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Organised resistance to waterfront demolitions grows as court case adjourned again

7th December - The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has again adjourned the case bought by the Okirika Ijwas against the Rivers state government on the legality of the planed demolitions of waterfront areas of the city.

Those wounded by police in the October demonstrations were at the courthouse ready to appear as living witnesses but will now have to wait until 21st January 2010 for the hearing to continue.

Organised resistance to the demolitions within communities has been growing in recent weeks following the killings in Bundu-Ama when residents protested at the demolition of their homes by the Rivers State Government.

On December 2nd local communities came together along with SDN, Social Action, SERAC, Amnesty International and other organisations working in the Delta to attend a one day concert in Bundu organised by Concerned Citizen, a community group campaigning against evictions. This followed from an earlier meeting on 25th November organised by community leaders and local NGO's.

The organisers said that the human rights of the People of Bundu were violated by the Rivers State governor who sent military and Police to attack the peaceful protesters demonstrating against forced eviction on October 12th 2009.

Amongst the number of International organisations present at the event, Doctors Without Borders advised the community to approach them for medical attention should they need it. Amnesty International, SDN and local NGO's will be monitoring the situation in the coming months as the communities organise themselves to resist further demolitions.

SDN's Country Director, Mr. Inemo Samiama said “SDN will work with Amnesty International to let people stand up for their rights, collectively we will be strong, if we fight this challenge legally we will win.”

SDN and it's local and international partners will continue to support community efforts in the Niger–Delta to resist the forced eviction of communities from the waterfront areas of the city.

>> Killings in Bundu-Ama Community as residents resist demolitions

>> Read news reports on the displacements and demolitions collated in the SDN Newsroom

>> Video documenting the forced evictions in Njemanze community in September/October

>> Slideshow of life in Bundu-Ama Community