§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Nigeria. [33615]
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§ Mr. Tony LloydWe remain deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Nigeria. In particular: the continued detention of Chief Abiola, leading trades unionists Frank Kokori and Milton Dabibi and other political prisoners despite General Abacha's 17 November 1997 Amnesty; the death in detention of Shehu Musa Yar'Adua on 8 December 1997. We are also concerned about health of other prisoners including General Obasanjo and Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti. In 1997, the Nigerian Human Rights Commission made a number of recommendations for improving prison conditions. There has been no response to date; the continued harassment of journalists (some 18 journalists remain in detention) and human rights/pro-democracy activists who were forcibly prevented from staging a rally in Lagos on 3 March; the failure to resolve the case of the 20 Ogonis facing the same charges as Ken Saro-Wiwa. We have also received reports that in January, up to 100 Ogonis were detained, that Ogoni Mr. Daniel Naador died in January while in custody, and that a woman was shot and killed when the Rivers State Internal Security Task Force fired into the crowd during an Ogoni day event. We are also concerned about the whereabouts and health of Mr. Batom Mitee, brother of Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP)'s Acting President.
As Presidency of the EU, we will be working for a further strong Resolution at the Commission for Human Rights in Geneva in April 1998. We are disappointed that the Nigerian authorities have still not responded to the UN Special Rapporteur for Nigeria's request to visit the country to allow him to fulfil his mandate.