The mailing calls for urgent action to support the struggle for democracy in Nigeria. The powerful oil workers unions have paralyzed the vital oil production and refining industries with strikes aimed at ending decades of military dictatorship. They have been joined by hospital, municipal and transport workers, students, civic and human rights organizations. For 24 of their 34 years of independence, the people of Nigeria have lived under military rule. Last year the Nigerian military, under mounting public pressure, agreed to a carefully controlled return to civilian rule including national elections held in June 1993. The Social Democratic Party established a strong lead in early returns,...
The mailing calls for urgent action to support the struggle for democracy in Nigeria. The powerful oil workers unions have paralyzed the vital oil production and refining industries with strikes aimed at ending decades of military dictatorship. They have been joined by hospital, municipal and transport workers, students, civic and human rights organizations. For 24 of their 34 years of independence, the people of Nigeria have lived under military rule. Last year the Nigerian military, under mounting public pressure, agreed to a carefully controlled return to civilian rule including national elections held in June 1993. The Social Democratic Party established a strong lead in early returns, and its leader, wealthy businessman Moshood Abiola appeared to be the clear winner in the race for president. But the army refused to step down, annulling the elections, banning political parties, and muzzling Nigeria's independent press. Later that year, another general, Sani Abacha, took power and continued the crackdown, jailing democracy activists and sending troops against peaceful protesters. President-elect Abiola was arrested and held without bail on treason charges. On July 4, the largest of Nigeria's influential oil workers unions launched a national strike to win Abiola's release from prison and force the army to accept civilian rule. When authorities arrested union President Frank Kokori and dispatched troops to break the strike, the stoppage spread to other unions, paralyzing large parts of the Nigerian economy and attracting widespread public support for the workers' demands. The mailing asks people to write to General Sani Abacha care of Ambassador Zubair M. Kazaure and call for the release of Moshood Abiola, Frank Kokori, and all other Nigerian political prisoners. The mailing asks people to urge their Representative to become a co-sponsor of House Concurrent Resolution 151 (H. Con. Res. 151), introduced by New Jersey Representative Donald Payne, that calls for stronger United States action to promote human rights and democracy in Nigeria. The mailing includes newspaper articles including "Nigerian Democracy, Under Arrest," "Nigeria's generals must learn from Mandela," "Nigerian court denies Abiola bail" by Karl Maier, and "Nigerian protesters claim 20 killed in clashes" by Paul Adams. The mailing mentions the Campaign for Democracy, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), and Noble laureate Wole Soyinka.
