Somalia asked us to save them from this brutal sub-clan- Hardline ideologists were introducing a tyrannical regime. Ethiopia had to act, says Berhanu Kebede The Guardian

Thursday May 3, 2007







A Guardian article last week appeared to represent the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) in Somalia as a government of national consensus and a "popular" democratic organisation (Thousands flee as shelling by Ethiopian tanks kills hundreds of civilians in Somali capital, April 27).

It stated: "The Islamic Courts government was popular in Mogadishu after bringing relative order." This glorification of the UIC, and claim that they represent Somali society, is highly misleading. The UIC leadership is one sub-clan, bent on protecting its own interests. The leadership can in no way bring peace, as it has never provided a political framework for doing so. In fact, it preached a hardline ideology committed to promoting extremism. Its ultimate objective was to establish a fundamentalist government in Somalia.





Article continues



The UIC introduced a crude form of punishment, including floggings and executions, and restrictions on people's liberties such as banning music and TV and radio programmes. The article also says that the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) was "far less popular than the Islamic Courts administration", yet the TFG is made up of a wide range of Somalia clans and is the internationally recognised government of Somalia.



Stating that Ethiopia went to Somalia "at the 'invitation' of Somalia's interim national government" implies that the author does not believe the TFG welcomed Ethiopia's intervention. Ethiopia is cooperating with the TFG at the latter's invitation, a fact fully recognised by the international community. The UIC declared an open jihad war against Ethiopia last December, to which Ethiopia responded with a proportionate counter-offensive. The UIC had for many months trained and armed insurgents to commit assassinations and destroy schools, clinics and other development infrastructure in Ethiopia.



Between December and March, while we were engaged in political dialogue with clans and sub-clans in Mogadishu, the insurgents reorganised themselves to create havoc in Mogadishu. Of 16 zones in the city, they entrenched themselves in two zones where the Ayr sub-clan militia, who do not want to see the fair distribution of property, operate.



The main perpetrator of the humanitarian crisis that we have witnessed over the past four weeks in Mogadishu is the Ayr-insurgents alliance, not the Ethiopian military. The insurgents have shot down two planes - one serving the Africa peacekeeping forces and the other bringing humanitarian aid.



Exaggerated human rights reports, published by an organisation closely linked to the UIC, have been used as an authentic source by many media outlets without independent scrutiny. It is regrettable that these reports have been used to defame Ethiopia and the TFG. Mogadishu is now peaceful, as the rest of Somalia has been for the past six months.



It is time for the international community to address the humanitarian crisis and support the National Reconciliation Conference of Somalia, which can bring lasting peace.



· Berhanu Kebede is Ethiopian Ambassador to the UK info@ethioembassy.org.uk



halgeel84



May 3, 2007 1:59 AM





Before we could discuss how Meles Zinawi "sweet talked" himself to becoming west’s self-appointed man in the war on terror in the Horn of Africa that led to the Ethiopian/US invasion of Somalia,it is pertinent to give the readers of this forum a head start on Meles Zinawi's terrible human rights abuses inside Ethiopia, including stealing elections, arresting political opponents, journalists and intellectuals. What better way for Meles Zinawi to consolidate his political power at home than invading a historically enemy of Ethiopia, Somalia in the hope of positioning himself as a national leader and earn the cool cash $US120 from the Bush administration!

p/S. Clanism, as I will show in my next post has been restored to Somalia by the forces of Zinawi/USA.



"Don't Let the World Lose More Martin Luther Kings



STAND UP FOR DEMOCRACY AND PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE FOR ETHIOPIA



We are a group of Ethiopian people and friends of Ethiopians around the world, advocating for the human rights, democarcy, and freedom in Ethiopia.



February 19, 2007...Next week marks in the Ethiopian calendar a date which may determine the fate of the country and its people. The regime of Meles Zenawi emboldened by the support it gets from the USA, for being an “obliging ally on terror”, will go ahead with convicting prisoners of conscience at the resumption of the sham trails. Unless influential human rights defenders like you self speak out against the injustice that is taking place in Ethiopia, all signs indicate that Prime Minister Meles Zenawi will instruct his hand picked judges to pass a decision to prolong detention of the prisoners of conscience. This may ultimately lead to their deaths by execution or as a consequence of the continuation of ill treatment they endure on daily basis.



