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USA: Nigeria Policy, Letters
USA: Nigeria Policy, Letters
Date distributed (ymd): 000822
Document reposted by APIC
+++++++++++++++++++++Document Profile+++++++++++++++++++++
Region: West Africa
Issue Areas: +political/rights+ +economy/development+
+security/peace+ +US policy focus+
Summary Contents:
This posting contains two letters to President Clinton on policy
toward Nigeria. One focuses on a range of issues and is from groups
that are members of the Washington-based International Roundtable
on Nigeria (IRTON) and Advocacy Network for Africa (ADNA). The
other focuses specifically on the Niger Delta, signed by groups
around the world associated with the Delta, as well as individuals
and other groups.
Two related postings yesterday included a statement from the Africa
Fund and the Africa Policy Information Center, and excerpts from
the new book on Nigeria: This House Has Fallen.
+++++++++++++++++end profile++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
August 21, 2000
President William Jefferson Clinton
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington DC
Dear Mr. President:
As members of the International Roundtable on Nigeria (IRTON)
and the Advocacy Network for Africa (ADNA), coalitions of
educational, advocacy, environmental, faith-based, labor and
human rights organizations, we write to express appreciation for
your decision to visit Nigeria this month.
Your choice of Nigeria is particularly important at this time. The
incredible sacrifices of the Nigerian people over the last seven
years have made it possible for the country to move toward the
establishment of a more open, just and democratic society. Their
courage and efforts should be noted and applauded, and we hope
you will do so publicly throughout your visit.
Moreover, Nigeria's significance to West Africa and the entire
continent cannot be underestimated. Nigeria can be a source of
encouragement or discouragement for the rest of the continent.
How Nigeria brings peace and stability to its own country is one
important example. Your visit offers a rare opportunity to
highlight positive developments in Africa and to reaffirm the
support of the people and government of the United States for the
people of all of Africa in meeting those challenges and issues
which still remain
We understand that your visit will be short. Nevertheless, we hope
that you will be able to address some very critical national,
regional, and continent-wide issues where the United States can
and should help. Our recommendations are listed below and
expanded upon in enclosed background materials.
U.S./Nigeria Bilateral Relations
Nigeria today enjoys an elected civilian government. Both the
administration of President Obasanjo and the newly elected
legislators and governors have shown a welcome commitment to reestablishing
the rule of law, respect for human rights and
official accountability, and a new priority for alleviating
poverty.
Your recent reception of President Obasanjo and your reciprocal
visit to Nigeria underscore Nigeria's movement from a pariah state
to a partner state and welcome re-entry into the international
community. However, much more needs to be done. Nigeria's
transition faces many challenges and threats. We believe the
following should be the top U.S. priorities:
Supporting Democratization, Human Rights and the return to the
Rule of Law
- Increased diplomatic and financial support for human rights work
and the strengthening of state institutions such as the Oputa Panel
and the National Human Rights Commission to complete their
work.
- Strong encouragement for the Nigerian government at all levels
and civil society throughout the country regarding the importance
of working together to ensure the success of the transition.
- Urgent emphasis of the necessity of a transparent independent
monitoring system of police and security forces, including
investigations into all allegations of human rights abuses and
reports or excessive use of violence by security forces.
- Support for verifiable accountability of military, police, and
all participants in U.S. training programs, to ensure that they
have not committed human rights abuses in the past, and are
monitored with follow-up programs after they have been trained.
- Increased priority and expanded assistance to the Nigerian
judicial system through the U.S. State Department Rule of Law
program, especially to; a) Re-emphasize the importance of a sound
legitimate National Constitution that represents the will of the
Nigerian people, b) Appeal to the Nigerian people to address
issues of religious tolerance and belief sensitively, fairly, and
non-violently, and, c) Commit vigorous U.S. support of Nigerian
efforts to reform the criminal justice and penal system.
