MEND in Nigeria (anti-oil company guerillas)

[Os Cangaceiros]

I've been doing some research on guerilla groups (out of nothing except curiousity), and since I've never seen anyone bring this group up on Revleft (I think they've been brought up on anarchistnews before, though), I thought I'd create this topic. MEND sounds like kind of a strange group, at least according to the Wiki article about them...they "contract" out help from local tribes and criminal gangs in Nigeria for their operations. Has anyone else heard of this organization or have any info?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movement_for_the_Emancipation_of_the_Niger_Delta

[Nolan]

I've heard of it, to answer the question.

[Os Cangaceiros]

I was suprised to get a response that fast!

[mosfeld]

I think that they're a progressive group and a natural response to neo-colonialist penetration of Nigeria. Their targets have always been against the foreign oil companies and their bombs have always come with warning, something that might make liberals on this forum happy to find out.

In my opinion, though, these types of groups cannot liberate Nigeria. Their tactics reminiscent of petty-bourgeois nationalists like the PKK and the PIRA, and all sorts of focoist groups which have basically been divorced from the masses and denied them participation in their own liberation. What Nigeria needs, once again in my opinion, is a MLM Party which is ready initiate a People's War which will subsequently unleash the masses to fight for their own liberation and drive out the oil companies and other reactionaries.

[khad]

I've been doing some research on guerilla groups (out of nothing except curiousity), and since I've never seen anyone bring this group up on Revleft
You suck at searching. I hope you understand that. TVM even linked a trailer to a documentary on the situation in the Niger Delta and the rebels.

Here are some threads, including 2 by me:

http://www.revleft.com/vb/nigeria-militants-call-t128713/index.html

http://www.revleft.com/vb/mend-attacks-oil-t112453/index.html

http://www.revleft.com/vb/henry-okah-released-t112981/index.html

http://www.revleft.com/vb/mend-niger-deltas-t135850/index.html

http://www.revleft.com/vb/conflict-heats-up-t111228/index.html

[Os Cangaceiros]

I wasn't really searching on this particular site. But thanks. :wub: