The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.59/No.45           December 4, 1995 
 
 
Nigeria Hangings Dominate Commonwealth  

BY JANET ROTH AND EUGEN LEPOU

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Two political issues dominated the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) held here November 10-14: the executions of nine political activists in Nigeria and French nuclear testing in the Pacific.

The presence of South African president Nelson Mandela at the meeting, and his subsequent state visit, was the focus of popular attention as thousands took the opportunity to celebrate with him the defeat of the apartheid regime (see accompanying article).

The British Commonwealth consists of 52 countries, the overwhelming majority of which are former colonies of the United Kingdom. London dominates proceedings, alongside its imperialist cohorts from Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. South Africa has just been readmitted, after a 33-year absence due to the apartheid policies of its previous governments.

Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight of his associates were hanged by the Nigerian regime in the middle of the Commonwealth summit, as Nigerian human rights activists, including his son, lobbied heads of governments for a stay of execution. Saro-Wiwa was a leader of the campaign by the Ogoni people in Nigeria against Shell Oil for its environmental destruction in their region.

Presenting itself as a force for human rights and democracy, Chogm suspended Nigeria from the Commonwealth for two years.

In the days following the meeting, Mandela and New Zealand prime minister Jim Bolger led calls for Commonwealth countries to impose economic sanctions against Nigeria.

The summit also issued a statement condemning nuclear testing that British prime minister John Major refused to endorse. His stand was the focus of a November 9 anti- nuclear rally by 2,000, as protest organizers called on Major to oppose nuclear tests in the Pacific.

Among the speakers at the rally were Oscar Temaru, an independence leader in French Polynesia, where the nuclear tests are being conducted, and Sam Shilowa of the Congress of South African Trade Unions.

The Chogm conference venue became the site of other protests around a range of political issues. Tamils from Sri Lanka demonstrated in support of self-determination and in opposition to the war being conducted by the Sri Lankan government against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

In a counter-protest, members of the United Sri Lanka Association marched to show their support for the government and condemn the Tamil Tigers.

Some 200 Sikhs condemned human rights abuses by the Indian government in Punjab and called for the state's independence.

The New Zealand Herald reported October 10 that Indian human rights groups have accused police in Punjab of secretly cremating at least 3,000 people between 1992 and 1994, after torturing and killing them. The Sikh protesters were joined by Kashmiris calling for that state's independence.

Supporters of Irish self-determination targeted John Major while gay rights activists focused their fire on Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe, who has described homosexuals as perverts who have no rights.

Protests in favor of Maori rights and against the New Zealand government's economic policies also occurred.

Eugen Lepou is a member of the Meat Workers Union. Janet Roth is a member of the United Food, Beverage and General Workers Union.

 
 
 
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