Corporate Accountability and the Crisis in the Niger Delta:
- Urge the Obasanjo administration and U.S. corporations to ensure
transparency and adherence to the rule of law in bringing lasting
peace to the Niger Delta, including investigating human rights and
environmental violations.
Only an open and transparent accounting of the past, as well as
the transparent enforcement of the rule of law in the present will
help bring lasting peace to the Niger Delta region. Oil
corporations as well must submit to a full investigation into
commission of or complicity in the commission of human rights and
environmental violations. Additionally they must play a role in
consolidating stability, democracy and the rule of law by ensuring
that their activities do not contribute to further human rights or
environmental abuses. We urge you to encourage U.S. corporations in
Nigeria in particular to recognize that and to ensure transparency
in all their transactions in Nigeria.
Nigeria's democratic leadership throughout the region is contingent
on its willingness to protect minorities and resolve the refugee
crisis emanating from its own recent history. This is particularly
so for the thousands of refugees from the Ogoni and other minority
communities of the Niger Delta who fled from violence during the
Abacha regime.
U.S. Economic Policy regarding Nigeria
- Cancel Nigeria's bilateral debt to the U.S. We are concerned
about this administration's approach to debt cancellation for
Nigeria. We urge swift implementation of steps to cancel Nigeria's
bilateral debt to the U.S., and strong U.S. leadership for
multilateral debt cancellation without onerous conditionalities
which undermine democracy and/or genuine development.
- Provide strong U.S. leadership to secure multilateral debt
cancellation without onerous and counterproductive conditionalities
which undermine democracy and/or genuine development.
- Increase diplomatic and financial assistance to Nigeria in
recovering its looted assets. Based on the critical role your
Administration played in the successful recovery of assets stolen
by the Nazis, we call for vigorous U.S. leadership in helping
Nigeria recover it looted assets.
Returning the use of these two essential resources - debt
payments and looted assets - to the Nigerian government to use to
strengthen its capacity to eradicate poverty is a prerequisite to
successful economic development and the entrenchment of a
stable democracy which serves Nigeria's peoples.
- Assure Nigeria that the U.S. is interested in authentic trade
partnerships with African countries - fair trade, not simply free
trade - and will support the following: a) respect for the rights
of African countries to define their own economic agenda and
priorities; b) respect for local business initiatives rather than
imposition of a U.S. economic agenda that would be harmful to
Nigeria's internal economic diversification or development; and, c)
respect for successful traditional African practices regarding life
forms rather than the application of intellectual property rights
claims by external entities.
Regional Issues
Peacekeeping
We welcome the decision to strengthen the regional peacekeeping
capacity in particular for Sierra Leone, and reiterate that such
assistance must be predicated on improving respect for human
rights and international humanitarian law. Further, we urge the
U.S. and Nigeria to help clarify and strengthen the mandate of the
United Nations Mission to Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL). In addition,
we urge you to call for Nigerian support of the recently approved
International Criminal Court (ICC) for Sierra Leone, and aggressive
enforcement of embargoes on conflict diamonds and small arms
trade as essential requirements for bringing peace and stability
back to West Africa.
While the ICC for Sierra Leone may help bring an end to impunity,
and the strengthened peacekeeping capacity may begin to deter
the RUF from continuing its violent campaign against the civilian
population of Sierra Leone, it remains unclear what your
Administration's long-term U.S. political policy or strategy is
regarding peace and democracy, and reconstruction and
development in the region. This trip would be an opportune time to
announce a more comprehensive approach that goes beyond the
current military strategy.
HIV/AIDS and Health Infrastructure
The most important continent-wide challenge facing Africa is the
devastating AIDS pandemic. This and other poverty related health
problems must be dealt with in unison rather than in competition
with one another.
- Dedicate a modest 5% of the annual U.S. budget surplus to a
global health emergency fund to assist in HIV/AIDS epidemic
response and health infrastructure expansion.
