams, Project Officer, Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of
the Earth Nigeria, Tel: +234 80 59 40 23 85 (Nigeria mobile)


FOR MORE INFORMATION ON GAS FLARING :

http://www.foei.org/en/publications/pdfs/gasnigeria.pdf

Lawless Nigeria. My heart bleeds for that country. No wonder at the HAGUE CONVENTION, Malcolm Bridgend of SHELL had the audacity to say that they were awaiting funding from the Nigerian government to stop gas flaring

Well, as soon as the people start to take their PR outside Nigeria, I expect the Nigerian Government to get scared. For years, they have tarnished our people's image, labelling us as saboteurs, terrorists etc even when they have been complicit in many of the crimes in the Niger Delta. I long recognised that it was important to win the PR battle with the Nigerian Government if the struggle is to achieve anything.

Kudos to Friends of the Earth, GreenPeace and all the environmental groups. They have the political leverage to turn it into an international issue.

Hi All,


How so pathetic of the repressive and corrupt Nigerian government to try and intimidate the innocent people of the Niger Delta whose land, rivers and livelihood had been decimated by Shell as a result of the environmental pollution.

Well, may the corrupt Nigerian government be rest-assured that no amount of intimidation would stifle free speech.  A so-called government that can not put a reign on its ill-trained soldiers, rather, takes pride in unleashing those coyotes on the civilian populace which it is supposed to protect, for merely voicing their plight to the world.  Nigerians are living in a jungle and the law of the jungle, clearly applies.

My hats off to the poster of that thread in Nairaland.  At least the corrupt politicians are beginning to take notice of the feelings of people around the world.  Shell and the other oil companies which are polluting the Niger Delta, in addition to robbing them of their natural resources, can run but not hide.  The world is watching.

I would strongly encourage every Nairalander to take active steps to publicise this case and put the corrupt Nigerian government and Shell to shame. 



kiwi992.