Niger Delta Solidarity Group

Chevron violence in the ND and "Continuity We Can Believe In."

Even as the jury was sitting in the Bowoto v Chevron trial - Chevron Nigeria was attacking villagers in Aruntan-Ugborodo in Itsekiriland.

Some time last week (Thursday 20th, November 2008) community people comprising about 15-20 women, 8 children and 25 youths embarked on a peaceful protest to CNL Tank Farm - a stone’s throw from our homes. We were demanding “common job” slot for our youths, awarding of contract to deserving indigents and for the protection of our shore lines from coastal erosion that is encroaching into our homes. We dressed in white singlet (T-shirts) and carried placards. No guns, No machete and no form of weapons of mass destructions were on us. We were shocked to see the JTF officers guarding the CNL Tank farm releasing gunshot sporadically on us in the boat and into the community. We took cover for our dear lives. Several of our youths had gunshot wounds and 2 others in their home received serious wounds from the stray shots. (They are currently being treated in Warri by community effort).

The decision to acquit Chevron of any responsibility in the deaths and injuries to people in Nigeria and destruction of their lands is callous and selfish. The decision tells me the only interest of the jury and the communities they represent is to get oil by any means necessary which includes murder. Meanwhile Obama has appointed another corporate defender against indigenous peoples, Chevron director, Marine Gen. James Jones, to his cabinet following in the footsteps of another famous Chevron direction and member of Bush's government Ms Condoleezza Rice.

But what of a Chevron director high up in the West Wing? Obama’s attacks on John McCain during the campaign included a daily refrain about the massive profits of ExxonMobil, as if that was the only oil company out there. Chevron, too, has posted mammoth profits. Chevron was also a defendant in a federal court case in San Francisco related to the murder, 10 years ago, of two unarmed, peaceful activists in the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria. On May 28, 1998, three Chevron helicopters ferried Nigerian military and police to the remote section of the Delta known as Ilajeland, where protesters had occupied a Chevron offshore drilling platform to protest Chevron’s role in the destruction of the local environment. The troops opened fired on the protesters. Two were killed, others were injured. (Rice was in charge of the Chevron board’s public policy committee when it fought off shareholder resolutions demanding that Chevron improve its human rights and environmental record in Nigeria.)

Links : Bowoto v Chevron Blog, Niger Delta

Posted by Sokari

Chevron cleared in ND shootings

Chevron oil has just be cleared of any responsibility for the May 1998 shooting and killing of protesters from Ilaje in the Niger Delta. Some 100 local villagers occupied Chevron Platform for 3 days protesting over compensation for environmental damage and demanding jobs. The Nigerian army who were flown to the platform on Chevron helicopters and paid by Chevron to disperse protesters, killed two people and wounded many others. Despite Chevron winning, the case has serious implications for local communities suing multinationals for human and environmental rights violations...

The case is one of several currently pending against Big Oil companies accused of assisting brutal governments in abusing the human rights of local populations in the oil-producing regions. Because such cases rarely go to trial, the outcome of this one is likely to be precedent setting. Already, the district court has ruled that Chevron could be liable if it encouraged or assisted government-sponsored brutality against the plaintiffs.

Although this initial case has been lost, [the plaintiffs will appeal] this is still a victory as multinationals now know that they can and will be held to account for their obnoxious behaviour towards local communities.

This is the first time a case against a company for aiding and abetting human rights violations overseas has even gone before a jury. And although we are disappointed that the plaintiffs did not prevail in this case, we are heartened by the fact that we are now entering a new era in the United States and abroad where people have seen the results of unregulated corporate excess (in the financial system and elsewhere) and want corporations to be reined in to prevent serious harms. Bringing this case to trial in the United States is a step on the path to corporate accountability. In the near future, corporations will no longer have a free ride to do operate with impunity in ways that are destructive and dehumanizing,” said Laura Livoti, founder of the group Justice in Nigeria Now.

Chervon to face trial over Niger Delta killings

After waiting 8 years, Chevron oil company is finally being brought to trial in the US over the murder of villagers in the Niger Delta in 1998 and 1999

“found evidence that CNL [Chevron Nigeria Limited] personnel were directly involved in the attacks; CNL transported the GSF [Nigerian government security forces], CNL paid the GSF; and CNL knew that GSF were prone to use excessive force.” The report alleged that the crime occurred when the Nigerian Military and Police were paid by Chevron to shoot and torture protesters opposed to the company’s activities in the troubled region. Chevron helicopters and boats were used by the security forces, resulting in torture and wrongful death, it further alleged. The said evidence, the Judge said, will allow a jury to find that Chevron knew the attacks would happen and supported the military’s plan.

This is excellent news for the people of the ND as it also sets a precedent for other cases against multinational oil companies in the region. I hope that the case will not end with the oil companies and that the Nigerian Army will also have to account for their actions and those who took part in these and other acts of violence will be brought to trial. For the full story........