May 8, 2008
On May 6th, 2008, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta issued a communiqué stating that they had garnered provisional support from the Carter Center to have ex-President Jimmy Carter mediate a peace deal between them and the Federal Government of Nigeria. The support of the Carter Center is incumbent upon the Nigerian government directly inviting President Carter to the table. The MEND stated, "we are ready to call off all hostilities and hold a temporary ceasefire in honor of President Carter should the Nigerian government accept President Carter's initiative. However, if as expected, the government fails to seize on this new opportunity for peace, our actions will continue to speak volumes beyond the Nigerian shores." Saharareporters had the opportunity to ask the MEND's spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, to clarify the group's position, especially why it was requesting President Carter's help.
1. What are you hoping to come out of negotiations with Abuja (FGN)? As we all know past attempts have been fairly unproductive. What will be different this time around?
We do not expect much from any negotiations if the National Assembly does not put in place the legislation to deal with fiscal federalism. Our offer is to create the international awareness of a problem the government wants to sweep under the carpet. The Nigerian government is in denial to the reality of the threat of militancy. They are like a man with HIV still in denial. The only difference is that negotiations will continue side by side with the crippling of the oil industry. The tempo of the destruction will be determined by the way the talks are going.
2. What is the purpose of having these negotiations brokered by an international figure like Jimmy Carter? What does he bring to the table that you feel will help further an environment of justice in the Niger Delta?
Carter will bring integrity. Such a man will not go into something as serious because he has a reputation to guard; unlike the leaders we have.
3. What are the demands that you want met? Please be specific. We know that the idea of equitable development in the Delta is central to your program. What does that mean? Do you have specific plans for environmental and ecological remediation that you want addressed? Are there ethnic and collective rights that you will be pushing for, what are they?
Our first demand even before a meeting kicks off is that Henry Okah should be treated well, have access to his lawyers, family and pastor. He must be allowed to have a bible and must be removed from the dungeon where a searchlight has been beamed to disorient him. His rights must not be infringed even though he is under arrest. The other things can be found in our 11 point plan which was made available in our first letter to President Bush. {the plan is included below}
4. What are you willing to give in return?
We are willing to disarm and lead normal lives.
5. If Jimmy Carter insists that he will not broker a "peace deal" unless the Nigerian government extend an official invitation to him, how long are you prepared to wait before you (MEND) lose patience?
Attacks are being planned as we communicate. We will not wait for government to play the games they have been playing for 50 years. Operation Cyclone is very much alive.
6. Does MEND feel safe in Abuja as the official venue for series of dialogue to take place or have you considered a neutral venue, if so, where?
An ideal venue will be anywhere with water access. If a figure like Carter is involved, we do not mind any location.
7. Do you have a set of pre-talk condition(s) that must be met before going ahead, if so, what are they?
They include better living conditions for Henry Okah, a pre-talk visit to him by Carter.
8.How does MEND address the problem of smaller and more isolated armed groups in the Niger Delta going forward in engaging in ceasefire, since some or most of them are not under MEND's direct control?
MEND has not been contracted to police the region. The smaller groups may be armed robbers, pirates and even the men of the Nigerian police force and the military. Every part of the country has issues with crime.
9. How does other ethnic groups feature within the peace framework, even if, they are not engaged in armed insurrection, would they have an equal voice and /or opportunity on the dialogue table?
In any struggle, there are those that will be in the background. This does not necessarily mean they are not relevant or they are not enthusiastic. That the Ijaws are leading the armed struggle is not to say we do not respect the other ethnic tribes of the Delta.
10. Do you have your negotiators in place, in case this planned process goes forward?
Yes, we already have and they are in contact with the Carter Center.
Thank you.
Jomo Gbomo
In a letter dated February 17, 2008, the MEND sent a letter to President George Bush requesting his assistance in alleviating the problems in the Niger Delta. In said letter, the MEND said, "the way forward to achieving peace in the oil rich region is the unconditional release of Henry Okah to partake in a new and genuinely transparent reconciliatory peace process. We use this opportunity to lay out a clear and simple 11- point peace proposal that should bring an enduring peace and prosperity, mutually beneficial to both countries; ending five decades of bondage on the Niger Delta region and its people."
1. Henry Okah is to be held in good condition with unfettered access to his legal representatives, family, pastor and independent international observers including the international Red Cross;
2. In return Henry will assist the new peace process in the Niger Delta;
3. MEND will declare a period of Grace in which it will halt all militia action in the Niger Delta;
4. In return military forces will halt all actions and no further troops will be deployed in the Niger Delta;
5. During the Grace period a demobilization plan will be agreed between militia, the Federal Government of Nigeria and international observers with an emphasis on education, rehabilitation, counseling, training, apprenticeship, employment and small/medium scale business opportunities that will constructively engage the militia;
6. The Federal Government of Nigeria will begin a staged military withdrawal from the Niger Delta;
7. In return MEND will commit itself to a staged disarmament commensurate with the military withdrawal from the Niger Delta;
8. In the interest of public safety, the Federal Government of Nigeria will match military withdrawal with an increase in police wages, training, orientation, equipment and improvements in police living conditions. This will assist in moving Nigeria from a military regime to a true democracy with a civilian government;
9. The Federal Government in conjunction with the State Governments of the Niger Delta region will announce details of a plan to deliver greater transparency in revenues from Federal Government, to State Governments and on to Local Governments, and application of those funds to relieve the suffering of villagers (through improvement in health services, provision of potable water, etc.) and give hope (through stimulating local economies, providing teachers wages, etc). A monitoring group composed of officials nominated by the Government and the civil society, and supervised by the World Bank, as the model experienced in Chad, will be vouched for transparency;
10. The Federal Government will announce increased funds to specific programs in communities aimed at relieving the suffering of the poor and disadvantaged citizens;
11. Last but not the least; the Federal Government must propose a timetable for the practice of true federalism in the control of resources by every state in the federation.