Background



On 15 May 2005 the people of Ethiopia voted in unprecedented numbers to reject Mr. Meles Zenawi's rule. The rejection could not have been more emphatic. The ruling Tigrai Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) which underestimated the depth of popular protest were stunned by the results. In cities and rural areas where the incumbent party could not steal votes due to presence of international observers the opposition parties managed to score results rarely matched in the history of democratic elections. In the city of Addis Ababa, the capital, all 23 parliamentary seats went to CUDP. All active high profile ministers and top officials serving the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi lost heavily to the opposition, despite their unlawful standing to contest in many rural constituencies which were regarded as safe seats by the ruling party. In the regional election conducted at the same time, the administration of all large cities went to CUDP. In the city of Addis Ababa, out of the 138 contested seats for the city council all but one were won by CUDP.



However, instead of accepting the verdict of the people, the ruling party embarked on convoluted and unprecedented process of stealing parliamentary seats under the guise of "counting votes" and “investigating irregularities”, a process which went on for three months. Having falsified the vote count it unleashed a vengeful, systematic and violent repression against the democratic opposition culminating in the arrest of the entire leadership of CUDP on 2 November 2005. Details of egregious human rights abuses that followed the May 2005 general election have been documented by a number of governmental agencies attached to the foreign ministries of all western governments, amnesty international, genocide watch international, Human rights watch and World Commission for Jurists, among others.



Your Assistance!!



Therefore I humbly request for your support to champion the cause of fellow parliamentarians jailed in Meles Zenawi's notorious prison because they respected the will of the electorate who demanded a boycott of parliament until their votes and the rights of their representatives are restored to ensure the development of parliamentary democracy.



1) Please write or speak on behalf the imprisoned parliamentarians in Ethiopia and demand your colleagues in the Congress show solidarity with the imprisoned parliamentarians in Ethiopia.



2) Write to the President and to the US State Department of demanding they use the influence of their offices to affect the immediate release of political prisoners in Kaliti prison before the sham trial resumes on 19 February 2007.



3) Write, speak or fax to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia and protest against the unlawful incarceration of leaders of the CUDP and civic organizations and demand their immediate and unconditional release. Ask the prime minister to give a chance to peace and national reconciliation, the only way to put the derailed democratic process back on track...."

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/issues/alert/?alertid=9372866



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halgeel84



May 3, 2007 3:22 AM



A little blurb about Meles Zinawi, West’s Strong man in the Horn of Africa in the War against Terror.



“A former medical student, Meles Zenawi began his political career by joining a Stalinist guerilla group in 1974. Twenty-one years later he gained power after overthrowing Ethiopia’s much-reviled dictator, Mengistu Haile Mariam. In order to satisfy Western demands for a multi-party democracy, Meles created puppet parties for each of the nation’s major ethnic groups, while the real parties boycotted his elections. In 1998, he subjected his people to an unnecessary border war with Eritrea that caused thousands of deaths. He agreed to international arbitration to settle the border, but when the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission ruled against him, Meles refused to abide by the decision and kept for Ethiopia land that belonged to Eritrea.”

http://www.parade.com/articles/web_exclusives/2007/02-11-2007/dictators17.html





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safi123



May 3, 2007 3:35 AM



Whatever Ethiopian's intentions were for assisting the Somali Government, it s clear to all that the extremists are anything but Islamic. These are the same people that profited from Somalia’s destruction. This is the same sub-clan that destroyed Somalia and brought shame on the head of Somalis when they dragged the dead bodies of American soldiers in the Streets of Mogadishu, and that was after they were done in dishonoring their own soil, ethnic cleansing innocent people and virtually robbing the nation.



These people have benefited from the anarchy and are now fooling the world into making people believe they brought peace to Somalia. Yes, they tamed a tired guilty city, but in no way are they saviors of Somalia. They are the destroyers of Somalia and while the rest of the country brought some semblance of order in their territories these murderers are standing in the way of peace, governance and reconciliation.



May God save the innocent people of Somalia from the evil of these hypocrites. They might pull the wool over others, but they can’t fool God.





