Embattled Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) yesterday at the Human Rights Violation Commission sitting in Abuja made a spirited attempt to reconcile with the Ogoni who have been locked in a long-drawn feud with the oil multinational....A major highlight of the commission's sitting was the appearance of Shell's Managing Director, Mr. Ron M.Van Den Berg who mounted the witness rostrum and was cross-examined by Mittee for close to three hours....At the cross examination stage, Mittee accused the multinational company of collaborating with security operatives in Rivers State to unleash a reign of human rights abuses on the Ogoni people for a very long time even as he stated that the rights abuses are still ongoing. But Mr. Van Den Berg in an emotionally laden voice, appealed to the Ogoni activists to "give peace a chance"....Stating his company's respects human rights, he said "SPDC has over the years sought to carry out its operations in Nigeria in accordance with the best standards available. These standards have not been static, and every effort has been made, and is still being made, to carry out our operations in compliance with international standards.