MEND declares ceasefire in N-Delta

Posted by admin Headlines, Niger Delta Saturday, May 31st, 2014

By EMMA AMAIZE
WARRI- THE Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, declared a temporal ceasefire with effect from yesterday (Friday) in the Niger-Delta, citing the olive branch offered by President Goodluck Jonathan in his Democracy Day speech.

The group in a statement by its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, announcing cessation of hostilities, unpredictably expressed confidence in the capability of the Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, who it had derided previously to facilitate a new peace process.

Its words: “Initial discussions will be facilitated through your Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Mr Kingsley Kuku who we will be comfortable to work with.”

.MEND urged President Jonathan to reciprocate its goodwill by suspending all court proceedings and drop all charges against those (MEND members/sympathisers) awaiting trial.

The group requested further requested a presidential pardon for those already tried and convicted, in addition to ordering “the release MEND fighters still in detention facilities, including the Okah brothers, Henry and Charles, who will feature prominently in the new dialogue team.”

Quoting the President’s speech where he said, ‘Our doors remain open to them (aggrieved armed groups) for dialogue and reconciliation if they renounced terrorism (armed struggle and embrace peace,’ MEND said it was disappointed in the past that government listened to bad advisers and arrogantly jettisoned dialogue with its negotiation delegates, the Aaron Team in 2009.

It noted: “Since that slight, your government has known no peace from our region in spite of billions poured into propaganda and security. This slight was also responsible for the Independence Day attack of October 01, 2010, carried out to counter the impression that MEND has ceased to exist just because a few greedy, short sighted and misguided elements within and outside our ranks chose to betray their people.”

“Unfortunately, avoidable lives, which we regret, were lost on that day due to the security agencies refusal to act on our advanced warning ahead of the attack.

“Although it is a natural instinct to support one’s own, our struggle has never been about a Niger Delta President or 2015. We are looking at 2060, when our oil wells may have run dry and the future consequences to that generation yet unborn,” the group stated.

MEND asserted: “We hold you to your words, as the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) declare a ceasefire effective 0700Hrs, Friday 30 May, 2014 by calling off our ‘Hurricane Exodus’ campaign and other acts of sabotage; especially our incessant attacks on gas and oil pipelines, erroneously or mischievously attributed to oil thieves.”

The militant group said: “Your (Jonathan’s) response to us in the coming days and weeks may discourage or encourage other insurgent groups to follow suit, bringing about the real peace in our country that comes only after justice.”

-Vanguard
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