TEXTS OF NIGER DELTA MILITANT LETTERS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000606 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS JBRODMAN AND CGAY COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS STATE FOR S/CT MTHOMPSON AND JWEBSTER STATE FOR DS/IP/AF, AF/EX, DS/IP/OPO, DS/ICI/PII, DS/DSS/ITA, CA/EX E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV EPET PREL PTER CASC NI SUBJECT: TEXTS OF NIGER DELTA MILITANT LETTERS ¶1. (U) The following is the full text of the letter the chief of Oporoza village presented Conoffs. The letter lists the community's grievances against the GON and multi-national oil companies and was slightly edited for clarity. It is signed by the Oporoza secretary Lemon Gulbert. Begin text Oporoza Gbaramatu kingdom headquarters Our problems that needed drastic solutions ¶A. Oporoza is the headquarters of the kingdom where many companies are operating these are Abiteye (Keyengbene),Jones Creek, Otunana Flowstation, Macaraba Flowstation, Egwa I. ¶B. The crude and gas pipeline pass from our communities to Abiya. Oporoza is the headquarters of these operations areas. Oil exploration and exploitation activities started from 1957 in our communities in this kingdom but uphill now no development. ¶C. The companies refuse to develop both the traditional headquarters and other communities. Especially Chevron-Texaco and Shell. ¶D. Federal Government and State Government also refuse to develop our communities. Items needed for our communities ¶1. No standard schools in the kingdom (our communities) ¶2. We have only one secondary school. No teachers in all of our schools and lack of schoolhouses. ¶3. No health care center ¶4. No pipe-born water in our communities ¶5. No electricity ¶6. No employment opportunities ¶7. There is degradation in our communities. We need a sea wall in our communities ¶8. No road in our communities ¶9. No means of transportation in our communities in this kingdom ¶10. There is continual abandoning of projects in our communities in Oporoza. ¶11. The skill acquisition programs are not extended to our kingdom in the rural areas. Because of no employment for our youths there is no way to further education to university. End text ¶2. (U) The Kurutie town secretary also provided Conoffs with the following letter was slightly edited for clarity addressing their community's concerns: Begin text Welcome address presented by the above named community on the occasion of the visit of the U.S. Embassy on the 11th day of April 2006. Distinguished guests, Our respected chiefs, elders, community executives, youths, ladies and gentlemen. With great pleasure we welcome you to this community. Your visit today has added another significant chapter to the annals of this community. The Kurutie community is one of the oil producing communities in the kingdom. We are host to flow stations operated by Chevron and flow stations operated by Shell. These multi-national oil companies have been exploring oil in our territories for very many years without any signs of development in our community. From the many years of operations, the only impact we have from them is degeneration LAGOS 00000606 002 OF 002 of our natural resources, which has led to perpetual hardship and poverty. There are many social amenities which are lacking in this community, such as potable drinking water, electricity, employment, hospital or healthcare, scholarship for our children, school, women/youth empowerment, shore protection which are being washed away by the waves of their vessels that ply the Warri-Escravos route. We wish to remind you that we have tried several occasions to meet with these companies to discuss this pressing issues but to no avail as they turn down our requests always. This ugly situation reminds us of a common saying, "that the man who lived by the river Niger does not wash his hands with spivar, but here we are washing our bodies with spivar". This is to say we are suffering in the midst of plenty. We know, you are god sent visitors to come and see things for yourselves and improve us. Therefore, we wish to use this medium to appeal to you to use your good offices to talk to these companies to come to our aid, as this will alleviate us from this long ugly, unprogressive and under developed conditions. Once more, we thank you all for coming. We wish your safe journey back home. End text ¶3. (U) The letter was signed by the community leaders to include the chairman, Chief Ekpemupolo; secretary, Godspower Uyabribinde; spokesman, Coach James Igare; spokesman, Captain James Ubebe; chief advisor Chief Dr. Money Inpori; and council member, Ikekama Dogood. Other community leaders listed in the letter head were: Anthony Ayebidode; chairman, Charles Toruosei; vice chairman, Sir Wellington Uduboh; secretary, Mrs. Jestina Timiyan; treasure, Rueben Gbofonye; SIPDIS pro (NFI),Yuesi Pori; chief organizer, Dowell Odiki; publicity secretary, Isaac Kpenfe; assistant secretary, Lawrence Pori; financial secretary, Emmanuel Emotimide; assistant organizer, Mrs. Grace Kemebeiware; assistant treasure. The contact address on the letterhead was 5 Bright Demi Lane, off Okoloba Road, Effurun, Delta State. End Comment. BROWNE