**Updates IFEX CH alerts dated 22 March, 24, 17, 8, 6 February 1995 and others** There are deep concerns for the health of Nigerian writer Ken Saro-Wiwa after recent reports that he has not been able to attend his tribunal on at least two occasions in the last month due to ill-health and that the […]
**Updates IFEX CH alerts dated 22 March, 24, 17, 8, 6
February 1995 and others**
There are deep concerns for the health of Nigerian writer Ken
Saro-Wiwa after recent reports that he has not been able to
attend his tribunal on at least two occasions in the last month
due to ill-health and that the Nigerian authorities have ignored
recommendations that he be hospitalised.
At the end of February, the tribunal ordered that Saro-Wiwa, 53
and with a history of heart problems, be taken to a teaching
hospital to see a heart specialist. However, instead of following
these orders, a consultant physician from the University of Port
Harcourt Teaching Hospital reportedly examined him in prison and
ordered “close medical attention by relevant experts” and a
psychiatric examination. These orders are reported to have been
ignored by the authorities. In early April, Saro-Wiwa’s health is
said to have worsened and on 6 April he was taken to the Teaching
Hospital where the authorities were advised that Saro-Wiwa should
be hospitalised immediately. The officials who accompanied him to
the hospital reportedly replied that they were not authorised to
do this. On 7 April, Saro-Wiwa could not attend his tribunal due
to ill-health. On 8 April, the Commander of Internal Security
Forces is said to have suggested that Saro-Wiwa be moved to a
teaching hospital in Zaria, reportedly because the consultant
physician at the Port Harcourt teaching hospital was “too
friendly.” Zaria is in the north of the country, hundreds of
miles from Port Harcourt.
On 10 April, Saro-Wiwa is said to have been told that he would no
longer be able to receive the special low-cholesterol diet from
his family. Saro-Wiwa protested against this and was reportedly
without food for the entire day until the authorities relented
and allowed him his special diet.
Saro-Wiwa, a former head of the Association of Nigerian Authors,
had a heart attack during a previous detention in 1993 and there
are serious concerns for his health.
Recommended Action
-send appeals calling for Ken Saro-Wiwa’s immediate transfer to a
hospital of his choice, following medical reports’
recommendations; -expressing concerns about irregularities and
political motivation in the trial against him (see previous
actions);
held in violation of his right to freedom of expression, for his
campaigning on minority rights.
Appeals To
General Sani Abacha, Chairman,
Provisional Ruling Council, Commander in Chief of
the Armed Forces and Minister of Defence, State
House, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.
Fax: + 234 95 232 138.Lt. Col. Dauda M. Kome
State Military Administrator
Government House
91000 Port Harcourt
Rivers State
Nigeria
