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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Joy at Nigeria oil deaths pay-out | Joy at Nigeria oil deaths pay-out |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Lawyers for relatives of nine anti-oil campaigners hanged in Nigeria in 1995 say they are thrilled that Royal Dutch Shell has agreed to pay compensation. | Lawyers for relatives of nine anti-oil campaigners hanged in Nigeria in 1995 say they are thrilled that Royal Dutch Shell has agreed to pay compensation. |
| The oil giant had been facing charges in the US of complicity in right abuses under Nigeria's then military rulers. | The oil giant had been facing charges in the US of complicity in right abuses under Nigeria's then military rulers. |
| Shell denies any wrongdoing but said it welcomed the $15.5m (£9.7m) settlement as part of a process of reconciliation. | Shell denies any wrongdoing but said it welcomed the $15.5m (£9.7m) settlement as part of a process of reconciliation. |
| Lawyers said the case showed that corporations were bound by the same human rights standards as individuals. | Lawyers said the case showed that corporations were bound by the same human rights standards as individuals. |
| "We litigated with Shell for 13 years and, at the end of the day, the plaintiffs are going to be compensated for the human rights violations they suffered," said Paul Hoffman, a lawyer for the Nigerian families. | "We litigated with Shell for 13 years and, at the end of the day, the plaintiffs are going to be compensated for the human rights violations they suffered," said Paul Hoffman, a lawyer for the Nigerian families. |
| For a lasting peace in the Ogoniland, Shell has to change its attitude towards the people Bariara KpalapMosop What next for the Niger Delta? class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/8090822.stm">Will Shell pay-out change Nigeria Delta? | |
| The case had been due to go to trial in the US next week, but Mr Hoffman said that even if his team had won the case, they would still have faced "years of appeals". | The case had been due to go to trial in the US next week, but Mr Hoffman said that even if his team had won the case, they would still have faced "years of appeals". |
| Judith Chomsky, of the US-based Centre for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and one of the lawyers who initiated the lawsuit 13 years ago, said she was "thrilled" with the outcome. | Judith Chomsky, of the US-based Centre for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and one of the lawyers who initiated the lawsuit 13 years ago, said she was "thrilled" with the outcome. |
| She said it sent a message that "corporations, like individuals, must abide by internationally recognised human rights standards". | She said it sent a message that "corporations, like individuals, must abide by internationally recognised human rights standards". |
| Local rights | Local rights |
| Ken Saro-Wiwa Junior described his relief, and lawyer Judith Chomsky said she was thrilled | Ken Saro-Wiwa Junior described his relief, and lawyer Judith Chomsky said she was thrilled |
| Prominent author Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other members of the Ogoni ethnic group from the Niger Delta were executed after being convicted by a military tribunal over the 1994 murder of four local leaders. | Prominent author Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other members of the Ogoni ethnic group from the Niger Delta were executed after being convicted by a military tribunal over the 1994 murder of four local leaders. |
| They had been campaigning for the rights of local people and protesting at pollution caused by the oil industry. Their deaths sparked a storm of international protest. | They had been campaigning for the rights of local people and protesting at pollution caused by the oil industry. Their deaths sparked a storm of international protest. |
| The lawsuit was brought under a 1789 law which allows US courts to hear human rights cases brought by foreign nationals over actions that take place abroad. | The lawsuit was brought under a 1789 law which allows US courts to hear human rights cases brought by foreign nationals over actions that take place abroad. |
| It alleged that Shell officials helped to supply Nigerian police with weapons during the 1990s, participated in security sweeps in parts of Ogoniland and hired government troops that shot at villagers who protested against a pipeline. | It alleged that Shell officials helped to supply Nigerian police with weapons during the 1990s, participated in security sweeps in parts of Ogoniland and hired government troops that shot at villagers who protested against a pipeline. |
| It also alleged that Shell helped the government capture and hang Ken Saro-Wiwa and several of his colleagues. | It also alleged that Shell helped the government capture and hang Ken Saro-Wiwa and several of his colleagues. |
| 'Exploited' | 'Exploited' |
