(WiPC/IFEX) – The following is the text of a letter which has been sent by WiPC to: His Excellency the Archbishop Pablo Puente 54 Parkside Wimbledon London SW19 5NF On behalf of International PEN, the world association of writers with a 75-year history of defending the right to freedom of expression, we write on the […]
(WiPC/IFEX) – The following is the text of a letter which has been sent by
WiPC to:
His Excellency the Archbishop Pablo Puente
54 Parkside
Wimbledon
London SW19 5NF
On behalf of International PEN, the world association of writers with a
75-year history of defending the right to freedom of expression, we write on
the eve of His Holiness, Pope Jean Paul II’s visit to Nigeria to ask you to
convey to His Holiness our profound concern for the fate of five of our
fellow writers in prison in that country.
The Government of Nigeria has been severely criticised by the international
community for its poor human rights record and yet makes no attempt to abide
by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which it is a
signatory. During recent years many of those who have criticised the
Government have found themselves detained and threatened. At this time, PEN
is particularly concerned for its colleagues, as follows:
Ogaga Ifowodo, a poet and human rights activist who was detained early in
November 1997 on his return from the Commonwealth Heads of Government
Meeting in Edinburgh,
Scotland, and has now been held without charge in solitary confinement for
over four months;
and
Kunle Ajibade, Christine Anyanwu, George Mbah, and Ben Charles Obi – four
journalists who were each convicted by a military tribunal of being an
“accessory after the fact” to treason, because their respective newspapers
published articles that called into question the Government’s account of an
alleged coup plot in March 1995. They are all serving 15-year prison terms
in conditions which threaten both their physical and mental health.
It would be doing the cause of both justice and humanity a great service if
His Holiness could raise their cases in his meetings with officials of the
Nigerian Government. His
intercession on their behalf would surely carry great weight and would also
serve to honour the courage and integrity of these men and women.
Furthermore, His Holiness’s concern for their plight would be a source of
strength and support for them and contribute to alleviate their despair and
that of their family.
