Politicians should prioritize human rights, says Amnesty

Human rights should at the core of pre- and post election activity in Nigeria so as to prevent rights abuses, Amnesty International said in a statement on Thursday. Amnesty urged all candidates in presidential, legislative and state elections which are due to be held in April-May 2003, to commit themselves publicly to placing the prevention and protection of human rights during the polls at the centre of their campaigns and give it prominence, in the case of victory, in their programmes. Amnesty pinpointed the use of militia and other civil defence forces operating on the orders of politicians as one source of rights violations in the West African nation of 120 million people. The Nigerian armed forces have also been responsible for abuses, the rights watchdog said. According to Amnesty, whose warning followed the recent death of an opposition activist, election periods in Nigeria have always been accompanied by serious rights violations, including the physical elimination of politicians. In calling on all candidates to do their "utmost" to prevent political violence, Amnesty also urged candidates to avoid instigating ethnic or religious tensions among the electorate. To promote human rights after the elections, Amnesty urged, elected state authorities to ensure that national legislation is in line with international law, that militia and other vigilante groups are banned, and that national armed forces receive training in human rights and the use of force. Amnesty's full statement