Action Update: Monday at 4pm ET

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Monday, September 8, 2008

American documentary filmmaker Andrew Berends remains in the custody of the Nigerian State Security Services, now 9 days after his arrest and detention on false charges.

The State Security Service (SSS) still has Andrew’s passport and belongings, and they have given no indication of when they intend to release him.

We believe that New York Senators Clinton and Schumer need to put continued pressure on the State Department and the Nigerian Government to secure the immediate release of Andrew Berends, a native of New York, and Samuel George, the Nigerian translator with whom he worked, who is also detained by the SSS.

Therefore, we ask everyone to contact the offices of Clinton and Schumer to demand decisive action.

What to say:

• As a constituent and a concerned citizen, I wanted to bring your attention to the continued detention of American journalist Andrew Berends and his translator, Samuel George, in Nigeria. Having been arrested nine days ago, he has still not been charged.

• Thank you for the work you have done so far, however, the continued detention of Andrew and Samuel, after nine days with no official charges made against them is a bad sign. Please commit to stepping up your level of involvement on this issue, and continuing to apply consistent pressure to your colleagues in Congress and the State Department to have Andrew and Samuel released.

• Nigeria enjoys the highest level of diplomatic relations with the United States, and for an American journalist to be detained without representation and subjected to coercive questioning is both highly inappropriate and illegal.

Reaching the Senators:

The contact information for NY senators Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer is:

• Senator Charles Schumer (D- NY) 212-486-4430 or email Senator Schumer

• Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D- NY) 212-688-6262 or email Senator Clinton

Action Alert: 9/8/08

Action Alert: Monday September 8th

It is the middle of the day on Monday in Nigeria, and Andrew has already been re-detained and questioned for over 3 hours with the State Security Service (SSS).

The more pressure we apply to our elected leaders (and by extension to the State Department) the sooner Andrew will be released. Your collective calls on Friday made a huge difference, and Andrew was able to spend the weekend in comfort thanks to YOUR efforts on the phone. Please don’t stop now.

Please contact your local congressional representatives TODAY and ask them to continue to put political pressure on this issue. If you have already called them on this matter, call again to follow up. You can find your local representatives here.

What to say:

• As a constituent and a concerned citizen, I wanted to bring your attention to the continued detention of American journalist Andrew Berends and his translator, Samuel George, in Nigeria. Having been arrested eight days ago, he has still not been charged, and is currently being subjected to yet another day of interrogation.

• Nigeria enjoys the highest level of diplomatic relations with the United States, and for an American journalist to be detained without representation and subjected to coercive questioning is both highly inappropriate and illegal.

• We ask you to make known your awareness and concern about this matter, contact your colleagues in Congress and the State Department, and work to ensure the good treatment and speedy release of Andrew Berends and his interpreter from Nigerian custody

Senators from New York:

We would like everyone to call both their own local representatives and also the two Senators from New York State. When talking with New York reps, please add that Andrew is a New Yorker. Both the NY senators have previously spoken out on Andrew’s behalf, but it is critical that they keep up the pressure on their State Department counterparts TODAY. Please call and ask for their urgent and immediate attention to this matter.

The contact information for NY senators Clinton and Schumer is:

• Senator Charles Schumer (D- NY) 212-486-4430

• Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D- NY) 212-688-6262

Please forward this call to action to anyone you think could help by making a call to their representatives and the NY senators.

Word from Andrew:

“A Million Thanks”: Andrew Berends

The following is an email Andrew was able to send out recently. It is intended as a thank you to all the readers and followers of this site, as well as anyone else who reached out so far in this effort.

We are thankful that Andrew is comfortable for the moment, but urge you to please check back here on Monday, when Andrew is returned into SSS custody. There may still be more to do.

Dear Friends,

I am overwhelmed by the extraordinarily deep pool of effort, time,
ingenuity, concern, love, and prayers to which you have all
contributed. During what has been a dark week, I have been uplifted
knowing that so many people have been thinking about me and helping me.

I am also grateful that people saw the importance of remembering to advocate for Samuel George who has served as my translator and friend. Of all his traits, I appreciate Samuel most for his honesty and integrity.

