Shell had an agreement with the families of Ken Saro-Wiwa and other 8 Ogoni militants killed in 1995 by the Nigerian regime with the suspected complicity of the oil company. Before the beginning of the trial Shell has agreed to pay 15.5 million dollars to the families of people killed to create a fund to help the people of the Niger Delta.
The company claims to have done that as a "humanitarian gesture" and denies having had any complicity in the death of activists, but the truth is that the company paid because they knew that, at the very least in court could be easily demonstrated their support to the dictatorship of Sani Abacha who sentenced to death 9 activists. 15.5 million dollars is small change for a multinational, but the son of Ken Saro-Wiwa said he hoped that the agreement will be a signal for large companies, which in future will be less "casual" in supporting governments that act in total disregard of human rights.
It's just a small step in a world where too often multinationals maneuver behind the scenes accomplice governments to implement the devastation of the natural life and massacres of local people, but if nothing else it means that we can give some small sign of resistance to their abuse. "We must continue to fight to make the world a better place for all humanity" as Ken Saro Wiwa wrote before his death.
Shell to Pay $ 15.5 Million to settle Nigerian case, from the New York Times
Francesco Defferrari
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