http://odili.net/news/source/2009/may/25/407.html


[center][size=14pt]16 foreign groups drag Yar'Adua, JTF to International Criminal Court [/size] [/center]

Sixteen foreign-based civil society organisations have called for the prosecution of the Joint Task Force Commander, Gen. Sarkin Yarkin-Bello, over the killing of civilians in Gbaramatu, Delta State.

The groups, in a joint petition to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, The Netherlands also requested a probe into the role played by President Umaru Yar'Adua in the incident.

In the petition which came just as the JTF on Sunday extended its operations to Rivers State where its operatives killed a militant leader in Abonnema, the groups said they believed that Yaki-Bello and the military had cases to answer for the crimes they allegedly committed against humanity.

The civil society organisations include Trans Africa Forum, Centre for Civil Society, Environmental Justice Project of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the Sweet Crude, Communities for a Better Environment, the Borneo Project, the Justice in Nigeria Now and the Center for Third World Organising.

Others are Global Exchange, Rainforest Action Network, Asian Pacific Environmental Network, Crude Accountability, Oil Change International, Counter Corp, Foreign Policy In Focus and Sustainable Energy and Economy Network.

The groups claimed that the military carried out land, water and aerial bombardments of Oporoza, Kurutie, Kunukunuma, Kokodiagbene, Okerenkoko, Azama, Benikurukuru and Ubefan communities in Gbaramatu Local Government Area, "under the guise of attacking militants."

The petition reads in part, "Residents of the villages and those visiting for a festival on the day the bombing began were forced to flee their homes and villages. They are hiding in the bush and do not have adequate food or medical supplies.

"The JTF has not allowed humanitarian aid groups or journalists into the area. As of today, the coordinated aerial and ground attacks by the JTF and mass starvation continue.

"Reports suggest that thousands of innocent civilians are dead already. Reports also suggest that this was a well planned attack with the possible collusion of state government officials.

"We urge the ICC's Office of the Prosecutor to use its power to investigate and prosecute those responsible for these crimes against humanity, including Brigadier General Yarkin-Bello, who is reportedly in command of the JTF's operations. Questions regarding President Yar'Adua's involvement must also be investigated."

They drew the attention of the ICC to past killings in Umecuem and Odi communities but lamented that nobody was prosecuted even when there were documented by international groups, including the Human Rights Watch.

Also on Sunday, the people of Benikrukru in Delta State sent a petition to the United Nations over an attack by the JTF on their community on Saturday.

The people, in the petition by their Chairman, Mr. Joseph Wuruyan, and Secretary, Mr. Jeffrey Ojogun, said Benikrukru had never been a base of the militants.

They said, "If the Nigerian military is actually looking for militants, they would have concentrated on the so-called militant camps and not our own Benikrukru community which has nothing to do with militancy.We have made official representations to the state and federal governments but no respite despite the devastating nature of the military operation.

"Corpses are decaying and survivors of the attack are taking cover in nearby bushes without food, water and drugs and in continuous fear of repeated attacks. Victims of this military action are mainly women, children and the aged who are vulnerable.

"We are, therefore, calling on the international community and indeed the United Nations to intervene to put an end to this genocide attacks on defenceless and hapless people with dispatch."

Oh dear! the story just keeps getting worse by the day. . .

because of 13 soldiers hundreds of helpless women and children had to die and counting. when will this madness stop. as far as am concerned the niger deltans are fighting a just cause. how appalling