A massive infusion of funds is needed immediately, not only for
education and prevention, but also for treatment and for
restoration of basic health services that can deliver both disease
prevention and care. In this context, the recent U.S. proposal to
lend Africa $1 billion a year at commercial rates is a cruel hoax
at best and a vivid example of government-subsidized corporate
greed at worst.
Today multiple strategies to fight the epidemic are available, and
can make a dramatic difference even in the worst-affected
countries. Why not take the opportunity of your visit to Nigeria
to call for dedicating a modest 5 percent of the annual U.S. budget
surplus -- approximately $9.5 billion this year -- to a global
health emergency fund? This would send a signal in favor of global
responsibility rather than reinforcing the perception of
globalization as only an opportunity for corporate profit.
We look forward to your response and working together on these
critical issues.
Sincerely,
Advocacy Network for Africa
Ezekiel Pajibo, Facilitator
c/o AFJN
3015 Fourth St. NE
Washington, DC 20017
Africa Faith and Justice Network
Larry Goodwin, Executive Director
Africa Fund
Salih Booker, Executive Director
Africa Policy Information Center
Cherri Waters, President
African Gender Network Organization
Egondu Onyejekwe, Coordinator
Career Resources Network
David Kosoko, Director
Center for International Policy
Clarissa Kayosa, Demilitarization for Democracy Project
Coalition for Democracy in Sierra Leone
Dr. Ritchard M'bayo, Chairman
Comboni Missionaries
Paul Donohue, Director of Communications
Global Alliance for Africa
Thomas Derdak, Executive Director
International Student Organization, Coppin State College
Dr. Fellina Nwadike, Advisor
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Kathleen McNeely, Program Associate
National Organization of Sierra Leoneans in North America
Frederic Coker, Vice-Chair
Society of African Missions Office of Justice, Peace and
Environmental Care
Stephen G. Price, Director
Society of St. Ursula, Africa Liaison
Maureen Healy
Transafrica
Randall Robinson, President
United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society
Jaydee Hanson, Assistant General Secretary
United Methodist Women Office of Public Policy
Susie Johnson, Director
Washington Office on Africa
Leon P. Spencer, Executive Director
Washington State Africa Network
David Mozer, Chairman
Women's International League for
Peace and Freedom, U.S. Section
Phyllis S. Yingling, Chair
World Relief
Ami P. Henson, National Advocacy Director
Concerned Individuals Write President Clinton about the Niger Delta
08/02/00
From:
Shell-nigeria-action mailing list
Shell-nigeria-action@lists.essential.org
http://lists.essential.org/mailman/listinfo/shell-nigeria-action
President William Jefferson Clinton
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Clinton:
Your Visit and Repression in Nigeria
In August 2000 you will be visiting Nigeria, one of the most
economically and strategically important countries in Africa.
Nigeria exports fifty percent of the oil extracted from the Niger
Delta to the United States of America, amounting to one-twelfth of
the US oil consumption. No doubt the two countries are important to
each other, and you intend to raise issues of trade and debt relief
with the Nigerian government.
We were informed that your administration intends to use this visit
to seal an agreement of military cooperation between the United
States and Nigeria. We are however concerned and would like to
alert you that a major thrust of this agreement will be the
training of the Nigerian military for operations in the Niger
Delta. These operations intended to violently suppress the stout
resolve of the people to control their God-given natural resources.
We are further concerned that there are no guarantees that US
military aid will not inadvertently be used to fuel the already
volatile situation in the Niger Delta. We would like to believe
that the policy of the US government in Nigeria is not one of
ensuring the unhindered flow of oil to the US at any cost to the
local population.
We appeal to you to use the opportunity of your visit to Nigeria to
condemn the activities of the Nigerian armed forces in the Niger
Delta; in particular the destruction of Odi community in Bayelsa
State. Your silence on this issue will only be sending a dangerous
signal approving the Gestapo policies of General Obasanjo's
government in the Niger-Delta. As you wine and dine with your host
General Obasanjo, he continues to supervise the murderous
activities of Nigerian security forces in the Niger-Delta. This is
intended to subdue the peaceful demands of the people for a better
environment and self-determination.
