President Nelson R Mandela
Private Bag X1000
Pretoria
0001
Fax (012) 323 8246
        (021) 461-4987

8 September 1997

Dear President Mandela

I am writing on behalf of the South African Nigerian Democracy Support Group. You will be representing us at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland, in October this year. Among the matters that will be deliberated over at this meeting will be whether Nigeria should be expelled from the commonwealth.

The Support Group feels that since November 1995, when Nigeria was suspended from the Commonwealth, the human rights situation in that country has deteriorated. Apart from the military government having given scant regard for the calls for the release of political detainees - including Chief Moshood Abiola, Generals Obasanjo, Shehu Yar’adu and  Dr Beko Ransome Kuti - the military regime has continued to arrest and detain other prominent activists and politicians. In addition, the military occupation of Ogoni continues, while the freedom of expression and association rights of Nigerian people continue to be violated through the arrest and continued harassment of journalists and anybody who is critical of the military. Evidence of the blatant and persistent violation of human rights by the Nigerian military has been well documented over the past two years by Nigerian activists themselves and international organisations such as the World Council of Churches, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Article 19 as well as multi-lateral organisations such as the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group and the United Nations.

The Support Group feels it is unacceptable for the military regime of General Sani Abacha to enjoy legitimacy and tacit approval for its reign of terror and we urgently call on you to support calls for the expulsion of Nigeria from the Commonwealth IN ADDITION to a comprehensive programme of sanctions that will coerce the military into recognising the demands of the people of Nigeria.

The Support Group does not believe that the expulsion of Nigeria from the Commonwealth will mean the liberty of Nigeria citizens from military dictatorship. We believe the solution lies with the people of Nigeria themselves and the extent to which they are able to collectively influence and control the governance of their country and seek popular solutions to the political, economic, socio-cultural and other historical problems facing their nation. The expulsion of Nigeria from the Commonwealth will give great effect to the movement and struggle towards this end. Apart from sending a clear message of disapproval of the human rights situation in Nigeria, it will send a clear message to Abacha that he is not representative of the Nigerian people, but only representative of himself and his military elite. It will further be a clear signal to the people of Nigeria that the international community is indeed aware of and concerned about their plight and will not tolerate the situation where one-fifth of all African people are prisoners in their own country.

The Support Group further regards it as unacceptable that human rights abuses on the scale committed by Abacha goes without censure from within Africa and where despots such as Abacha portray themselves as "great sons of Afrika" when in fact they are the killers and jailers of African people. Abacha must go, and every little action that can lead to this must be undertaken. Nothing has changed in Nigeria -except for the worse!

We call on you to support the following recommendations for the CHOGM meeting in October:

1. Consistent with the decision of CHOGM, if between now (November 1995) and the Edinburgh CHOGM:
 * political prisoners including Chief Abiola, General Obasanjo and others imprisoned for an alleged coup attempt, and the Ogoni 21 are not released;
* the military occupation and brutality in Ogoni do not cease;

Nigeria should be expelled from the commonwealth AND IN ADDITION the various measures proposed by CMAG in April this year be imposed.

2. In the event of compliance with the bench marks in 1 above, and pending 3 below - the current suspension should be extended, backed by sanctions including, but not limited to the following:

*visa restrictions on members of the military regime and their families;
*withdrawal of military attaches;
*cessation of military training;
*embargo on export of arms;
*ban on all sporting contracts;
*downgrading of all cultural links;
*downgrading of diplomatic missions;

3. If between the Edinburgh CHOGM and the middle of next year:

- all decrees curtailing due process and fundamental rights in the country are not repealed,

- genuine efforts at national reconciliation through the setting up of a national government headed by Chief Abiola, which will be charged with the primary responsibility, amongst others, of convening a sovereign national conference to patch the wounds of the past and decide on the way forward, are not put in place;

a further incremental regime of sanctions including, but not limited to:

* a freeze on financial assets and bank accounts in all Commonwealth countries of members of the regime, their families and collaborators,
* ban on the export of support equipment for the oil industry;
*action against credits, action to prevent new investment including banking loans;

should be imposed.

4. If after a year from the October Summit in Edinburgh, a genuine democratic civilian administration on the basis of a truly democratic government is not in place on the platform of a constitution that should be the outcome of the national conference so conveyed, an oil embargo should be imposed.

The ball is in the court of the international community and urgent action is required. Africa more than ever needs to dispel the notion of approving of dictators within our midst and the further notion that human rights abuses against Africans are not worthy of serious condemnation or disapproval.

Yours sincerely
 

Raashied Galant
South African Nigerian Democracy Support Group

CC:

The Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr Alfred Nzo

The Deputy Director General For Multilateral Affairs
Mr Abdul Minty