And Joe Bussio who hosted me from time to time has not been forgetten. Joe was also unnecessarily dragged into this mess. If he is guilty of anything, it is excessive kindness.

If you’re ever in trouble, there is no one better to have in your
corner than Aaron Soffin. And with James Longley working at his side, your enemies don’t stand a chance.

I am in a hotel in Abuja, enjoying the respite of a weekend recess
from this ongoing investigation into my alleged wrongdoings. It is
important to understand that we are not out of the woods yet, but
hopeful that the matter will be resolved quickly.

There is one boy I filmed here who has endured far more difficulties
than I have. He made a statement which has given me great solace. He said, “Any time that you wake up, it’s your morning. Now is the bitter time. I pray that soon we will enter into the joy side.” I couldn’t put it any better myself.

Please accept my gratitude for all that you have done for me.

I know that many other people have helped in this effort who may not be on this e-mail, or whose names I may not know. Please extend my deepest thanks to them as well.

- Andrew

Weekend Update:

“Still holding our breath”

Two new pieces of news coverage regarding Andrew this morning — both important in better understanding the situation in Nigeria as well as the nature of Andrew’s temporary release. While everyone is relieved that things have moved forward, this ordeal is definitely not over and we can’t give up our vigilance.

First is a radio interview with Aaron Soffin, Andrew’s producer and editor, and Sandy Cioffi from the documentary Sweet Crude.

Sandy and her Seattle based crew were detained in Nigeria under similar circumstances back in April 2008. Listen to hear more about the circumstances of Andrew’s arrest, the situation on the ground for journalists in Nigeria and why a better understanding of this complex area is critically important.

Click here to listen

You can also reach the radio interview by visiting the KPFA website

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Also, the New York Times ran an update about Andy’s situation today. You can read it below:

Nigeria: Brief Release for Prisoner

By WILL CONNORS

Published: September 6, 2008

Andrew Berends, an American filmmaker who was arrested Sunday and charged with spying, has been moved to the capital, Abuja, and released for the weekend. He is still under arrest, however, and must report back to the State Security Services on Monday. American Embassy officials in Nigeria and State Department officials in Washington are working for his full release. Mr. Berends’s Nigerian interpreter, Samuel George, has also been released. Amnesty International had issued a statement warning that Mr. George might have been tortured and urged that both men be released immediately.

Latest News:

Cautious optimism

Andy & Samuel provisionally released:

Andy’s provisional release is great news. We maintain cautious optimism that he will be on his way home very soon. We will let you know if it becomes important to resume the barrage of phone calls to the State department. Feel free to continue contacting your legislators, encouraging them to monitor the situation and take any appropriate action until we know for sure Andy is safely out of Nigeria . Ask that they not forget to mention Samuel George, who has also been provisionally released in Port Harcourt . Also please request that they keep the Niger Delta on their radar screen and act to prevent this happening to anyone else. Huge thanks to everyone who has worked on Andy’s behalf.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

*****************CONTAINS UPDATES***********************

CONTACT Aaron Soffin, Storyteller Productions Phone: 917.887.4063
/ 212.712.2781 Email: soffin@gmail.com

American filmmaker provisionally released from Nigerian custody to US embassy personnel

NEW YORK, September 5, 2008 – American filmmaker Andrew Berends is being provisionally released to US embassy personnel late Friday night, but is required to return to the State Security Services on Monday for what is expected to be routine final processing. Berends was moved Friday from the SSS offices in Port Harcourt to the Nigerian capital of Abuja. His translator, Samuel George and a Port Harcourt businessmanhave apparently also been provisionally released in Port Harcourt and must return to the SSS there on Monday.

“Andrew’s family, friends and colleagues are relieved and happy to hear of this progress and appreciate the hard work on many fronts to get to this point,” said Aaron Soffin, Berends’ colleague and coordinator of the release efforts. “We trust that his final processing on Monday will be expedient and routine. We are anxious for confirmation that he is safely on his way out of the country.”

When she heard the news Polly Berends, his mother, said, “Nothing will make me happier than to hear his voice, except to hug him.”