| Shell has not accepted any liability over the allegations against it and said the pay-out was a "humanitarian gesture". | Shell has not accepted any liability over the allegations against it and said the pay-out was a "humanitarian gesture". |
| OGONI TIMELINE 1958 Oil struck in Ogoniland1990 Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (Mosop) formed; Ken Saro-Wiwa is president1993 300,000 Ogonis protest at neglect by government and Shell1993 Shell pull out of Ogoniland after employee is beaten1994 Conflicts flare between local communities, military sent to restore order. Mosop say conflicts being fuelled by government as a 'divide and rule' tactic.1994 Four community leaders killed by mob of youths. Mosop leaders, including Ken Saro-Wiwa, arrested1995 Mr Saro-Wiwa and eight others tried and executed; widespread condemnation of government2003-2008 International attention switches to armed conflict started by other Delta communities 2008 Government announces Shell will be removed as an operator in Ogoniland. Fresh start for Nigerian oil activists? | OGONI TIMELINE 1958 Oil struck in Ogoniland1990 Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (Mosop) formed; Ken Saro-Wiwa is president1993 300,000 Ogonis protest at neglect by government and Shell1993 Shell pull out of Ogoniland after employee is beaten1994 Conflicts flare between local communities, military sent to restore order. Mosop say conflicts being fuelled by government as a 'divide and rule' tactic.1994 Four community leaders killed by mob of youths. Mosop leaders, including Ken Saro-Wiwa, arrested1995 Mr Saro-Wiwa and eight others tried and executed; widespread condemnation of government2003-2008 International attention switches to armed conflict started by other Delta communities 2008 Government announces Shell will be removed as an operator in Ogoniland. Fresh start for Nigerian oil activists? |
| Speaking after the settlement was announced, Shell official Malcolm Brinded said it "acknowledges that, even though Shell had no part in the violence that took place, the plaintiffs and others have suffered". | Speaking after the settlement was announced, Shell official Malcolm Brinded said it "acknowledges that, even though Shell had no part in the violence that took place, the plaintiffs and others have suffered". |
| "While we were prepared to go to court to clear our name, we believe the right way forward is to focus on the future for Ogoni people, which is important for peace and stability in the region," he said. | "While we were prepared to go to court to clear our name, we believe the right way forward is to focus on the future for Ogoni people, which is important for peace and stability in the region," he said. |
| "It is our hope that we can continue to contribute to this rebuilding process and look forward to the eventual normalisation of relationships with the Ogoni people." | "It is our hope that we can continue to contribute to this rebuilding process and look forward to the eventual normalisation of relationships with the Ogoni people." |
| But Bariara Kpalap, a spokesman for the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (Mosop), said Shell had "inflicted much suffering" on the group and that the company still had to address "environmental pollution, neglect and degradation" in the region. | But Bariara Kpalap, a spokesman for the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (Mosop), said Shell had "inflicted much suffering" on the group and that the company still had to address "environmental pollution, neglect and degradation" in the region. |
| "For a lasting peace in the Ogoniland, Shell has to change its attitude towards the people. Shell should treat us as civilised human beings and not those to be exploited because of our oil," he said. | "For a lasting peace in the Ogoniland, Shell has to change its attitude towards the people. Shell should treat us as civilised human beings and not those to be exploited because of our oil," he said. |
| Ken Wiwa, 40, son of Ken Saro-Wiwa, said his father would have been happy with the result. | Ken Wiwa, 40, son of Ken Saro-Wiwa, said his father would have been happy with the result. |
| "It will provide some kind of psychological relief and release to have those who they feel were responsible for the violations of human rights, being held accountable, or being made to account for their roles in those human rights violations," he said. | "It will provide some kind of psychological relief and release to have those who they feel were responsible for the violations of human rights, being held accountable, or being made to account for their roles in those human rights violations," he said. |
| Mr Hoffman said $5m of the payment would go into a trust to benefit the people of Ogoniland. The rest would go to the plaintiffs and to pay the costs of litigation. | Mr Hoffman said $5m of the payment would go into a trust to benefit the people of Ogoniland. The rest would go to the plaintiffs and to pay the costs of litigation. |