Nigerian group seeks Obama’s amnesty

Nigerian group seeks Obama’s amnesty
By Emmanuel Obe, Onitsha
Published: Monday, 10 Nov 2008
The International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law has said that the election of Senator Barack Obama as the President of the United States has dealt a fatal blow on aristocracy and racism in the world.

In a reaction to the historic election of an African American as US’ 44th President, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Intersociety, Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, said in a statement in Onitsha on Friday that the feat was a victory against mental slavery.

He said, “The Obama‘s grand victory is a wake up call on the authorities in Zimbabwe to reconsider her persecution policies against her white population. The Brazilian and the Australian authorities must stop centuries-old persecution and suppression of the Aborigines.

“The State of Israel must live side by side and in peace with the Palestinian People. The Asyut Christian Community in Egypt must no long suffer persecution and silent annihilation in the hands of the Egyptian authorities.”

He said the terror groups in the world must also seize the opportunity to renounce violence and return to the path of peace, whose guarantee has been provided by Obama’s election.

But he said Obama must see his victory as a challenge to reform the American society and give hope for peace to the rest of the world.

“The United States must ratify all outstanding international treaties, such as International Criminal Court, Convention on Land Mines, Convention on the Ban of Cluster Munitions, Convention on the Right of the Child, Moratorium on Death Penalty, Convention on Torture, etc.

“Also, under the regime of Senator Obama, the United Nations‘ overdue reforms must be carried out. The African Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA, shall be implemented to the letter. This will complement the Millennium Development Goals and the NEPAD policies and efforts.

“Finally, the Muslim nations and organisations, especially the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Conference should celebrate Obama’s victory by revisiting their radical stance on world affairs.

“The policy of “forceful Islamic conquest”, adopted by some radical Islamic nations and groups‘ leaders in the 1970s, must give way to ‘conquest by persuasion’. We urge the al-qaeda, the Hamas, the Hizbollah, the Abu Sayyah, the Muslim Brotherhood, the Al-Jihad and host of others to reconsider their radical stance and renounce violence.

“On the other hand, the US must grant Osama Bin Laden and host of others in the US wanted list, amnesty only in criminal prosecution, if they change.”