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halgeel84



May 3, 2007 9:05 AM



The reality of Ethiopia's crime against humanity against the Somali peole cannot be suppressed. The world community must act in the name of the humanity and stop the liqudation of Somalia. and Salim was corect to say:





"The Somali government is busy crying "al-Qaida" at every turn and offering lucrative deals to oil companies, in a bid to entice greater western support. But this war was lost long ago. In turning to the arch enemy Ethiopia, the transitional government's fate was sealed: the nation will not abide an Ethiopian-US occupation."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2067493,00.html



"The European Union warned a month ago that war crimes might have been committed in an assault on the capital last month - in which the EU could be complicit because of its large-scale support for those accused of the crimes. Human Rights Watch has documented how Kenya and Ethiopia had turned this region into Africa's own version of Guantánamo Bay, replete with kidnappings, extraordinary renditions, secret prisons and large numbers of "disappeared": a project that carries the Made in America label. Allowing free rein to such comprehensive lawlessness is a stain on all those who might have, at a minimum, curtailed it."[ibid]



Those with conscience must speak up against the

systematic liquidation of the people-Somalia by the United States. This is because the Ethiopian soldiers are in Somalia committing crimes against humanity by wholesale death and destruction with the full backing of the United States, the UN Security Council through (Resolution 1725) and EU member nations. It is only last two weeks that western media started paying attention to the slaughter that is taking place in Somalia. As the Somali population is being maimed, and killed and displaced in mass, the warlords and Meles Zinawi want to western financial backing and political support for a job well done!



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6598361.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/6600027.stm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,2066840,00.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/africa/2004/somalia/default.stm

Somalia is 'worst refugee crisis'

More people have been displaced in Somalia in the past two months than anywhere else in the world, the United Nations has said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6598361.stm

Weeks of indiscriminate shelling in Somalia have reduced the capital Mogadishu, once a thriving commercial hub, to rubble.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6594647.stm









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Mogadishu



May 3, 2007 1:21 PM



It is certainly surprising to see the Tigre Regime of Ethiopia arguing that they are fighting against one sub-clan in Somalia, according to Meles Zenawi’s Man to London. It was Zenawi who contended months ago that the reason he launched an offensive to Somalia was to prevent from an al Qaeda attack. It is Zenawi who is arguing nowadays that he is fighting with a Somali sub-clan. It appears to all of us that this sort of hypocrisy proves that Meles Zenawi and his cohorts went to Somalia to meddle in proxy war ordered to them by Bush Administration who wanted to revenge the clan of Gen Aideed for killing US Rangers in Somalia a decade ago. Hypocrite Zenawi and his minority Tigre sub-clan will soon suffer the conundrum and riddle they are generating – Insha Allah. If you export problem to other people, that problem will be imported to you.



It is clear that Zenawi’s Tigre mercenaries failed to force Somali people to accept the founder of warlordism Abdullahi Yusuf as their head. People are constantly making resistance to this phenomenon, and they will continue their struggle as long as Tigre forces are in Somalia and this brutal warlord maintains to beg them to stay. One wonders where Abdullahi Yusuf and his follower Gheddi will stay when Ethiopians are compelled to withdraw its contingents in Mogadishu. I am going to tell the UK government that we cannot to accept a government of puppets and pawns – the so-called TFG selected by Tigre totalitarian.



Mohamed Mogadishu

Mogadishu, Somalia

mo_mogadishu@hotmail.com



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Warsame



May 3, 2007 1:22 PM



The one is not wonder if the Ethiopian ambassador in UK who serving under the most horrible dictator in Africa denies the facts that reported and documented by the news agencies, eye witnesses and right groups. Although Islamic Court imposed some strict rules, Mogadishu under their rule was safer than it is today. Adam Mynott re a BBC journalist wrote recently about Somalia and described the satiation during the Islamic court rule



"Just a few months ago, Mogadishu and much of Somalia were enjoying their most stable period for 16 years. Under the brief control of the Islamic Courts Union, the grip of the warlords was loosened and some of the basic expectations of an organised life were being restored. Schools were opening, police were being trained, roadblocks were removed and litter was even collected from the streets".



Today the Ethiopian invasion has created a horrific massacre that the International Committee for Red Cross called the worst in 15 years and the UN described the worst humanitarian crises of 2007. More than half million people were deserted their home, 2000 innocent civilians have been killed and 60% of Mogadishu homes where destroyed. War crimes have been committed by Ethiopian troops and Somali warlord's militiamen. Hospitals, schools and universities has been bombarded and demolished. This crime will never get away Meles and his Somali puppet client.



