Irish African unity for justice in Nigeria & Rossport!
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news report
Monday November 14, 2005 10:39
by RSupport - Shell to Sea
Remembering Ken Saro-Wiwa - Shell to Sea!
Hundreds of people from all walks of life braved the Mayo weather on Saturday to witness a truly spectacular event.
A mural of murdered Nigerian writer and activist Ken Saro-Wiwa was unveiled outside the planned Shell/Statoil Bellanaboy refinery.
Ogoni 9 memorial crosses laid by Nigerian Asylum seekers
The unveiling was performed by a 4 year old Ogoni boy now resident in Ireland following prayers lead by an African minister.
The event, attended by Irish and African people from Cork to Donegal, commemorated the 10th anniversary of the executions of Shell protestors Ken Saro Wiwa and his 8 comrades on the 10th of November 1995.
Following the unveiling of the mural, 9 Nigerial Asylum Seekers walked in procession with 9 crosses bearing the names of the 'Ogoni 9' and planted them in front of 9 hangman's ropes in bogland facing the disputed terminal.
It was a chilling reminder to the community, to the country and to the multinational of what happened when these brave men peacefully objected to the destruction of the homes and land 10 years ago.
Later on a party for Africans living in Ireland was hosted by Shell to Sea in nearby Glenamoy and featured African food and drink, a reggae DJ and African drumming and dance.
There was a powerful energy amongst all present who knew they were taking part in an historic event that will be seen as a milestone in the ongoing battle against Shell, Statoil and their political supporters.
The struggle continues and the resolve increases - it's SHELL TO SEA!
Mural of Ken Saro-Wiwa with Irish inscription
Unveiling of mural outside doomed Ballinaboy terminal
African brothers in solidarity with Mayo
One people - One world! Justice for all...
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Comments (11 of 11)
Jump To Comment: 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1I agree, the use of nooses in this part of the country is is a disgrace, you only have to look back nto our history to know why. Do these people think that Shell will do the same thing here, i.e. hang some locals. Get real, Nigeria is a far cry from Rossport. Scare mongering tactics, thats what they call it. Show some respect for the locals, and if you dont like it go back to the UK.
ya I have to agree with you tom, the nooses were a disgrace, and yes we do have a fairly high rate of suicides in this area, and what made it more disgusting is that the week prior to that saturday, a local individual had taken his own life with a noose. this is a small area and it was well known to all of this sad death, yet they (the protesters at Ballinaboy) still went ahead and put up the nooses, but I believe the Ballinaboy residence group did ask them to take them down, in respect for the poor dead man. so sad to see our area lowered to this level and please dont come back with a stupid comment like " shell has drove us to this" we're sick of hearing this.
Pete,
You cannot make a comparison to between a car on the road and a noose which somebody may have been driven to find themselves using. A car is an everyday item, used every hour of every day across every country in the world. A hangmans noose is one of those rare items that should never rear its ugly face in any society but sadly it does on occasion. And when it does, you get it down and destroy it so quickly as if the very sight of it causes your eyes to burn.
You do not erect 8/9 nooses in a small rural community and parade them there for all to see. There are people in Rossport , I can guarantee you, who are indifferent to this whole gas debate, but are very offended by the nooses.
I think that the erection of those ropes was a step too far and may have turned one or two people against the protests. Fine, protest against the gas, get Shell out to sea but come on folks......think about your actions first before you do it. You do not have exclusive rights to the townland of Rossport.
whilst i am sorry that you might have felt offence at nooses and crosses being used in commeroation of 9 men being hung by a corrupt governmant in pay of the very same company that seeks to endangers local residence and exploit our naturasl resources for thier benefit, your comment about insensitivity doesnt seem to extend to disgust at the sight of cars, which have killed many poeple, or the fact that crosses are all around on church buildings.
are we all to hide the pain inflicted upon us by a society based on econimic growth(read grow for the few) and not on human need, respect and compassion
I feel compelled to mention how disgusted I am at the sight of 8 hang-mans nooses in the Rossport area last week.
This is so far outside the whole pro / anti gas discussion and debate that its ridiculous. This whole campaign has been to get Shell to process their gas out at sea, not about dragging up memories for local people who may have suffered at the hands of a noose.
Ok, maybe Ken Waro whatever was hung in Nigeria but what is to be gained by coming to a small Irish village which has been directly affected by suicide on a number of occasions down through the years and parading crosses and nooses around the area. Thats not Solidarity, thats disgraceful and insensitive
Whoever wrote " May the blessings of god be with you stevo" is on another planet.
May you be ashamed to show your face in Rossport Stevo more like. Sickening.
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us ... that we be made heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 3: 13 & 29.
The blessings of God be on you Stevo.
Actually slight correction to above comment about 9 Nigerian refugees in that one of us was a half-kenyan geezer who's been hanging around the Solidarity camp half the summer.
'twas me carried the 8th cross.
Stevo
The very large mural of Ken Saro-Wiwa unveiled on 12 Nov. 2005 in Rossport, Co. Mayo was painted by John Monaghan and Chris Philbin, both living in Rossport and closely related to the Rossport 5.
In coversation the evening before the unveiling I was told it took a full two weeks working from about 10am to midnight every day.
I want to say a very special thanks to them both for their time and professional talent so generously given.
My thanks also to AJ Cahill who offered his time and energy and special organisation skills that stretched from Meath to Mayo to give so many of us a memorable African Monster Party.
I can say that the party was very good...
we raised a lot os support..
come back again
An chóir an chóir i gcónaí!!!
A giant mural of the executed Ogoni leader Ken Saro-Wima was unveiled in North Mayo last Saturday at the site of Shell’s proposed gas terminal in Ballanaboy. The unveiling took place before a large crowd of local people and Africans. The mural was blessed by an African pastor and was officially performed by a four-year-old Ogoni boy, the first Ogoni born in Ireland. Nine white crosses, commemorating the nine Ogoni activists executed in 1995, were placed facing the proposed terminal.
Following the moving ceremony, a monster party was held in Healy’s in Glenamoy featuring African food and music. This was attended by a large crowd. This was a unique occasion in Ireland with an exhilarating mixing of cultures, music and language.
‘The event cements the close bond that has formed between the people of North Mayo and Ogoniland’, commented AJ Cahill, one of the chief organisers of the event. ‘Both share a common struggle against Shell’s attempts to extract natural resources, attempts which have given rise to serious environmental damage and risk.’
Ken Sara-Wiwa’s brother Owens Wiwa has visited North Mayo on a number of occasions and spoke at the rally in Dublin the day following the release of the Rossport Five.