Mark Lowe Security and Human Rights in the Niger Delta. Committee room 15, 6pm-9pm 28/11/13 Security and human rights seem to be inextricably bound up in the Niger Delta. Most recently we have seen how a Nigerian ‘human rights’ group called MEND have been instrumental in the release of a ship’s Captain and the Chief Engineer. These US sailors were taken hostage by an armed gang who had boarded a US registered oil rig supply vessel in the Niger Delta. “In a statement contained within an email purporting to come from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), it was stated that a $2-million ransom had been received for the sailors, mostly from Nigerian authorities” Read more http://www.krmagazine.com/2013/11/17/7088/ Kidnapping in the Niger Delta and similarly piracy off the coast of Somalia are violent acts, often justified by local groups who believe their human rights have been denied. In the case of Somali pirates, they have been known to be ex policemen, soldiers and fishermen who have lost their jobs and with no legitimate means to support their families they resort to crime. But maritime crime has become an industry in the Gulf of Aden while oil theft has become an industry in the Gulf of Guinea. In Nigeria things are very different of course but kidnapping is on the increase and International Oil Companies and local politicians have been accused of not doing enough: to prevent armed robbery, oil theft and of course loss of habitat and jobs; and even of removing opportunities for local communities to benefit from mineral extraction themselves. Inland waterways are horribly polluted and fisheries denuded, farming badly affected. What are the real human rights issues considering the vast regular and monthly income ($300bn pm) from oil in Nigeria and what is being done in 2013 to address long-standing problems? Eric Joyce MP Eric Joyce is the Member of Parliament for Falkirk. Eric has maintained a strong interest in defense, security and development issues. He has travelled in Africa and met with many African politicians during his time as Chairman of the Great Lakes Africa All Party Parliamentary Group, between 2003 and 2012. In January 2013 he took up a new role as the vice-Chairman of the Extractive Industries APPG. Eric consistently argues for more transparency in investment in Africa, not least in the extractive industries, for example in mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is a strong advocate for more direct investment and for more democracy in African states. He has followed the problems in Somalia and the Gulf of Aden since 2008 and most recently debated the case for maintaining stronger links between Kenya and the UK in Parliament. Read more http://investingindevelopment.com/?p=720 Governor Amaechi Rotimi Amaechi was re-elected for a second term in office in April 2011 and is currently the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum NGF. He is based in Port Harcourt and is well known for his efforts to improve services and build better infrastructure in Rivers State, overhauling the education sector and health care: building over 100 Primary Health Centers three modern hospitals, 300 Primary schools and 24 model Secondary schools. His administration has also invested massively in construction and repair of roads and bridges, in an attempt to connect rural communities and young people with jobs in the city. He continues to invest oil revenues in the city of Port Harcourt and statewide and is ever mindful of the need to create job opportunities through Agricultural development as an essential alternative to the dominant petro-economy in the Niger Delta. Martin Ewence Martin retired as a Royal Navy Commander in 2012. His last active post was with EUNAVOR in the UK and in the Gulf of Aden. He joined G4S risk Management in London as their Head of Maritime Risk Consulting in 2012 but recently became an Independent Consultant to the defense, shipping and offshore sectors. He has extensive operational experience in counter-piracy, surveillance, interdiction management and oil theft reduction. He has detailed knowledge of the Niger Delta and most recently spent four months living in Rivers State examining local problems and visiting communities in the inland waterways of the Niger Delta near Port Harcourt. Mark Lowe Mark Lowe has over 20 years experience working in the fields of security and risk assessment. He worked for nearly ten years as a consultant to the Italian Government's overseas security agency, where he also advised on several hostage-taking cases. Mark now advises clients from the defense, banking, energy and shipping sectors in the UK, USA and Africa, for crisis management, security and risk assessment. He is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Maritime Security Review. Mark is also the owner of Kidnap and Ransom (KR) Magazine, the only English language publication focused on the problem of kidnapping. Mark has specialist knowledge of private security companies in Nigeria and is currently working to raise standards of training for security personnel in Nigeria by raising human rights awareness. Dear Guest, it is our pleasure to invite you to attend a panel discussion in the House of Commons. Following on from our last very successful event ‘Environment and Security in the Gulf of Guinea’: we welcome the Executive Governor of Rivers State, The Honourable Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi who will talk about his administration and efforts to bring about change in the Niger Delta (see attached for more information about this event). Security and Human Rights Challenges in the Niger Delta In Committee Room 15, the House of Commons SW1A 0AA On Thursday the 28th of November 6.00pm - 9.00pm Speakers include The Hon Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi Governor of Rivers State, Nigeria Martin Ewence Independent Maritime Risk Consultant Mark Lowe Owner of Kidnap and Ransom Magazine. Eric Joyce MP Vice Chairman of the Extractive Industries APPG. Please RSVP: Danielle Foe danielle.foe@parliament.uk +44(0)7956543639/ 07716635358 Additional details and directions for entering parliament through the public entrance at St Stephen’s Green can be found at http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/directions/