May, 20 2009, 03:50pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Jen Nessel, 212.614.6449, jnessel@ccrjustice.org
David Lerner, Riptide Communications, dlerner@riptideonline.com
Royal Dutch Shell to Go to Trial May 27 for Alleged Complicity in Torture and Murder of Nigerian Protesters
NEW YORK
On Wednesday, May 27,
2009 at 10am, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), co-counsel
EarthRights International (ERI), and other human rights attorneys will appear
before Judge Kimba Wood of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of
New York for a human rights case against the Royal Dutch Shell company and the
head of its Nigerian operation, Brian Anderson.
Wiwa v. Royal Dutch Petroleum
and Wiwa v. Anderson are two
lawsuits on behalf of relatives of murdered activists who were fighting for
human rights and environmental justice in Nigeria. The cases charge the
corporation and this key official with complicity in the November 10, 1995 hanging of Ken
Saro-Wiwa and other leaders in the nonviolent opposition to Shell's pattern of
human rights abuses and environmental destruction: John Kpuinen, Saturday
Doobee, Daniel Gbokoo, Felix Nuate, and Dr. Barinem Kiobel. The cases also
include charges for the torture, detention, and forced exile of Mr. Saro-Wiwa's
brother, Dr. Owens Wiwa, and Michael Tema Vizor; and the shooting of Karololo
Kogbara and Uebari N-nah in two attacks on peaceful
protestors.
Jury selection
is expected to last at least 1-2 days. Opening arguments are expected to begin
Thursday, May 28 at the earliest, or early the following
week. Please
check www.wiwavshell.org for
updates.
WHAT: Start of trial in
Wiwa v. Royal Dutch Petroleum
and Wiwa v. Anderson
WHEN: Wednesday, May 27,
2009,10am
WHO: CCR attorneys Jennie
Green and Maria
LaHood, ERI attorneys Marco Simons and Rick Herz, and cooperating attorneys
Judith Brown Chomsky, Anthony
DiCaprio and Beth
Stephens, and Paul
Hoffman of Schonbrun, DeSimone,
Seplow, Harris and Hoffman.
WHERE: United States District Court of
the Southern District of New
York 500 Pearl St. New York, NY
For complete pdf's of the legal briefs and further
background information, click here
or visit www.ccrjustice.org and www.earthrights.org.
The Center for Constitutional Rights is dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. CCR is committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change.
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