Evidence of meeting #3 for Subcommittee on International Human Rights in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was police.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
DJ Switch, As an Individual
I think I can say something here.
With regard to police being charged, I'm just going to be straight up and tell you no.
There is the facade of policemen being charged. There is the facade of justice being served, but it's never served. It has devolved to the point where a policeman can actually say, in front of a camera, that he could do anything to you and nothing will happen.
That's the short answer.
Abdulrazak Namdas Member, House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
[Inaudible—Editor] one of the witnesses and a member on the national assembly [Inaudible—Editor]
Conservative
Kenny Chiu Conservative Steveston—Richmond East, BC
In the interest of time, I'm just going to move on.
My next set of questions is about the free flow of information in Nigeria to date.
Does the government have control of media in general via direct strongarm control or through funded biases, which is soft-arm control?
National Coordinator, Biafrans in Canada Community Association
Can I say something on that?
National Coordinator, Biafrans in Canada Community Association
It will appear on the surface that with regard to freedom of information, the press is free to speak on issues, but that's not really what is on the ground.
Corruption is so deep in the Nigerian society that you can literally.... If you want somebody to write anything in the newspaper, you can call a journalist and give them an envelope. In fact, one of the politicians was rebuked for remarks he made. He was in a press conference and somebody asked him questions. He told the journalist that the he was one of those people who gets envelopes from people.
The state of journalism has been gradually dying. There were days of Dele Giwa, a renowned journalist who did investigative journalism. The government sent him a letter bomb and he died. It was just a way to intimidate people, and that has continued. Then you put into the mix that there are supra-ethnic groups in Nigeria competing. There are these biases that will frame this question.
In summary, there's no press freedom.
Conservative
Member, House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
I would like to add something to that, please, if you don't mind.
My name is Abdulrazak Namdas.
I've also practised journalism in Nigeria for close to 20 years, and I happen to be....
Can you hear me now?
Member, House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
The question, if I heard him right, is if the government has control over the media. I want to say that in Nigeria, the government has to liberalize the media. People have electronic and print media in their houses. Of course, the government also owns its own media, which is NTA, which they control. The practitioners won't have a problem if they collect a bribe and then write for people. That would not be blamed on government. What we're talking about is the state actually stopping people from publishing.
I would say yes, because—
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca
The time is over. We're pressed for time.
Thank you. We're going to move to the Bloc member, Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe, please, for seven minutes.
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you very much to all the witnesses.
I would like to apologize for being late. It was not out of disrespect, but because of a technical problem in my part of the country, in northern Quebec. I'm really sorry about that.
Thank you for being with us today. You are here because you need help at the international level. Your presence here is proof of that. I know that Nigeria has signed the nine core international human rights treaties, such as the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, as well as international treaties on civil and political rights. In short, Nigeria has formally signed these treaties. If you are with us, then logically, the international community must act.
My first question is for you, Ms. Ojigho. In your opinion, what is the responsibility of the international community with regard to violations of these treaties?
Country Director, Amnesty International Nigeria
Thank you very much.
The international community's responsibility is to impress upon Nigeria to respect the rights of everyone within its territory and to be in compliance with the international obligations it has under international law. Definitely, whenever there are incidents of extradition and executions and grievous crime that go unpunished, it means that the rest of the world is in greater danger of losing its humanity, so there is a moral duty as well as a legal obligation of the government to ensure that justice is served.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
How should the international community act, in your opinion? How can we help you?
Country Director, Amnesty International Nigeria
One thing that has worked a lot is messages to the Nigerian president that the violence needs to stop and that protection for human rights must be defended. For justice mechanisms to work, witnesses and human rights defendants should have the safety and protection to be able to appear and share their testimony. As you've heard from some of the witnesses today, they are in hiding because the country is not safe for them anymore and this, I think, is already inhibiting the justice mechanisms that the government has itself set for it to be effective. Without that protection, it cannot happen.
An observation mission to Nigeria would help, because that would prevent situations of witnesses being put on no-fly lists or being in danger when the government does not provide police to protect them so that they can attend and give their testimony and be safe from non-state actors who want to harm them or who want to prevent the truth from happening. An observation mission is something we would encourage at this time.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Today you are talking to us, and we hear your testimonies. However, I imagine that the Nigerian government, for its part, is also making representations to say that everything is going well in the country and that nothing bad is happening. Do you have some idea of what the Nigerian government is currently doing?
I put the question to all of the witnesses. One of you may be able to answer it.
Stella Kemdirim Member, Biafrans in Canada Community Association
Can I respond? It's Stella Kemdirim. I just want to add to what my colleague Ms. Osai Ojigho said. I hope I am saying that correctly.
In addition to what one can expect from the international community—
Can you hear me okay?
Member, Biafrans in Canada Community Association
An observation mission would be excellent and would address your last question about what the Nigerian government is saying.
The Nigerian government can say one thing, but what they do is another thing, so an observation mission is an excellent idea.
In addition to that, what I would suggest is to impose sanctions. It could be easily done at the international level, and by Canada even, because Canada does have some trade relationships with Nigeria. Imposing sanctions could have a great impact, in my opinion—