275:, calling for $ 6 billion in rent and royalties and $ 4 billion in compensation for environmental devastation—and all within 30 days or it would be assumed that they intended to quit Ogoniland. There was no reply. A month later, a Shell worker was rumoured to have been assaulted and Shell announced it was pulling out of Ogoniland to avoid placing its workers at risk. In February 1993, Shell held a meeting in London to discuss what it should do about the situation in Ogoniland in general and Ken Saro-Wiwa in particular. The government of Nigeria was also working on the "Saro-Wiwa problem".
136:
22:
191:. Over the next few years, Shell identified a total of six oil fields in the Ogoni territory which it began exploiting through a joint venture with the government. Over the next 35 years, this venture—in which the government was a majority partner and Shell the largest private partner—produced 634 million barrels of oil worth US$ 30 billion.
325:
On 24 May 1994, a massacre occurred at the palace of the Chief of the Gokana. Four Ogoni leaders sympathetic to the government and Shell were set upon by a mob chanting "vulture, vulture." They were beaten to death with clubs and burned. The military accused Ken Saro-Wiwa of inciting the attack even
282:
personnel was laying pipelines for Shell in
Ogoniland. When a number of farmers complained about the bulldozing of their crops, ten thousand Ogonis held four days of peaceful demonstrations to protest the construction. The government responded by bringing in soldiers to suppress the crowds and, on
242:
into a perpetual twilight. For its part, Shell insisted that allegations of environmental devastation in
Ogoniland were not true. "Any industrial enterprise, including oil operations, has an impact on the environment, and this is true in Ogoni," Shell said in an official statement. "A further impact
360:
In
February 1995, after being imprisoned for nine months without charge, Ken Saro-Wiwa was finally brought to trial. Bypassing normal legal procedures, Abacha set up a special military tribunal to try Ken and the others for the murder of the Ogoni chiefs. The international community condemned the
336:
Owens Wiwa was number one on the wanted list. He went underground. Even though he was a fugitive, Wiwa met with human rights groups, environmental groups, church leaders, and western embassies in
Nigeria frequently, informing them of the situation and requesting that they put pressure for Ken's
290:
Tensions in the delta increased in June 1993 after Saro-Wiwa was arrested and charged with sedition. After extensive pressure by
Amnesty International and other groups, he was released a month later on bail. During this period, the government dispatched soldiers to seal off Ogoniland from the
417:
documented Wiwa's personal battle against the
Nigerian government to locate his brother's remains after they were buried in an unmarked mass-grave. Over the torturous course of ten years, Wiwa finally succeeded in locating and properly burying his brother in the summer of 2005.
321:
stating: "Shell operations still impossible unless ruthless military operations are undertaken for smooth economic activities to commence." The document goes on to ominously recommend "wasting operations coupled with psychological tactics" during MOSOP gatherings.
306:
now completely sacked. Seven hundred and fifty people were killed and thirty thousand were left homeless in these military-style assaults. Amnesty
International believed the military supported these attacks and MOSOP accused Shell of complicity.
333:, to confer with Ken's lawyer. When he arrived, he saw that the arrest of Ken Saro-Wiwa had made the front page of every Nigerian newspaper. The papers also listed the names of suspects the police were looking to apprehend for the same crime.
258:
caused by the deteriorating environment. To address the social and environmental issues affecting his patients, Owens joined his brother's movement in 1992, becoming the chair of MOSOP's Social
Welfare and Health Committee.
234:, as well as the ownership of the petroleum beneath their land. MOSOP claimed that pollution resulting from Shell's oil extraction turned their once abundant kingdoms into an ecological wasteland, their air reeking of
326:
though he had been barred from entering
Ogoniland earlier that day at a police roadblock. Nevertheless, Ken was arrested along with 15 others. They were held without charge, clamped in leg irons and tortured.
262:
As MOSOP's spokesman, Ken brought the plight of the Ogoni people to the world stage. Throughout 1991 and 1992, he spoke at environmental conferences and high-profile world events, most notably addressing the
364:
On 31 October 1995, Ken and eight other Ogoni activists were sentenced to death. They were hanged less than two weeks later, on 10 November. International reaction to the executions was swift. The
298:
was attacked and destroyed. More than 100 people were killed and 8,000 were left homeless. The military described the incident as an "ethic clash" between the Ogoni and their neighbours, the
534:
264:
243:
on the lives of people in the area comes from the rapidly expanding population which has caused deforestation, erosion and over-farming leading to degraded soil."
