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ACTION AGAINST NIGERIAN OIL
>Return-path: <boysd@seiu.org>
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>Date: Tue, 14 Oct 1997 09:17:50 -0400
>X-Sender: boysd@moe.seiu.org
>To: olagbajf, lauerc
>From: David Boys <boysd@seiu.org>
>Subject: ACTION AGAINST NIGERIAN OIL
>
>>Return-path: <ICEM@GEO2.poptel.org.uk>
>>Return-Path: <ICEM@GEO2.poptel.org.uk>
>>From: ICEM@GEO2.poptel.org.uk
>>Date: Tue, 14 Oct 1997 11:39:56 +0100 GMT
>>Subject: ACTION AGAINST NIGERIAN OIL
>>To: ICEM-MB-AFF@GEO2.poptel.org.uk, ICEM-FAX-AFF@GEO2.poptel.org.uk
>>
>>[copies will follow by mail in all ICEM languages]
>>
>>14 October 1997
>>
>>
>>TO ALL ICEM AFFILIATES IN THE OIL SECTOR (FOR ACTION)
>>TO ALL OTHER ICEM AFFILIATES (FOR INFORMATION)
>>
>>
>>Dear Colleagues,
>>
>>ICEM ACTION AGAINST NIGERIAN OIL EXPORTS
>>
>>We regret to inform you that our colleagues Milton Dabibi, General
>Secretary of the ICEM-affiliated Nigerian oil and gas workers' union
>PENGASSAN, and Frank Kokori, General Secretary of the ICEM-affiliated
>Nigerian oil and gas workers' union NUPENG, are still being detained without
>charge or trial by the Nigerian military regime. Both are in poor health,
>and are being denied the medical attention that they need. They are also
>being denied access to their lawyers and their trade unions. Visits by their
>families are severely restricted.
>>
>>Frank Kokori has been in prison since 1994, and Milton Dabibi since January
>1996. Their trade unions have been subjected to government intervention ever
>since the Nigerian oil workers' strike of 1994. Both men are recognised by
>Amnesty International as prisoners of conscience.
>>
>>Directly and through various intermediaries, the ICEM has repeatedly called
>upon the Nigerian authorities to release our colleagues, but we have
>received no response. We now have every reason to be concerned about the
>safety and well-being of Milton Dabibi and Frank Kokori. There were some
>grounds for hoping that they might be amnestied at the beginning of this
>month, and we kept further action on hold in the meantime. However, in his
>speech on 1 October, the Nigerian head of state Gen. Sani Abacha made no
>mention of any such amnesty.
>>
>>The ICEM Presidium, meeting in Hannover on 11-12 October, therefore decided
>that the ICEM must now initiate the action mandated by our World Congress
>(Washington, November 1995) - namely, targeted action against Nigerian oil
>exports.
>>
>>As soon as we learn of any Nigerian oil shipments headed towards your
>country, we will inform you of the name of the oil tanker concerned and its
>estimated date of arrival. We ask you then to take all appropriate action to
>ensure that Nigerian oil is not unloaded in your country.
>>
>>In some countries, this may entail cooperation with dockers' or transport
>workers' unions. We have informed the International Transport Workers'
>Federation (ITF) of our intended action.
>>
>>Wherever possible, we will also inform you which company owns the oil that
>is to be targeted. The targets of this action are not the oil
>multinationals, but the Nigerian regime and its oil company, the NNPC.
>However, since virtually all Nigerian oil exports are within the framework
>of joint ventures with multinationals, these companies will also inevitably
>be affected by our campaign. We suggest that, in the case of any companies
>with which you have reasonably good relations, you give advance notice of
>your intended action, and at the same time take the opportunity to press the
>company concerned to use its influence to help secure the release of Milton
>Dabibi and Frank Kokori.
>>
>>In the nature of the international oil trade, cargoes can change both
>ownership and port of destination while on the high seas. There may
>therefore be some "false alarms". However, we will keep you informed - by
>the fastest means available - about any changes in the status of shipments.
