[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 190 (Thursday, November 30, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2268]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 LIBERTYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PROTEST AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES 
                               IN NIGERIA

                                 ______


                        HON. JOHN EDWARD PORTER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 30, 1995

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I always have said that I am honored to 
represent one of the most educated, enlightened, caring districts in 
our country. Today, the meritorious actions by some of the younger 
members in my district have proven my point, making me proud once 
again. I want to commend the Libertyville High School students in my 
district, who last week waged a protest outside a local Shell gasoline 
station in response to the barbarous executions of Ken Saro-Wiwa and 
eight other Ogoni leaders by the Nigerian military regime. Under the 
banner of Amnesty International, these students hope to put pressure on 
Shell, whose Nigerian branch alone accounts for half the government's 
income, to use their financial power to influence positive change in 
Nigeria.
  In a time when we question our ability to influence global change, I 
praise these high school students not only for their global awareness, 
but also for heir compassion and drive that has compelled them to rise 
from the classroom and take their cause to a forum where their demands 
cannot be ignored. Refusing to be silent, these half-dozen students 
have no inhibitions about sending a loud message to an oil giant that 
it has a moral and ethical responsibility to use its power to help 
influence the Nigerian Government to stop committing these atrocious 
human rights violations.
  I fully support these students who have reiterated my own outrage at 
the Nigerian regime. As cochairman of the Congressional Human Rights 
Caucus, I have sent numerous letters to the Nigerian Government 
demanding reform. Additionally, I held hearings in response to the 
latest tragic executions. Today, Representative Don Payne of New Jersey 
and I and a number of other original cosponsors will introduce a bill 
calling for sanctions against Nigeria. We must all continue putting 
pressure on the Nigerian Government any way we can, until democracy and 
the rule of law is restored to Nigeria. I am pleased to work with the 
Libertyville High School students to this end.

                          ____________________