125:
campaign. Currently, he is the Global Vice
President Human Resource for Health, Director for West Africa and Central Africa and Country Director, Nigeria for
219:
168:
187:. A tribe of fishermen and farmers, the Ogoni are an ethnic group, numbering over two million people. In 1958, Royal Dutch Shell discovered petroleum in
598:
272:
337:
release. The response to the campaign was overwhelming. The media reacted with a clamorous condemnation of the Nigerian military. Groups such as
310:
Because of his involvement with MOSOP, Owens was arrested and imprisoned in December 1993 and April 1994, as well as July of that same year.
583:
593:
302:. Both tribes denied any involvement or that they even had a dispute. In the autumn of 1993, ten more Ogoni villages were attacked with
384:, the Wiwas found temporary safe haven in London. Among those who gave the refugee Wiwa family temporary shelter was British novelist
61:
179:
The six kingdoms of the Ogoni—Gokana, Ken-Khana, Nyo-Khana, Eleme, Babbe and Tai—are situated in the southeast corner of Nigeria's
388:. After several precarious months in England, Owens was able to relocate his family to permanent safety in Canada with the aid of
126:
462:
482:
117:, Wiwa is frequently called upon to advocate for development programs in Canada and abroad and to campaign for increased
43:
32:
563:
558:
376:
Owens moved swiftly. With his ex-wife and infant son in tow, he escaped the country with his life. With the help of
393:
317:
launched a full assault on Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni. His military's agenda was set forth in a memo drafted by Major
603:
535:"MOVEMENT FOR THE SURVIVAL OF THE OGONI PEOPLE: A CASE OF NONVIOLENT CAMPAIGN AGAINST ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION"
118:
365:
573:
452:
368:
suspended Nigeria. More than a dozen countries, including the United States, recalled their ambassadors.
578:
413:
284:
164:
114:
135:
439:
588:
568:
448:
Letter of protest published in the New York Review of Books shortly before Ken Saro-Wiwa's execution
318:
303:
231:
215:
also have operations in the delta and offshore, but their combined presence is dwarfed by Shell's.
192:
427:
350:
227:
110:
353:
turned the arrest of Ken Saro-Wiwa into their cause célèbre. Royal Dutch Shell was vilified and
389:
338:
279:
218:
In 1990, Ken Saro-Wiwa, a popular writer, television personality and businessman, founded the
184:
98:
408:
238:, their water holes and creeks poisoned with petroleum, their night sky turned by burning
39:
81:, Nigeria) is a medical doctor and human rights activist. He is the brother of executed
329:
When Owens learned that Ken had been arrested, he travelled to Nigeria's largest city,
552:
385:
381:
377:
151:
94:
86:
78:
291:
outside world, but on 30 July, the police were mysteriously removed from the area.
255:
188:
180:
143:
122:
508:
246:
At his clinic in the heart of Ogoniland, Owens witnessed an increase in cases of
346:
314:
223:
102:
342:
251:
212:
196:
97:, especially as it relates to the highly controversial business practices of
457:
268:
239:
463:
The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO) 1995 Ogoni report
171:. In 1989, he founded his own private clinic in the Ogoni town of Bori.
121:. This work has taken him to Ireland, which he visits in support of the
90:
483:"Remembering My Brother, Ken Saro-Wiwa By Owens Wiwa | Sahara Reporters"
447:
354:
235:
106:
299:
247:
200:
147:
509:"Nigeria: Fashola Signs MoU for Model Solid Waste Management Scheme"
399:
Wiwa resides in Toronto, Canada with his wife and three children.
330:
134:
82:
208:
539:
University of Massachusetts, Peace and Conflict Studies Program
93:. Wiwa is an internationally renowned expert on the effects of
295:
15:
204:
278:
On 28 April 1993, a US contracting firm accompanied by
42:. Please help to ensure that disputed statements are
283:the last day, one of the protesters was shot dead.
265:United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Peoples
230:and a greater share of petroleum revenue from the
267:in Geneva. In December 1992, MOSOP issued an
226:action group which called for Ogoni political
458:Ethnic conflicts and the defence of the Ogoni
220:Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People
169:University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital
8:
380:and her socially conscious cosmetic empire,
167:in 1985 and completed his internship at the
294:Five days later, the coastal Ogoni town of
163:Wiwa graduated from medical school at the
403:The search for the bones of Ken Saro-Wiwa
62:Learn how and when to remove this message
38:Relevant discussion may be found on the
474:
273:Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
287:issued an alarm over this incident.
7:
14:
599:Medical doctors from Rivers State
507:Okenwa, Stan (24 December 2009).
313:In early 1994, Nigerian dictator
533:Ikerionwu, Ike D. (8 May 2013).
