Royal Dutch/Shell has come under more fire for its role in Nigerian operations.
In the latest development, London's Shell Centre buildings, U.K. headquarters for many of the company's international operations, was the starting point for a Jan. 4 protest against the company and Nigeria's military regime.
The Ogoni Community Association organized a march from Shell Centre to the Nigerian High Commission and on to St. James's Church, Piccadilly, for a memorial service for Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other activists executed by the Nigerian government late last year (OGJ, Nov. 20, 1995, p. 37).
Also in London, members of Britain's Royal Geographical Society voted to expell Shell as one of their sponsors because of its Nigerian operations.
Meantime, Nigerian Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Kabir Chafe said threats by Britain and the U.S. to boycott Nigeria's oil won't harm his country's economy if they develop.
Chafe told Kaduna newsmen Nigeria would simply turn to other companies waiting to do business with his country if the U.K. and U.S. make good their threats.
Target: Shell
Although Shell was once again the target of protests because of its supposed close links with government to facilitate its oil operations in Nigeria, the anti-Shell feeling was more muted than in recent months.
A Shell International spokesman said only about 30 protesters gathered outside Shell Centre, and there did not appear to be any reference to Shell in posters and banners they displayed.
The official said Shell had been asked to protest to Nigeria's government over 19 more Ogoni tribe protesters, currently held on the same charges, murder, as Saro-Wiwa and colleagues and due for trial at an undisclosed date.
In Kaduna, Chafe pointed out that Iran and Libya are under U.S. oil embargos but are still exporting their oil to other buyers.
He said Nigeria is bolstering its economic relations with China, Russia, and eastern European countries to forestall any embarrassment sanctions from the West might cause.
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