The invitation



The Ambassador was economical with the truth when he claims that his regime was invited by Somali Transitional Government. The Somali Parliament never invited troops from neighboring countries, and when its Speaker resisted Ethiopian occupation he was ousted. The United Nation Security Council, explicitly excluded the frontline states to send troops to Somalia, then Ethiopian troops are illegal invaders and Somalis has a right to resist and fight against them.



The Threat



The threat that Meles regime claimed is made-up, and this invasion is all about mercenary mission. When Union of Islamic Court defeated Mogadishu Warlords who where funded by CIA, the latter paid for Zenawi to carry on the mission and fight against Islamic Court. Meles also wanted to get away with brutally putting down internal dissident in his own country.



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Somalicitizen



May 3, 2007 4:04 PM



The Ethiopian Ambassador to the UK futiley tried to mislead the public about the realities in Somalia. The fact is that after the collapse of the Military regime in Somalia in 1991, warlords divided the country into small fiefdoms and embarked on massive human rights violations. The notorious warlords have been supported and armed, in violation of UN amrs embargo, by the dictatorial minority rule of Ethiopia. The sole aim of Ethiopian regime has been to keep Somalia unstable, chaotic, ungovernable and divided. These warlord militia committed atrocities and made Somalia a failed state.

In the middle of last year, people in Mogadishu decided that they had enough of the brutal warlord rule and put an end to the killing, robbing and rapping of innocent Somali people. The atrocites were ended by a popular uprising spearheaded by the Union of Islamci Courts(UIC). All the warlords were chased away and stability and tranquility returned to Somalia after more than a decade and half. Ethiopian minority rule could not see Somalia becoming stable and united again. The Ethiopian intelligence service fabricated false information that UIC had links with "terrorist organisations". The UIC vehemently denied that false charge and in became clear that it was baseless accusation. Inspite of that, Bush Adminsitration supported Ethiopian evil adventure. In December last year Ethiopia illegally invaded Somalia and brought back the notorious warlords to resume their work.



The ambassador of the tyrannical regime overlooks the fact that Somali cabinet never decided to "invite" Ethiopia. Moreover, the Somali Transitional parliament did not appove of the ill-fated,Ethiopian illagal inavasion of Somalia. Somali people started to resist this brutal invasion and occupation. As usual Ethiopian troops started to oppress Somali people and rape Somali women. As the legitimate resistence continued and gained strength, Ethiopian troops started to massively shell civilain populated areas in Mogadishu, killing more than two thousand civilians and wounding more than 5000 civilians. It is commonplace that Ethiopian troops and their surrogate warlord militia committed war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. The minority regime's representative thinks that he can conceal the international crimes that his dictatorial regime committed in Somalia but he is dead wrong . Sooner or later the perpetrators will be brought before a court of law.



The other point I want to make is that the ambassador states that his government is in war with a Somali sub-clan, that is the clearest indication as to date that the fighting was not about "counter-offenvise" as claimed by dictator Meles Zenawi, but to meddle in the inte-clan affairs of Somalia. This statement further nullifies the false claims that Ethiopian troops were fighting "terrorists".



The international community must investigate the war crimes committed by Ethiopian troops and punish all those who are responsible for the heinous crimes. Second, the international community must not support the warlord government inposed on Somalia by Ethiopia. The warlords in the "government" have been responsible for the death of more than half million Somali people and the destructon of the counry.No way can Somali people accept these brutal thugs to rule Somalia. The international community must not fall into the well laid trap of the fraudgulent "reconciliation conference" organised by the occupying powers and their warlord puppits. Somalia needs a genuine reconciliation conference where all the stakeholders are represented.



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halgeel84



May 3, 2007 5:12 PM





--Somalicitizen



“The other point I want to make is that the ambassador states that his government is in war with a Somali sub-clan, that is the clearest indication as to date that the fighting was not about "counter-offenvise" as claimed by dictator Meles Zenawi, but to meddle in the inte-clan affairs of Somalia. This statement further nullifies the false claims that Ethiopian troops were fighting "terrorists".



Dear Somalicitizen



It is also pertinent to examine the ambassador’s glaring slippage- the singular ‘subclan’! This is a pertinent slippage for there are clear evidence that Haber Gider is this clan. So in the process of collecting evidence of war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of genocide, it is pertinent to notice if there was a plan to systematically purge the Haber Gider out of the political equation in the Ethiopian occupied Somalia.









