Sir, - Despite the shocking news of the death of Chief Moshood Abiola while in detention, the recent indications from Nigeria are encouraging in that the new regime, headed by General Abdulsalam Abubakar is prepared to go some way towards reform. The recent interventions by Kofi Annan, Tony Lloyd and the US delegation currently in Nigeria indicate a new openness to dialogue.
In all of this new movement, it is important that the case of the minority ethnic groups be kept to the fore. In particular, the case of the Ogoni needs to be highlighted. If General Abdulsalam Abubakar is truly moving Nigeria towards reform, he must: release the bodies of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the eight others executed with him to their families for dignified burial; set up an independent inquiry to look at the legal basis for the trial of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the eight others; demilitarise the Ogoni region and disband the State Internal Security Task Force; ensure that the Ogoni 20 be given a fair trial before the civil courts without any further undue delay of the due process of law; ensure that the bail conditions that have been met by a number of the Ogoni 20 be honoured.
As Nigeria moves towards the ending of its political and economic isolation, how it deals with its ethnic minorities, and particularly the Ogoni, can be a measure of its commitment to real change. -Yours, etc., Frank Kirwan, Majella McCarron,
Ogoni Solidarity Ireland., PO Box 6089, Dublin 1.