UNIONS TARGET NIGERIAN OIL (fwd)

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

  ---------- Forwarded message ----------
  Date: Mon, 20 Oct 1997 06:08:55 +0100 GMT
  From: ICEM@GEO2.poptel.org.uk
  To: ICEM-PUB@GEO2.poptel.org.uk, ICEM-MB-AFF@GEO2.poptel.org.uk,
      ICEM-FAX-AFF@GEO2.poptel.org.uk, ICEM-ITS@GEO2.poptel.org.uk,
      LABOUR@GEO2.poptel.org.uk
  Subject: UNIONS TARGET NIGERIAN OIL
  
  ICEM UPDATE
  
  No. 61/1997
  
  20 October 1997
  
  The following is from the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM):
  
  "FREE THE DETAINEES": UNION ACTION AGAINST NIGERIAN OIL EXPORTS
  
  A campaign of targeted action against Nigerian oil exports was launched this morning 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 speech on 1 October to mark the anniversary of Nigeria's independence, 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.
  
  
  "KEEP NIGERIA'S MEMBERSHIP SUSPENDED," UNIONS TELL COMMONWEALTH
  
  The ICEM and the Commonwealth Trade Union Council (CTUC) have called upon the Commonwealth to maintain its current suspension of Nigeria's membership unless the two union leaders are released and full trade union rights and democracy restored. Action on Nigeria is high on the agenda of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM 97 - Edinburgh, Scotland, 24-27 October). The ICEM, the CTUC and the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) will be holding a demonstration at the CHOGM venue on Saturday 25 October.  
  
  Note: Photos of Milton Dabibi and Frank Kokori are available on request.
  
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