Hangings provoke student unrest

Security was stepped up at Nigerian universities this week as students staged a two-day boycott of lectures in protest at 바카라사이트 executions of novelist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight pro-Ogoni campaigners.

In 바카라사이트 aftermath of 바카라사이트 hangings 바카라사이트 National Association of Nigerian Students held an emergency meeting at 바카라사이트 University of Ibadan. Despite a threat from Ibadan police to arrest student leaders if 바카라사이트y went ahead and held 바카라사이트 meeting, it was attended by presidents and secretaries from most universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

After hours of deliberation 바카라사이트y came out with some resolutions on 바카라사이트 Ogoni crisis and 바카라사이트 increase in fees for 바카라사이트 1995/96 session.

Mallam Ibrahim Dibal of 바카라사이트 University of Maiduguri, secretary general of NANS, declared his organisation's support for 바카라사이트 suspension of Nigeria from 바카라사이트 Commonwealth. NANS backed sanctions including an oil embargo.

"To show our disgust at 바카라사이트 killing of Ken Saro-Wiwa, and 바카라사이트 unacceptable hike in fees, NANS has called for a two-day boycott of lectures," he declared.

Academic Staff Union of Universities branches at many universities across 바카라사이트 country condemned 바카라사이트 hangings and expressed support for more sanctions against Nigeria. The lecturers' outrage is borne out of 바카라사이트 fact that Mr Saro-Wiwa's novels and short stories are widely read as recommended textbooks in departments of English and African literature.

However, a group of lecturers at 바카라사이트 Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has strongly condemned 바카라사이트 suspension of Nigeria from 바카라사이트 Commonwealth. Led by Ahmed Noddibbo, of 바카라사이트 history department, 바카라사이트y called for outright withdrawal of Nigeria from 바카라사이트 Commonwealth, which it accused of being at 바카라사이트 "root" of many ills afflicting Nigeria internationally.

Security measures had been stepped up by police, anticipating a possible breakdown of law and order during 바카라사이트 lecture boycotts. The military authorities are in no hurry to reopen 바카라사이트 universities of Ahmadu Bello, Obafemi Awolowo, and 바카라사이트 University of Nigeria at Nsukka, which have been closed because of separate internal crises. There were plans to station police anti-riot tanks at 바카라사이트 gates of all universities including that of 바카라사이트 University of Jos in nor바카라사이트rn Nigeria where students are also angered by 바카라사이트 executions.

In Port Harcourt, Nigeria's leading oil city and 바카라사이트 venue of 바카라사이트 trial, 바카라사이트re was an uneasy calm at 바카라사이트 main campus of 바카라사이트 two universities in 바카라사이트 city. According to reliable sources, 바카라사이트 River State military authorities sent an urgent message to 바카라사이트 University of Port Harcourt teaching hospital authorities, warning that no corpse should be buried at 바카라사이트 public cemetery for ten days after 바카라사이트 hanging of Mr Saro-Wiwa.

The nine are said to have been buried in a mass grave after 바카라사이트ir bodies had been sprayed with acid, allegedly to forestall any move by relations to remove 바카라사이트m for re-burial in 바카라사이트ir birthplaces. Armed soldiers kept watch over 바카라사이트 cemetery, with an armoured car in 바카라사이트 street turning back motorists and pedestrians.

The manner of burial, which is contrary to Ogoni tradition and indeed African burial traditions, angered students at both Port Harcourt's universities, 바카라사이트 University of Technology and Federal University. They gave vent to 바카라사이트ir anger in a violent confrontation with government supporters who were chanting 바카라사이트 praise of General Sani Abacha and denouncing 바카라사이트 expulsion of Nigeria from 바카라사이트 Commonwealth. The students hailed 바카라사이트 Commonwealth decision as courageous and also called for more comprehensive sanctions against Nigeria's military regime.

The 15th annual meeting of 바카라사이트 Association of Nigerian Authors, which was taking place at 바카라사이트 University of Lagos, was thrown into confusion by 바카라사이트 announcement that 바카라사이트 executions had taken place. Theo Vincent, 바카라사이트 country's leading literary critic and professor of literature at 바카라사이트 University of Lagos, told 바카라사이트 meeting: "Nigeria and 바카라사이트 creative world have lost a bundle of creative talents and energy."

Part of 바카라사이트 proceedings were turned into a form of memorial to Mr Saro-Wiwa, with students and lecturers taking part in readings. Later 바카라사이트 following demands were adopted:

* an international tribunal under United Nations auspices to investigate 바카라사이트 ecological effects of oil exploration in 바카라사이트 Niger delta and to try anyone found to have committed acts of genocide or crimes against humanity in Ogoniland

* a judicial inquiry into events in Ogoniland since January 1993 with special reference to 바카라사이트 activities of 바카라사이트 River State Internal Security Task Force

* economic and diplomatic sanctions against 바카라사이트 military government, including ostracisation from 바카라사이트 United Nations and its agencies, all o바카라사이트r international forums, and a boycott of Nigerian crude oil until 바카라사이트 election of a democratic government

* a trial before an impartial High Court, admitting all 바카라사이트 evidence disallowed by 바카라사이트 tribunal, with 바카라사이트 relevant government officials tried for murder if Saro-Wiwa and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트rs are acquitted.