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Irenebeard



May 3, 2007 6:35 PM



Isn’t it strange that all the equally negative comments about Ambassador Berhanu’s letter seem to be written with the same pen? Are all those writers part of the same group?



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halgeel84



May 3, 2007 7:40 PM





The rape of Somali women by Ethiopian soldiers is one of the outcome of this catastrophic invasion. Rape is a weapons of war; sexual violence against Somalia women by the invading Ethiopian army is meant to bring fear, shame and humiliation to the Somali society’s collective humanity. But, with the second highest incidence of HIV/AIDs rate in the African continent, the rape of Somali women by the Ethiopia soldiers raises grave public health concerns.



The Emergency Plan in Ethiopia

“Ethiopia's national adult prevalence for 2003 was estimated at 4.4 percent, with a 12.6 percent urban rate and a 2.6 percent rural rate. The number lost to AIDS was an estimated cumulative total of 900,000 by 2003 and is projected to reach 1.8 million by 2008 if present trends continue. Adult (15-49 years) deaths due to AIDS are expected to rise in the coming years. AIDS already accounts for about one-third of all young adult deaths in the country.”

http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/od/gap/countries/ethiopia.htm



Here is one such story; it is clear from victim's narrative the power of rape to struck the very cord of the moral sensibility of the Somali people.



"Somali Woman accuses Ethiopian soldiers of rape and torture

Aweys Osman Yusuf

Mogadishu 13, March.07 ( Sh.M.Network) A Somali woman has today revealed at a press conference in Mogadishu that she was tortured and raped by Ethiopian soldiers.

Suuban Maalin Ali Hassan, 37 year old mother of eight children talked to journalists with presence of her husband inside her house over the ordeal she faced last Saturday as she was on her way near Elirfid, north east of Mogadishu.



“Last Saturday, as I was driving my donkey-cart loaded with grass near Elirfid settlement, two Ethiopians armed with AK 47 came straight at me suddenly after they come out of a detour. They stopped me under gunpoint and forcibly held me to the ground and then everything went against my willing” said Suuban, while weeping. Suuban said the Ethiopian soldiers did everything to her, including rape and beatings. “After they were done with me, they told me to walk off and not to look back, threatening they will kill me if I do glance back to take a good look at them,” Suuban said. Ahmed Ali Hassan, Husband of Suuban also spoke to the newsmen said, “My wife was raped and tortured by Ethiopian soldiers so that I am calling on everyone who can help to rush to our help”





The husband also said that he took his wife to Keysaney hospital, one of the major hospitals in Mogadishu for check up. “Doctors at Keysaney advised us not to have an intercourse for six months to find out whether my wife was infected with HIV. Also the doctor counseled my wife not to breastfeed our youngest baby during the six-month period, said Ahmed. The news came as Ethiopian premier, Meles Zenawi, told the press that the remaining Ethiopian troops would be withdrawn from Somalia immediately."We are looking forward to withdraw our left two third troops," he said.



Regarding the continuous attack on AU's Ugandan peacekeepers since their arrival and other attacks in the capital Mogadishu, Meles said the situation on the ground is not as exaggerated as the media presented it. "Not a single Ugandan soldier was harmed. I don't see anything that can hinder the peace and reconciliation process in the country," he said. Meanwhile an Ethiopian military convoy supported by tanks and battlewagons was attacked Tuesday as it was leaving the capital for southern Somalia. Witnesses said the Ethiopians were traveling out of the capital when unknown gunmen attacked them around KM4 junction, south of Mogadishu."





http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne2537.htm















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Shabeel



May 4, 2007 3:29 AM



The only brutal and tyranical regime in the horn of africa is the Meles regime which brutally and savagely silences its political opponents.



Its ludicrous for such a bloodsoaked hands to point fingers at other people and accuse them of brutality and tyranny.



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Vitaro



May 4, 2007 1:45 PM



Berhanu Kebede : ...yet the TFG is made up of a wide range of Somalia clans and is the internationally recognised government of Somalia.



Current "Somalia government" is largely made of members of the former SSRC; a faction which was against the last Somalia government supported an encouraged by Ethiopia. There are many ethnic groups who refused to take part in the "TFG", yet Ethiopia claims them to be represented because of bribing few self styled "representatives". These including the current Foreign Minister of Somalia are not allowed to set foot in the lands which they claim to represent such as Somaliland - so much for "popularity".