Hearing of Berends’ arrest Senator Charles Schumer, D-New York and Senator Hillary Clinton, D-New York, each responded with a letter toSecretary of State Condoleezza Rice calling for Berends’ immediate release. Several other US lawmakers, including Senator Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, have also been actively engaged in advocating for Berends.

Berends was arrested at approximately 6 pm on Sunday, August 31st, by the Nigerian military along with his translator, Samuel George. Andrew entered Nigeria legally in April 2008 to complete a documentary film.

Update:

Day 6

Day 6 of Andrew’s illegal detention by the State Security Services of Nigeria. 

We know that many of you have been in contact with your elected official, both your Congressional Representative or your Senator. We encourage you to continue to contact them towards Andrew’s release. If you have not contacted your Congressional Representative or your Senator, please do so today.

To get your Representative or Senator’s contact information, click here.

Senators from New York:

In addition to calling your local representative, we would like everyone to call the two Senators from New York State, Andrew’s home state. When talking with the New York representatives, please make sure you mention that Andrew is a New Yorker.

You can reach them here: 
    * Senator Charles Schumer (D- NY) 212-486-4430
    * Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D- NY) 212-688-6262
Please forward this call to action to anyone you think could help by making a call to their representatives and the NY senators.

What to say: 

    * As a constituent and a concerned citizen, I wanted to bring your attention to the news that it is the SIXTH DAY that American journalist Andrew Berends has been detained by the Nigerian government while working on a documentary.

    * Nigeria enjoys the highest level of diplomatic relations with the United States, and for an American journalist to be detained without representation for such a prolonged time and continually subjected to coercive questioning is both highly inappropriate and illegal.

    * We ask you to work to ensure the good treatment and speedy release of Andrew Berends, his interpreter Samuel George and Joe Bussio from Nigerian custody. Someone from the State Department in Nigeria needs to see him immediately.

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) new press release:

Christiane Amanpour speaks out:

 

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has been advocating on behalf of Andy and Samuel since their detention on Sunday August 31st. Today, in a new press release from CPJ, Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s Chief International Correspondent and CPJ boardmember calls for Andrew and Samuel to be released. 

No stranger to the challenges of working internationally, Amanpour raises an important point that we cannot forget: journalists and filmmakers must be free to tell vital stories that inform a better understanding of our world today. We cannot stand by and watch them be censored into silence through fear and intimidation. Each one of us that consumes media is responsible for protecting the rights of the journalists and filmmakers who put themselves at risk to bring us these critical stories. Please take action to help Andrew and Samuel be released

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NIGERIA: CPJ demands release of journalist and translator

New York, September 4, 2008—U.S. documentary filmmaker Andrew Berends was filming women going to the market in a public waterside area of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, when he was detained by the Nigerian military, according to e-mails sent by the journalist to his editor. In the e-mails, which have been reviewed by the Committee to Protect Journalists, Berends said a sergeant had given him permission to film in the area.

The e-mails contradict the Nigerian military’s claim that Berends and translator Samuel George were filming a military deployment without clearance when they were detained on Sunday.

State Security Services in Port Harcourt detained Berends for 36 hours after his arrest and then ordered him to report for day-long interrogations each day since. George has remained in custody throughout the week.

“CPJ calls for the immediate release of Samuel George and Andrew Berends whose only crime is carrying out their work,” said CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Tom Rhodes. “The Nigerian military must stop arresting local and international journalists on spurious allegations, and it should halt its effort to censor reporting of the Niger Delta region.”

CPJ’s board also expressed deep concern. “Nigeria’s democratic government must release Berends and George and allow journalists to freely cover this vital story,” said Christiane Amanpour, a CPJ board member and CNN chief international correspondent.

U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer wrote to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday, urging her to work for Berends’ immediate release. “Mr. Berends was embarked on an effort to raise awareness of and concern for this region and its complicated problems,” Schumer wrote. “Unfortunately, in this case, it seems that the Nigerian government’s response is to harass and intimidate foreign and native journalists. This is unacceptable.”