127:Clinton Health Access Initiative
20:
411:'s biography of Wiwa entitled
1:
89:, and the son of Ogoni chief
584:University of Calabar alumni
453:The Ken Saro-Wiwa Foundation
594:Activists from Rivers State
620:
394:Bloor Street United Church
271:to Shell, Chevron and the
341:, Amnesty International,
77:(born 10 October 1957 in
154:are released from prison
119:corporate responsibility
113:and an active member of
105:. Vice-chairman of the
513:Daily Champion (Lagos)
155:
441:The Politics of Bones
414:The Politics of Bones
285:Amnesty International
165:University of Calabar
138:
115:Amnesty International
443:, by J. Timothy Hunt
183:in the heart of the
31:factual accuracy is
487:saharareporters.com
361:trial as a sham.
232:Nigerian government
564:Sierra Club people
559:Nigerian activists
428:History of Nigeria
357:around the world.
351:Human Rights Watch
228:self-determination
156:
111:Sierra Club Canada
390:Greenpeace Canada
339:PEN International
280:Nigerian military
185:Niger River delta
99:Royal Dutch Shell
75:Monday Owens Wiwa
72:
71:
64:
611:
604:People from Bori
543:
542:
530:
524:
523:
521:
519:
504:
498:
497:
495:
493:
479:
407:Canadian author
67:
60:
56:
53:
47:
44:reliably sourced
24:
23:
16:
619:
618:
614:
613:
612:
610:
609:
608:
549:
548:
547:
546:
532:
531:
527:
517:
515:
506:
505:
501:
491:
489:
481:
480:
476:
471:
436:
424:
409:J. Timothy Hunt
405:
374:
177:
161:
132:
109:chapter of the
68:
57:
51:
48:
37:
29:This article's
25:
21:
12:
11:
5:
617:
615:
607:
606:
601:
596:
591:
586:
581:
576:
571:
566:
561:
551:
550:
545:
544:
525:
499:
473:
472:
470:
467:
466:
465:
460:
455:
450:
445:
435:
434:External links
432:
431:
430:
423:
420:
404:
401:
392:and Toronto's
373:
370:
176:
173:
160:
157:
70:
69:
28:
26:
19:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
616:
605:
602:
600:
597:
595:
592:
590:
587:
585:
582:
580:
577:
575:
574:Living people
572:
570:
567:
565:
562:
560:
557:
556:
554:
540:
536:
529:
526:
514:
510:
503:
500:
488:
484:
478:
475:
468:
464:
461:
459:
456:
454:
451:
449:
446:
444:
442:
438:
437:
433:
429:
426:
425:
421:
419:
416:
415:
410:
402:
400:
397:
395:
391:
387:
386:Doris Lessing
383:
382:The Body Shop
379:
378:Anita Roddick
371:
369:
367:
362:
358:
356:
352:
348:
344:
340:
334:
332:
327:
323:
320:
319:Paul Okuntimo
316:
311:
308:
305:
304:Kaa community
301:
297:
292:
288:
286:
281:
276:
274:
270:
266:
260:
257:
253:
249:
244:
241:
237:
233:
229:
225:
221:
216:
214:
213:Elf Aquitaine
210:
206:
202:
198:
194:
190:
186:
182:
174:
172:
170:
166:
158:
153:
152:Rossport Five
149:
145:
141:
137:
133:
130:
128:
124:
120:
116:
112:
108:
104:
100:
96:
95:globalisation
92:
88:
87:Ken Saro-Wiwa
84:
80:
76:
66:
63:
55:
52:November 2018
45:
41:
35:
34:
27:
18:
17:
579:Ogoni people
538:
528:
516:. Retrieved
512:
502:
490:. Retrieved
486:
477:
440:
412:
406:
398:
375:
366:Commonwealth
363:
359:
335:
328:
324:
312:
309:
293:
289:
277:
261:
256:skin disease
245:
217:
181:Rivers State
178:
162:
144:Shell to Sea
142:addresses a
139:
131:
123:Shell to Sea
74:
73:
58:
49:
30:
589:Wiwa family
569:1957 births
518:21 December
347:Sierra Club
315:Sani Abacha
224:non-violent
222:(MOSOP), a
103:Niger Delta
553:Categories
469:References
343:Greenpeace
252:bronchitis
240:gas flares
197:ExxonMobil
150:after the
140:Owens Wiwa
355:boycotted
269:ultimatum
189:Ogoniland
159:Education
146:rally in
40:talk page
422:See also
175:Activism
91:Jim Wiwa
33:disputed
492:2 April
236:sulphur
193:Chevron
107:Toronto
101:in the
85:leader
349:, and
345:, the
300:Andoni
248:asthma
201:Texaco
148:Dublin
372:Exile
331:Lagos
83:Ogoni
520:2017
494:2024
254:and
211:and
209:Agip
79:Bori
296:Kaa
555::
537:.
511:.
485:.
396:.
250:,
207:,
205:BP
203:,
199:,
195:,
129:.
541:.
522:.
496:.
65:)
59:(
54:)
50:(
46:.
36:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