Berhanu Kebede : The leadership can in no way bring peace, as it has never provided a political framework for doing so. In fact, it preached a hardline ideology committed to promoting extremism.



The assistant secretary of the Ethiopian Foreign Minister was reported to have openly declared his government's wish to expand the current "Somalia Government" throughout the whole country including Somaliland which is claimed by Somalia as its territory. This tirade of Ethiopian officials is contrary to the ones held by men of good sense such as the former USA ambassador to Ethiopia Dr Shinn:

For the time being, the issues are sufficiently complicated that there is nothing to be gained by adding Somaliland to the table.



Remarks by Dr. David Shinn to the Somali Conference in Columbus

http://www.hiiraan.com/news2/2007/apr/remarks_by_dr_david_shinn_to_the_somali_conference_in_columbus.aspx





Although this poverty stricken country of Ethiopia is supported by USA, its actions do not represent those held by USA or any other developed nations whom seek to support the Ethiopian people rather than Ethiopia government. The UIC made the huge mistake of exporting wars and mayhem as soon as it gained power, similarly the latest Ethiopian hopes of forcing the "TFG" on to the people Somaliland is nothing more than that of the former UIC officials' tirade against Somaliland. The peace which Somaliland now enjoys did come via Nairobi or Addis Ababa conferences but brought upon by the brave men and women of the land. If Siyadism(policy of Somalia expansion to large areas of the Horn) by Somalia did not work, nor would "friendly" Siyadism pushed by Ethiopia work in the 21st century.



Somaliland leader rules out reunion with Somalia

Wed May 2, 2007 5:37AM EDT

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL0245318820070502?feedType=RSS





Berhanu Kebede :Mogadishu is now peaceful, as the rest of Somalia has been for the past six months....It is time for the international community to address the humanitarian crisis and support the National Reconciliation Conference of Somalia, which can bring lasting peace.





The former Siyadist regime of the former "Somali Democratic Republic" also made similar claims after the successful ethnic cleansing of the Isaac ethnic group from the cities of Somaliland. It is short of madness to seek support from the international community for the destruction of one ethnic group known as "Ayr" and request acknowledgements for Ethiopia's destructive tendencies. Feeding one Somalia "sub-clan"(Darod) so they could help subjugate the Ogaden Liberation Front engaged in fighting Ethiopian occupation forces will not resolve the political dilemmas facing Ethiopia. If a small "sub-clan" such as "Ayr" is considered as "brutal" by current Somalia warlord government, time will tell what other ethnic groups will be branded by them.



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halgeel84



May 4, 2007 2:49 PM





Vitaro



May 4, 2007 1:45 PM



"If a small "sub-clan" such as "Ayr" is considered as "brutal" by current Somalia warlord government, time will tell what other ethnic groups will be branded by them.”



--Vitaro



It is pertinent to clarify that “Ayr” is a sub-clan of Haber Gider and that while Mohamed Farah Aidid was from Saied, a sub clan of Haber Gider, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys of IUC is Ayr. Thus, it’s clear that Ethiopia's/U.S's supposed war against terror in Somalia has been a war on certain clans and subclans of the Somali people thereby conflating the war on terror with the systemic targeting and purging the leaders, communities, businesses and cities of clans and subclans which have been staked out to be liquidated- all under the false cover of the war against terror.



Great many thanks to the Guardian newspaper for giving the Ethiopian Ambassador for spelling out for the world community that Ethiopia is in Somalia to meddle and shape the internal political dynamics of Somalia than fighting against Al Qaida terrorists.



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JamaAliJama



May 4, 2007 6:57 PM



Rebuttal to Ambassador Berhanu Kebede



Before criticising The Guardian’s Africa correspondent, Chris McGreal, of misrepresentation in his reply (‘Somalia asked us to save them from this brutal sub-clan’) of the 3rd of May, I suggest that the Ethiopian Ambassador in London would do well to acknowledge the historical origins of the Ethiopian ‘Empire’ and address the multitude of well-documented human rights abuses committed by his own Government within Ethiopia before attempting to pour scorn on the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) - the only organisation to have brought peace and stability to the Somali capital during the last 16 years with the support and encouragement of the majority of the city’s population.