Berends, an award-winning filmmaker, legally entered Nigeria in April to complete a documentary called “Delta Boys,” sponsored by the New York-based Tribeca Film Institute, about the region’s oil conflict. During his first 36 hours in detention, Berends was not fed and was denied sleep, CPJ reported on Tuesday. His personal belongings, including equipment and passport, have been confiscated, according to his e-mails. Berends said he had heard that he may be moved to Abuja.

George is a graduate of Port Harcourt University of Science and Technology and has helped with translations for Berends’ film. Berends had previously directed a film on Iraq called “Blood of My Brother,” which was screened widely on the international festival circuit and earned a 2006 International Documentary Award.

Another documentary film crew was arrested this year by the Nigerian military in the Niger Delta region. The Nigerian military arrested the film crewof “Sweet Crude” on April 12 and held them for a week on charges that were never substantiated. According to CPJ research, this is the fourth time journalists and media workers have been arrested in the Niger Delta on unsubstantiated charges since 2005.

Senator Clinton speaks out

Senator Hillary Clinton also speaks out on Andy’s case:

 

Senator Charles Schumer speaks out

“Untenable”

Senator Charles Schumer’s letter to Condoleezza Rice regarding Andrew Berends

For Immediate Release — UPDATE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

** CONTAINS UPDATES **

CONTACT Aaron Soffin, Storyteller Productions, Phone: 917.887.4063 / 212.712.2781, Email: soffin@gmail.com

Senator Charles Schumer calls American filmmaker’s detainment by the Nigerian government “untenable”

NEW YORK, September 4, 2008 – Hearing of the arrest of Andrew Berends, an established, award-winning American filmmaker and journalist, Senator Charles Schumer, D-New York, responded with a letter on Wednesday to Secretary of State Condelezza Rice calling for Berends’ immediate release.

“This situation is untenable,” said Schumer. “Mr. Berends, an award-winning journalist was making a film about the Niger Delta, Nigeria’s oil-producing area where government forces and armed separatists have been fighting for years. Unfortunately, it seems that the Nigerian government thinks that it can conceal the economic and ecological disaster in the region by harassing and intimidating foreign journalists. This is unacceptable.”

Berends was arrested at approximately 6 pm on Sunday, August 31st, by the Nigerian military along with his translator, Samuel George. Andrew entered Nigeria legally in April 2008 to complete a documentary film.

At the time of his arrest Andrew Berends was filming women going to market at the Nembe waterside in Port Harcourt, a public place.  Andrew received verbal permission to film in the area from the Sargeant in charge at the waterfront that day.

After Andrew’s initial arrest by the Nigerian military, he was transferred first to the police and then to the State Security Services. He was interrogated by all three groups for 36 hours without access to legal representation, and without being allowed to eat or sleep. Andrew stated that the interrogation was coercive, and that all of his statements to the SSS were involuntary.

There has been no news of his translator, Samuel George, since Monday, and there is concern that he may be undergoing poor treatment at the hands of the Nigerian Government.

The State Security Services confiscated Andrew’s personal belongings, including his passport, notebooks, camera, hard drives and laptop computer. Andrew remains under the custody of the Nigerian State Security Services.

Two-time Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker James Longley, who has known Andrew Berends for the last 16 years and worked side by side with him on documentary films in Iraq, added: “Now that more information is available to the highest levels of the Nigerian government about Andrew’s situation and the circumstances of his arrest, I am optimistic that this unfortunate matter will be resolved immediately.”

The US State Department continues to work on the situation, as does a private lawyer retained on Andrew’s behalf. Reporters without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists have issued statements condemning Andrew’s arrest. We, Andrew’s friends, family, and colleagues, are deeply concerned that he has been held without cause and are calling for the safe treatment and immediate release of Andrew Berends and Samuel George.

“Of course I am devastated by what my son is going through,” Polly Berends, Andrew’s mother said.  “I’m terribly worried about him, and want him home as soon as possible. Throughout childhood and adolescence in Hastings-on-Hudson, Andy was always passionate about fairness. His work as a filmmaker reflects the same dedication. His films reveal untold stories of injustice objectively, letting facts speak vividly for themselves. I am hugely proud of him. I am also profoundly grateful for all the people working to get him released, and for the efforts of Senator (Hillary Rodham) Clinton’s and Senator Schumer’s offices on his behalf.”