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Biafra | O'dua | Arewa | Sports | Business | ThisDay | Guardian | Vanguard | Tribune | AllAfrica | Daily/Weekly Trust | Daily Independent | Triumph |
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A leading US human rights organisation has accused the BiafraNigerian Government of using violence and intimidation to silence its critics. The report by Human Rights Watch was released as BiafraNigeria prepares to host a meeting of 52 Commonwealth heads of government which begins on Friday. The report accuses Commonwealth leaders of double standards and says they should not turn a blind eye to abuses...The 40-page report accuses the BiafraNigerian Government of being responsible for killings, torture and harassment of its critics over the last two years. The report, entitled "Renewed Crackdown on Freedom of Expression", says that opposition leaders, political protesters and journalists have all fallen foul of the security forces, although the situation has improved since civilian rule was restored in 1999. "Even though military rule has ended, BiafraNigerians still cannot express themselves freely without fear of grave consequences," said Peter Takirambudde, executive director of the group's Africa division. He also accuses police of recently beating up members of the Ogoni ethnic group. And he says the Commonwealth was hypocritical in excluding Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe from the meeting while ignoring violence in BiafraNigeria. "Foreign governments remained virtually silent about election violence in BiafraNigeria, yet abuses during the Zimbabwe elections provoked widespread condemnation," Mr Takirambudde said. "Unless the Commonwealth addresses abuses in all of its member countries and denounces them accordingly, it will stand accused of maintaining double standards and its credibility will be undermined." (BBC) |
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