Historically, Ethiopia was an isolated mountain empire centred on the Abyssinian Highlands from which the country took is former name, however, it expanded rapidly during the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries through the intervention of world powers in the Horn of Africa with the result that Eritrea and a large part of the ancient territory of Somaliland were carved up by Britain, France and Italy and ultimately ‘given’ to the Ethiopian Empire.



At the end of the Second World War, Eritrea had become a British protectorate. The communist bloc favoured independence, but Britain, France and the USA favoured Eritrea being united with Ethiopia rather than risk an independent Eritrea becoming an Arab-dominated or communist anti-western state. John Foster Dulles, the US Secretary of State at the time, said:



"From the point of view of justice, the opinions of the Eritrean people must receive consideration. Nevertheless, the strategic interests of the United States in the Red Sea Basin and considerations of security and world peace make it necessary that the country (Eritrea) has to be linked with our ally, Ethiopia".



It was not until 1991 that Eritrea regained its independence from Ethiopian occupation. In spite of its 4,500 year history, the country is treated as a pariah state by the USA and the decision of the UN commission mandated to determine the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea remains unenforced.



Large parts of Somaliland have suffered a similar fate. In violation of treaties signed between Britain and the indigenous traditional elders in 1896, huge tracts of Somaliland were ‘given’ to Ethiopia: the Ogaden in 1897 and again in 1948, and the Haud in 1954. The remaining part of Somaliland was divided between Britain, France and Italy and became French Somaliland (Djibouti), the British Protectorate of Somaliland and Italian Somalia. It is appropriate to note that the destruction of Somaliland also involved Kenya. The most southern region of Somaliland, known as the Northern Frontier District of British East Africa, was given to Kenya in 1963 even though a referendum had shown that the majority of the people living in the area wished to be part of the Somali Republic which had been formed in 1960 through the union of British Somaliland and the Italian colony of Somalia.



In the light of this wilful destruction of Somaliland, it is hardly surprising that irredentist ambitions are widespread amongst Somalis. The five points of the star on the Somali flag represent: Djibouti; Somaliland; Somalia; the Ogaden and Haud regions, and the Northeastern Province of Kenya as they are known today. Any future attempt to reunite the ancient territory of Somaliland must be through political dialogue and in accordance with the wishes of the people living in the regions concerned and not through force of arms. I deplored the attempt to regain the Ogaden and Haud regions in 1977 and as the Chief of the Political Office of the Somali Revolutionary Council advised the President not to do so. In return for speaking out against this armed aggression, I spent 11 years in solitary confinement without trial and was eventually released as a result of constant lobbying by Amnesty International who recognised me as a Prisoner of Conscience.



Since 1977, Ethiopia has sought actively to undermine the Somali Republic in order to fragment the country and enable further areas to be annexed. President Siyad Barre’s administration was toppled indirectly by Ethiopia, who had given unlimited encouragement and support to the warlord General Mohamed Farah Hassan ‘Aideed’.



The Arta Conference in Djibouti led to the formation of the Transitional National Government (TNG) led by President Abdiqassim Salat Hassan in May 2000. The prospect of a stable government in Somalia displeased Ethiopia, who immediately organised the Bahradar coalition of warlords which led to the formation of the inappropriately named Somali Reconciliation and Reconstruction Council (SRRC) which successfully rendered the TNG powerless to govern Somalia. The TNG were left controlling a few blocks in Mogadishu around the hotel which they were using as their headquarters.



In the meantime, Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed with the support of Ethiopia had become the first President of Puntland (NE Somalia) in July 1998. He abused his power as the interim president and repeatedly violated Puntland’s Provisional Charter. When his three year term of office came to an end, Colonel Yusuf refused to step down. Eventually, the Chief Justice, acting as the caretaker president called for new elections. I was elected President of Puntland on the 14th of November 2001. Immediately following my inauguration on the 21st of November Colonel Yusuf, backed by Ethiopia, attacked the Presidential Residence in Garowe. The assault left 50 dead and 80 injured.



With Ethiopian military assistance my legitimately elected Government was overthrown and Colonel Yusuf’s rule re-imposed on the people of Puntland. Hundreds of innocent citizens were killed and injured in the process, whilst political opponents were summarily executed on the orders of Colonel Yusuf.



