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Rep. Waters Urges Congressional Condemnation of Nigeria
Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515-0535
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 7, 1997
CONTACT: Marcela Howell (202) 225-2201
CONGRESSWOMAN MAXINE WATERS URGES
OFFICIAL CONGRESSIONAL CONDEMNATION OF NIGERIA
Calls for Increased Sanctions Against Brutal Dictatorship
Washington, D.C. -- CONGRESSWOMAN MAXINE WATERS introduced a
resolution to condemn the Nigerian dictatorship for its campaign of political
intimidation and personal harassment of United States Ambassador Walter
Carrington. The resolution, which has seventy-five cosponsors, also calls
for stronger sanctions against the Nigerian dictatorship of Sani Abacha.
The resolution was introduced following the recent storming of a
farewell reception organized by fifteen human rights groups in Nigeria for
U.S. Ambassador Carrington by the armed security forces of Abacha.
Ambassador Carrington, along with other Embassy officials, was physically
blocked from entering the first reception location by armed personnel and
police vehicles.
After he arrived at an alternative site of a private residence, the
party proceeded. Approximately twenty minutes later, security forces forced
open the gate of the private residence, breaking the lock, and entered the
compound. Armed with automatic weapons, uniformed security personnel
wrestled the microphone from the speaker and demanded that the party cease.
Security force officers cocked their weapons, but did not fire them.
After a brief presentation of a farewell gift to Ambassador
Carrington, the reception disbanded. No one was injured and there were no
arrests.
"The treatment of U.S. Ambassador Walter Carrington is just the latest
incident in a series of human rights violations," said Rep. Waters. "Past
human rights abuses have already led us to impose limited sanctions on the
dictatorship in Nigeria. Obviously, these sanctions are not enough.
"We should all be incensed about this treatment of one of our
Ambassadors. It is an insult to all of the citizens of the United States and
cannot be tolerated," added Waters.
The resolution, H. Res. 260, will be heard in the International
Relations Committee.
105th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 260
Condemning the Nigerian dictatorship for its abuse of United States
Ambassador Walter Carrington.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 6, 1997
Ms. WATERS (for herself, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. KLECZKA, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr.
HINCHEY, Mr. NADLER, Mr. DICKEY, Mr. CLAY, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. PAYNE,
Mr. FLAKE, Mr. WYNN, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. THOMPSON, Mrs. CLAYTON, Mrs.
MEEK of Florida, Mr. MILLER of California, Mr. SAWYER, Mr. MOLLOHAN, Ms.
DELAURO, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. DAVIS of Florida, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr.
WISE, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr. GREEN, Mr. FROST, Mr. FAZIO of California, Ms. KAPTUR,
Mr. GORDON, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. DIXON, Mr. BISHOP, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of
Texas, Mr. DEFAZIO, Ms. VELAZQUEZ, Mrs. MINK of Hawaii, Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode
Island, Mr. MALONEY of Connecticut, Mr. WATT of North Carolina, Ms. FURSE,
Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. FORD, Mr. STRICKLAND, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. BOSWELL, Mr. REYES,
Mr. BLAGOJEVICH, Mr. EVANS, Mr. POSHARD, Mr. GEJDENSON, Mr. ANDREWS, Mr.
SCOTT, Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. KENNEDY of Massachusetts, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida,
Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Ms. HARMAN,
Ms. MCKINNEY, Mr. FARR of California, Mr. EDWARDS, Mr. BALDACCI, Mr. DOYLE,
Mr. HALL of Ohio, Mr. POMEROY, Mr. HOYER, Mr. HEFNER, Mr. CONDIT, Mr. BOYD,
Ms. SLAUGHTER, Ms. DANNER, and Ms. HOOLEY of Oregon) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations.
RESOLUTION
Condemning the Nigerian dictatorship for its abuse of United States
Ambassador Walter Carrington.
Whereas the Nigerian Government has conducted a campaign of intimidation and
harassment against the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Walter
Carrington, throughout his tenure including--
(1) accusing the United States of attempting to destabilize the
Government of Nigeria;
(2) attempting to strip the Ambassador of diplomatic immunity in an
effort to create false charges against him relating to a series of bombings;
and
(3) harassing, intimidating, and embarrassing the Ambassador;
Whereas the United States has already imposed limited sanctions against
Nigeria following a series of abuses including--
(1) the imprisonment of the duly elected President Moshood K.O.
Abiola, arrested and imprisoned by current dictator Sani Abacha;
(2) the execution by hanging of Ken Saro-Wiwa and 8 Ogoni
environmental activists, universally condemned by the international community
as a travesty of justice; and
(3) the State Department's classification of Nigeria as a major
drug-trafficking country in May 1994, followed by Nigeria's continuing
refusal to cooperate on anti-narcotics
efforts;
Whereas the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Walter Carrington, has
suffered harassment, physical intimidation, and embarrassment throughout his
tenure as Ambassador;
Whereas a farewell reception was organized for United States Ambassador to
Nigeria, Walter Carrington, by some 15 Nigerian prodemocracy and human rights
groups, including the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO);
Whereas at 6:15 p.m. on September 18, 1997, Ambassador Carrington,
accompanied by 4 other Embassy officials, was enroute to the reception;
Whereas Ambassador Carrington's car was intercepted by vehicles and armed
security forces and was prevented from proceeding to the residence where the
reception was scheduled to occur;
Whereas Ambassador Carrington, having been forcibly barred from proceeding to
the designated reception site, went to the private residential compound that
had been designated as an alternative venue for the reception;
Whereas upon the arrival of Ambassador Carrington at the alternative venue at
7:15 p.m., the
Ambassador was greeted by approximately 100 people waiting in an open yard
surrounded by a high cement wall and a tall metal gate;
Whereas, around 7:30 p.m., approximately 20 uniformed security forces,
heavily armed with automatic weapons, pounded on the gate, broke the lock,
and entered the compound;
Whereas members of the Nigerian security forces rushed into the reception
shouting at the guests, and cocking their weapons in an aggressive attempt to
break up the gathering;
Whereas 1 armed police officer threatened to shoot a human rights activist
who was attempting to address the crowd;
Whereas Ambassador Carrington quickly departed the compound with other
Embassy officers and diplomats under duress;
Whereas the United States Department of State has lodged numerous complaints
prior to this incident and several formal protests following these events
with the Nigerian Government; and
Whereas the Nigerian Government has neither explained nor apologized for the
incidents of September 18, 1997, instead, the Nigerian Minister for
Presidential Affairs publicly derided the United States Ambassador's tenure
as `four years of waste during which nothing was accomplished':
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) finds that the actions of the Nigerian security forces on
September 18, 1997, are the culmination of a campaign of political
intimidation and personal harassment against United States Ambassador
Carrington by the regime of dictator Sani Abacha;
(2) condemns the Abacha dictatorship in Nigeria for these
outrageous acts;
(3) calls for the United States Department of State to take all
necessary and appropriate measures to ensure the physical safety of the
United States Ambassador and Embassy staff in Nigeria; and
(4) calls for stronger sanctions by the United States against the
Nigerian dictatorship of Sani Abacha in response to these egregious events.