Activists target Shell

Wednesday, August 23, 2000 - 10:00

Activists target Shell

BY SEAN HEALY

SYDNEY — Oil multinational Shell was accused of involvement in murder and gross human rights violations in Nigeria on August 18, when 40 activists staged an action against the company outside the city offices of SOCOG, the Olympics Games organisers.

The activists re-enacted the hanging of Nigerian activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, executed by the country's military government in 1995 for organising opposition to Shell operations in the southern Ogoniland region, and read out his final speech to his supporters, which ended "May God take my soul. The struggle continues."

Protest organiser Jesse Wynhausen said "We'll make Shell pay for its crimes", including by protesting against the multinational-dominated World Economic Forum in Melbourne, September 11-13, and at the opening ceremony of the Shell-sponsored Olympic Games on September 15.

The action was organised by CACTUS, the Campaign Against Corporate Tyranny in Unity and Solidarity, and the Student Environment Action Network.

From GLW issue 417