We commend your strenuous personal effort in seeking a peaceful
resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict. We appeal to you to show
the same vigor and dynamism in addressing the Niger Delta crisis.
Far from what the official Nigerian script to you may be; the stark
reality is that you are visiting a nation on the path of an
impending violent internal implosion -- one that will negatively
impact the entire African continent. However, this dark scenario
can be averted by the convocation of a conference of freely elected
representatives of the different ethnic nationalities. This is to
engage in dialogue, and agree on the modalities of continued
co-existence within Nigeria. The current political atmosphere as
currently being fostered by your host is the signpost for the
eventual violent disintegration of Nigeria.
Following the footsteps of President Carter, and even your own
special envoys, including Rev. Jesse Jackson; we urge you to use
the opportunity of your visit to Nigeria, to visit and sit with
the Niger Delta people in order to have a deeper understanding of
the issues that drive the people in their quest for change. This
will be consistent with your administration's avowed commitment to
putting people above special interests.
The integrity of your administration is at stake on this issue, as
Americans and the world will be watching this test of the level of
commitment of your administration to human rights and democracy.
We ask you not to miss this historic opportunity to influence
positive democratic change in Nigeria and to avert the possible
breakdown of civil society as a result of current inequities.
Yours truly,
ORGANISATIONS
Agbere Community Association of Great Britain and Ireland
Bayelsa Center USA
Bonny Indigenous Group (BIG), Niger Delta
Canadian Voice of Women Youth Circle
Christians in Action, Kirksville, MO, USA
Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) Rivers/Bayelsa States Branch
Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) South-South Zone, Niger Delta
Coalition of Petroleum Producing States of Nigeria (COPPSON), Inc.
Communities for a Better Environment
Community Initiative Project, Ghana
Delta State Peoples Forum
Egi Ethnic Coalition,
Emu Community Association of Great Britain
Global Youth Connect
Ibom Peoples Congress
Ijaw Association of Greater Kansas City
Ijaw Council for Human Rights
Ijaw National Congress USA
Ijaw Peoples Association of Great Britain and Ireland
Ijaw Relief Foundation UK
Ijaw Youth Council
Ilaje Youth Movement
Isoko Ethnic Minority Rights & Environmental Protection Council
Kansas, Kansas City-Yenegoa Sister Cities Committee, USA
Mangrove Action Project
Minority Rights Protection Council, Nigeria
Missouri, Kansas City-Port Harcourt Sister Cities Committee, USA
MOSOP IN THE AMERICAS
Movement for Reparations to Ogbia (MORETO), Niger Delta
National Union of Ogoni Students (INT'L), USA
Niger Delta Peace and Development Coalition
Niger Delta Peace Project
Niger Delta Women for Justice
Nigerian Institute of Human Rights
Nova Southeastern University - School of Social and Systemic
Studies
NYCOP-CHICAGO
Odoni Development Association UK
Oilwatch International, Quito, Ecuador
Our Niger Delta
Pan African Youth Movement (PAYM)
PEACE Incorporated
Print World, 81/3, North Malaka, Allahabad, India
Rivers/Bayelsa Union of South Florida
SAMFU Foundation
Society for Awareness and Growth in Etche (SAGE)
SOUTHERN MINORITIES MOVEMENT
Third World Social Services
Urhobo Ethnic Minority Rights Protection Council, Niger Delta
Women in Nigeria (WIN), Rivers/Bayelsa States Branch
Youth Organization of Bhutan, USA
plus over 200 individual signatories
This material is being reposted for wider distribution by the
Africa Policy Information Center (APIC). APIC provides
accessible information and analysis in order to promote U.S.
and international policies toward Africa that advance economic,
political and social justice and the full spectrum of human rights.
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