HUMAN RIGHTS MEETING BROKEN UP BY STATE SECURITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001846 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2016 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM NI SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS MEETING BROKEN UP BY STATE SECURITY REF: A. ABUJA 01547 ¶B. ABUJA 01660 Classified By: Political Counselor Russell J. Hanks for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: On July 12, a coalition of human rights groups organized a meeting to discuss the removal of Bukhari Bello as chair of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Bello had been "redeployed" by Attorney General Bayo Ojo on June 19. Human rights groups vigorously denounced Bello's removal and were expected to issue a report critical of the government at the July 12 meeting. State Security Service (SSS) officers sealed off the venue and prevented the event from taking place. Police say the event was closed because no permit had been issued for the meeting. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) The report, titled "The People vs. The Attorney General: In the Matter of the Independence of Nigeria's National Human Rights Commission," argues that Ojo did not have the power to interfere with the work of the NHRC or fire its head, since the NHRC is an independent agency. According to Jibrin Ibrahim, director of the Center for Democracy and Development (CDD),a mock trial of the Attorney General was also planned to protest the sacking. Though Ojo has never publicly explained Bello's redeployment, it has been widely reported in the media that Bello was dismissed because of the government's general unhappiness with the criticisms of the Human Rights Commission. ¶3. (C) However, embassy contacts within the Information Ministry say that Bello was fired because the NHCR had made a statement criticizing the government over the arrest of two journalists (reftels). The court proceedings against the two journalists are ongoing. While they are free on bail, they face charges of sedition and a possible jail term of 2 years. Their next hearing is July 25. ¶4. (C) COMMENT. The disruption of the July 12 human rights meeting seems to be linked to the arrested journalists and suggests an increasing intolerance for dissent. Two journalists criticized the president and were arrested by SSS on sedition charges. The NHRC criticized their arrest, and its director was subsequently relieved of his duties. Civil society responded by issuing a report criticical of government interference in NHRC independence, and SSS has tried to prevent the report from being released. The question is why is SSS moving so aggressively in this case. We believe that the crackdown is being ordered by SSS director Kayode Are, who is from Obasanjo's village and a close political ally of the president. Post will continue to monitor the situation with a particular eye towards the 2007 elections. END COMMENT. FUREY