Additional reports by Peter Bloom
1. What are you hoping to come out of negotiations with Abuja (FGN)? As we all know past attempts have been fairly unproductive. What will be different this time around?
We do not expect much from any negotiations if the National Assembly does not put in place the legislation to deal with fiscal federalism. Our offer is to create the international awareness of a problem the government wants to sweep under the carpet. The Nigerian government is in denial to the reality of the threat of militancy. They are like a man with HIV still in denial. The only difference is that negotiations will continue side by side with the crippling of the oil industry. The tempo of the destruction will be determined by the way the talks are going.
2. What is the purpose of having these negotiations brokered by an international figure like Jimmy Carter? What does he bring to the table that you feel will help further an environment of justice in the Niger Delta?
Carter will bring integrity. Such a man will not go into something as serious because he has a reputation to guard; unlike the leaders we have.
3. What are the demands that you want met? Please be specific. We know that the idea of equitable development in the Delta is central to your program. What does that mean? Do you have specific plans for environmental and ecological remediation that you want addressed? Are there ethnic and collective rights that you will be pushing for, what are they?
Our first demand even before a meeting kicks off is that Henry Okah should be treated well, have access to his lawyers, family and pastor. He must be allowed to have a bible and must be removed from the dungeon where a searchlight has been beamed to disorient him. His rights must not be infringed even though he is under arrest. The other things can be found in our 11 point plan which was made available in our first letter to President Bush. {the plan is included below}
4. What are you willing to give in return?
We are willing to disarm and lead normal lives.
5. If Jimmy Carter insists that he will not broker a "peace deal" unless the Nigerian government extend an official invitation to him, how long are you prepared to wait before you (MEND) lose patience?
Attacks are being planned as we communicate. We will not wait for government to play the games they have been playing for 50 years. Operation Cyclone is very much alive.
6. Does MEND feel safe in Abuja as the official venue for series of dialogue to take place or have you considered a neutral venue, if so, where?
An ideal venue will be anywhere with water access. If a figure like Carter is involved, we do not mind any location.
7. Do you have a set of pre-talk condition(s) that must be met before going ahead, if so, what are they?
They include better living conditions for Henry Okah, a pre-talk visit to him by Carter.
8.How does MEND address the problem of smaller and more isolated armed groups in the Niger Delta going forward in engaging in ceasefire, since some or most of them are not under MEND's direct control?
MEND has not been contracted to police the region. The smaller groups may be armed robbers, pirates and even the men of the Nigerian police force and the military. Every part of the country has issues with crime.
9. How does other ethnic groups feature within the peace framework, even if, they are not engaged in armed insurrection, would they have an equal voice and /or opportunity on the dialogue table?
In any struggle, there are those that will be in the background. This does not necessarily mean they are not relevant or they are not enthusiastic. That the Ijaws are leading the armed struggle is not to say we do not respect the other ethnic tribes of the Delta.
10. Do you have your negotiators in place, in case this planned process goes forward?
Yes, we already have and they are in contact with the Carter Center.
Thank you.
Jomo Gbomo
In a letter dated February 17, 2008, the MEND sent a letter to President George Bush requesting his assistance in alleviating the problems in the Niger Delta. In said letter, the MEND said, "the way forward to achieving peace in the oil rich region is the unconditional release of Henry Okah to partake in a new and genuinely transparent reconciliatory peace process. We use this opportunity to lay out a clear and simple 11- point peace proposal that should bring an enduring peace and prosperity, mutually beneficial to both countries; ending five decades of bondage on the Niger Delta region and its people."
1. Henry Okah is to be held in good condition with unfettered access to his legal representatives, family, pastor and independent international observers including the international Red Cross;
2. In return Henry will assist the new peace process in the Niger Delta;
3. MEND will declare a period of Grace in which it will halt all militia action in the Niger Delta;
4. In return military forces will halt all actions and no further troops will be deployed in the Niger Delta;
5. During the Grace period a demobilization plan will be agreed between militia, the Federal Government of Nigeria and international observers with an emphasis on education, rehabilitation, counseling, training, apprenticeship, employment and small/medium scale business opportunities that will constructively engage the militia;
6. The Federal Government of Nigeria will begin a staged military withdrawal from the Niger Delta;
7. In return MEND will commit itself to a staged disarmament commensurate with the military withdrawal from the Niger Delta;
8. In the interest of public safety, the Federal Government of Nigeria will match military withdrawal with an increase in police wages, training, orientation, equipment and improvements in police living conditions. This will assist in moving Nigeria from a military regime to a true democracy with a civilian government;
9. The Federal Government in conjunction with the State Governments of the Niger Delta region will announce details of a plan to deliver greater transparency in revenues from Federal Government, to State Governments and on to Local Governments, and application of those funds to relieve the suffering of villagers (through improvement in health services, provision of potable water, etc.) and give hope (through stimulating local economies, providing teachers wages, etc). A monitoring group composed of officials nominated by the Government and the civil society, and supervised by the World Bank, as the model experienced in Chad, will be vouched for transparency;
10. The Federal Government will announce increased funds to specific programs in communities aimed at relieving the suffering of the poor and disadvantaged citizens;
11. Last but not the least; the Federal Government must propose a timetable for the practice of true federalism in the control of resources by every state in the federation.
Additional reports by Peter Bloom
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