WCC Attacks Oil Companies In Nigeria

[Steve Kretzmann <steve@moles.org>]

  WCC Attacks Oil Companies In Nigeria
  
  September 18, 1997
  
  HARARE, Zimbabwe (PANA) - The World Council of Churches took a swipe at
  international oil companies in Nigeria on Thursday, accusing them of causing
  environmental devastation and co-operating with the military government to
  oppress people.
  
  The WCC said in a statement the companies should examine their work on the
  environment, adding that they should use their influence to force general
  Sani Abacha's government to respect human rights and democracy.
  
  If the companies' initiatives are ignored, they should withhold co-operation
  from the government until it restores the rule of law, protects human rights
  and allows the restoration of democratic civilian rule.
  
  It said the military government must recognise the results of the 1993
  presidential elections, urging its members to ask governments in their
  countries to stop economic and military relations with Nigeria until
  democratic rule was restored.
  
  Meanwhile, a team from the WCC is in Iraq to evaluate how the United Nations
  sanctions are affecting people in the Middle East country.
  
  The team's report and a study of the situation by the WCC's international
  affairs staff would be forwarded to the executive committee next year four
  action.
  
  The committee is worried that sanctions are liable to cause suffering among
  powerless citizens and that much of the oil for food revenue is going on
  defraying Gulf War costs and maintaining UN observers in Iraq.
  
  On the civil war in Sudan, the WCC said it supported peace moves by the
  country's churches and called for immediate cease-fire among the factions
  fighting in the south.
  
  The Khartoum peace agreement between the Sudanese government and the South
  Sudan independence movement would only be effective if it included other
  opposition parties, the Council said.
  
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  Steve Kretzmann
  
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  510-705-8983 - fax
  
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