[DEBATE] : (Fwd) Prosecution for Nigerian military in the Delta?

[Patrick Bond]

International Criminal Court
Office of the Prosecutor
Mr. Luis Moreno Ocampo
Post Office Box 19519
2500 CM The Hague
The Netherlands

Also sent by email to otp.informationdesk at icc-cpi.int
Also sent by fax to +31 70 515 85 55

May 19, 2008

Dear Mr. Moreno Ocampo:

The organizations listed below write to draw your urgent attention to 
the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gbaramatu Kingdom in the Niger 
Delta region of Nigeria. We request that the Office of the Prosecutor 
open an immediate investigation into those responsible for what appears 
to be a systematic and widespread campaign of violence against civilians 
by the Armed Forces of the Nigerian government.

On Wednesday, May 13, 2009 the Nigerian military Joint Task Force (JTF) 
commenced the land, water and aerial bombardment of a large area in 
Gbaramatu Kingdom that includes the villages of Oporoza, Kurutie, 
Kunukunuma, Kokodiagbene, Okerenkoko, Azama, Benikurukuru and Ubefan, 
under the guise of attacking a MEND militant Camp. Residents of the 
villages and those visiting for a festival on the day the bombing began 
were forced to flee their homes and villages. They are hiding in the 
bush and do not have adequate food or medical supplies. The JTF has not 
allowed humanitarian aid groups or journalists into the area.  As of 
today the coordinated aerial and ground attacks by the JTF and mass 
starvation continues. Reports suggest that thousands of innocent 
civilians are dead already. Reports also suggest that this was a well 
planned attack with the possible collusion of State government officials.

Together the human rights and environmental organizations listed below 
urge the ICC's Office of the Prosecutor to use its power to investigate 
and prosecute those responsible for these crimes against humanity, 
including Brigadier General Sarkin Bello who is reportedly in command of 
the JTF's operations today. Questions regarding President Yar'Adua's 
involvement must also be investigated.

The killings in the Delta today can be traced back to similar massacres 
in 1990 in Umecheum, in Ogoni led by Major Gen Paul Okuntimo in the mid 
1990's, and the 1999 massacre in Odi under the command of Col Agbabiaka. 
To-date no investigation of previous massacres has been undertaken, 
although each was well documented by the international NGO community, 
including Human Rights Watch.

The Nigerian military must be made aware that it cannot act with 
impunity. We respectfully request your attention and investigation. Your 
interest and involvement in this matter has the potential to help save 
lives in the oil rich regions of the Niger Delta now and in the future.

Sincerely,

Imani Countess for TransAfrica Forum
Patrick Bond for the University of KwaZulu-Natal Centre for Civil 
Society Environmental Justice Project
Sandy Cioffi for Sweet Crude
Bill Gallegos for Communities for a Better Environment
Jessica Lawrence for The Borneo Project
Laura Livoti for Justice in Nigeria Now
Danielle Mahonnes for the Center for Third World Organizing
Kirsten Moller for Global Exchange
Brant Olson for Rainforest Action Network
Roger Kim for Asian Pacific Environmental Network
Michelle Kinman for Crude Accountability
Steve Kretzmann for Oil Change International
John Wilner for CounterCorp
Emira Woods for Foreign Policy In Focus
Daphne Wysham for Sustainable Energy and Economy Network