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Drilling and Killing: Landmark Trial Against Chevron Begins Over Its Role in the Niger Delta

by via Democracy Now
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 :A landmark trial has begun against the oil giant Chevron. A San Francisco district court is hearing a case brought by Nigerian plaintiffs who accuse Chevron of recruiting and supplying Nigerian military forces involved in May 1998 shooting and killing of protesters in the oil-rich Niger Delta. The protesters were occupying a Chevron-owned oil platform called the Parabe, demanding jobs and compensation for environmental damage to their communities.
Soon after landing in Chevron-leased helicopters, the Nigerian military shot to death two protesters, Jola Ogungbeje and Aroleka Irowaninu, and wounded several others. The eleven activists were detained for three weeks. During their imprisonment, one activist said he was handcuffed and hung from a ceiling fan hook for hours for refusing to sign a statement written by Nigerian federal authorities.

Chevron claims force was used to defend the platform from a violent assault and hostage-taking by the protesters.
It’s is being sued under the Alien Tort Claims Act, which allows foreign nationals to take legal action over crimes against them overseas.

In a moment we’ll be joined by two human rights activists involved in the case, but first I want to turn to an excerpt of the documentary, “Drilling and Killing.” Democracy Now correspondent Jeremy Scahill and I traveled to the Niger Delta to investigate Chevron”s role in the killings. In the documentary, a Chevron official acknowledged to us that on May 28, 1998, the company transported Nigerian soldiers to the Parabe oil platform.

This is an excerpt of “Drilling & Killing.”

"Drilling & Killing

An excerpt of “Drilling and Killing”, my documentary with Jeremy Scahill on Chevron”s role in violence against Nigerian villagers.

We go now to San Francisco where the lawsuit against Chevron is being heard. I’m joined by two guests. Laura Livoti is the Founder of Justice In Nigeria Now. And Omoyele Sowore is a longtime Nigerian human right activist, arrested and tortured by the Nigerian military government for his political activities. He runs the Nigeria news website SaharaReporters.com"

Laura Livoti, Founder of Justice In Nigeria Now.

Omoyele Sowore, longtime Nigerian human right activist, arrested and tortured by the Nigerian military government for his political activities. He runs the Nigeria news website SaharaReporters.com"

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