>>
>>The start of this action campaign, about which we have repeatedly warned
>the Nigerian authorities, will be formally announced on Monday 20 October at
>07.00 Brussels time. It will continue until the end of November, at which
>time we will decide if it should be prolonged.
>>
>>We will be working to secure maximum publicity, and we would appreciate it
>if you could also bring the press release below to the attention of your own
>media contacts, while insisting on respect for the date and time of the
>press embargo. We can provide portrait photos of Milton Dabibi and Frank
>Kokori to you or to media representatives on request.
>>
>>We are also producing a poster in various languages, a scaled-down copy of
>which is enclosed. Please let us know how many copies of the poster you
>require, and in which languages.
>>
>>On 24-27 October, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in
>Edinburgh, Scotland, will have to decide on Nigeria's membership of the
>Commonwealth. That membership is currently suspended because of the Nigerian
>regime's human rights abuses. In cooperation with the Commonwealth Trade
>Union Council (CTUC), which has already carried out some excellent lobbying
>for us on this matter, we intend to hold a demonstration outside the
>conference venue, calling for the expulsion of Nigeria from the Commonwealth
>unless Milton Dabibi and Frank Kokori are released and full trade union
>rights are restored in Nigeria.
>>
>>The CTUC are currently consulting on the best date and time for the
>demonstration, and we will inform you of these as soon as possible.
>Participants from all ICEM affiliates, whether from Commonwealth countries
>or not, will be very welcome at this demonstration.
>>
>>Thank you for showing solidarity with our Nigerian colleagues in their time
>of need. Please keep the ICEM informed of all action taken.
>>
>>
>>Yours fraternally,
>>
>>Vic Thorpe
>>General Secretary
>>
>>Peter Michalzik
>>Deputy General Secretary
>>
>>
>>
>>PRESS RELEASE
>>
>>EMBARGO: 07.00 BRUSSELS TIME ON MONDAY 20 OCTOBER 1997
>>
>>WORLD UNION ACTION AGAINST NIGERIAN OIL EXPORTS
>>
>>A campaign of targeted action against Nigerian oil exports was today
>announced by the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical,
>Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM).
>>
>>The action is aimed at securing the release of Milton Dabibi, General
>Secretary of the ICEM-affiliated Nigerian oil and gas workers' union
>PENGASSAN, and Frank Kokori, General Secretary of the ICEM-affiliated
>Nigerian oil and gas workers' union NUPENG.
>>
>>Both are being detained without charge or trial by the Nigerian military
>regime. Dabibi and Kokori are in poor health, and are being denied the
>medical attention that they need. They are also being denied access to
>lawyers and to their trade unions. Visits by their families are severely
>restricted.
>>
>>Frank Kokori has been in detention since 1994, and Milton Dabibi since
>January 1996. Their trade unions have been subjected to government
>intervention ever since the Nigerian oil workers' strike of 1994. Both men
>are recognised by Amnesty International as prisoners of conscience.
>>
>>Directly and through various intermediaries, the ICEM has repeatedly called
>upon the Nigerian authorities to release the two oil workers' leaders, but
>has received no response. There were some grounds for hope that Dabibi,
>Kokori and a number of other detainees would be amnestied at the beginning
>of this month. However, in a major policy speech on 1 October, the Nigerian
>head of state Gen. Sani Abacha made no mention of any such amnesty.
>>
>>The ICEM has therefore now served notice that it will take action - without
>further warning - against the delivery of selected Nigerian oil exports
>worldwide. This notice will remain in force until Milton Dabibi and Frank
>Kokori are released.
>>
>>The ICEM and the Commonwealth Trade Union Council will also be calling upon
>the Commonwealth to expel Nigeria unless the two union leaders are released
>and full trade union rights restored. Nigeria's Commonwealth membership is
>currently suspended, and further action is on the agenda of the forthcoming
>Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Edinburgh, 24-27 October).
>>
>>MEDIA CONTACT: Ian Graham, ICEM Information Officer, tel. +32.2.6262054 fax
>+32.2.6484316 e-mail icem@geo2.poptel.org.uk
>>
>>Note: Photos of Milton Dabibi and Frank Kokori are available on request.
>>
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