This situation was initially ignored by the international community, but eventually sufficient momentum built up to organise a fourteenth reconciliation conference - this time in Eldoret in Kenya. It was organised by IGAD, hosted by the Government of Kenya and largely funded by the European Union. For almost 12 months before the start of the Conference in October 2002, Ethiopia carefully planned how the conference could be manipulated to their advantage. Members of the SRRC were recruited and given money to ensure their loyalty and fulfil the objectives of Ethiopia in advance of the opening of the conference.



The Eldoret Conference was ‘managed’ by Ethiopia throughout. The Transitional Federal Charter was drafted to accommodate Ethiopia’s demands, the majority of the members of the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP) were selected by Ethiopia, the election of Colonel Yusuf as Somali’s Transitional President was secured with Ethiopian money, and the majority of the members of the Council of Ministers were members or supporters of the SRRC. The international community watched and sat on their hands as Somalia’s worst warlords were empowered to continue their destruction of Somalia.



Ethiopia has claimed that Islamic fundamentalists have been operating in Somalia since at least 1992. Al-Qaeda’s attack on the Twin Towers in September 2001 provided Ethiopia with the opportunity to enlist US support for its imperialistic agenda in the Horn of Africa by claiming that Somalia had become a haven for militant Islamic fundamentalists including Al-Qaeda. The CIA have operated in Somalia since at least 2002 and in 2006 recruited Mogadishu warlords to capture suspected terrorists. This incensed the Islamic courts who responded by forming the UIC. Encouraged by their success in neutralising the CIA-funded warlords and popular support, the UIC extended their influence to other parts of Somalia.



This was seen as a threat to Ethiopia’s puppet government and with encouragement and support from the USA, Ethiopian troops invaded Somali territory on the 24th of December 2006 on the pretext of eliminating the UIC. As a frontline state, the deployment of Ethiopian troops in Somalia is a clear violation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1725 and 1744 and therefore illegal. Moreover, on the 17th of March 2005 the TFP had overwhelmingly rejected the deployment of troops from neighbouring states, including Ethiopia. At least 1,670 innocent civilians have been killed, another 3,000 injured and more than 320,000 forced to leave Mogadishu as a result of the indiscriminate shelling of residential areas.



Instead of acting in a responsible manner, Ethiopia has allowed itself to be used as a puppet by the White House in its witch hunt for the handful of terrorists responsible for blowing up the US Embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam whilst at the same time pursuing its own agenda, without any regard for the loss of life and hardship that these activities have brought to the Somali people. Not only are those involved guilty of war crimes, but the title of the Ambassador’s reply is a clear admission of the genocide perpetrated against the Ayr sub-clan of the Hawiye. The Ethiopian troops are not a peace-keeping force; they are an occupation force with the mandate to prop up their Prime Minister’s vassal, Colonel Yusuf, in his subjugation of the Somali people regardless of the human cost and in blatant violation of the Transition Charter under which he was supposedly elected as Somalia’s Transitional President. In fact his election was orchestrated by the very same government which now occupies Somalia and whose troops have raised the Ethiopian flag over the Somali Ministry of Defence and other key buildings regardless of the offence that this continues to cause to the Somali people.



One should ask why, the promised African Union (AU) peace-keeping force has still not arrived to replace the Ethiopian occupation force. The answer undoubtedly lies in the location of the headquarters of the AU. With its base in Addis Ababa, the AU can be easily influenced by the Ethiopian Government. The deployment of a token force from Uganda provides lip-service to the AU’s commitment to send a peace-keeping force of 8,000 to Somalia, whilst Ethiopian troops continue their dirty work.



Contrary to Ethiopian and US claims, Islamic courts existed throughout Somalia long before colonial powers divided up the country for their own ends. The UIC comprises both moderate and extremist elements, however, its rise was an entirely predictable response to the White House’s recruitment of warlords based in Mogadishu, most of whom were also members of the TFP. As a consequence of demonising the Islamic courts and attempting to bar their participation in the forthcoming reconciliation conference, the prospect of an effective and all-inclusive government that can rebuild a safe and prosperous Somalia for all its people - not just the warlords who currently operate under the guise of the Transitional Federal Government - has again receded into the distance.



The international community needs to wake up to the realities of the monster that they have created out of the Eldoret/Mbagathi Conference by allowing Ethiopia to exercise her imperialistic ambitions to seize Somalia or at the very least ensure its fragmentation in order to prevent the re-emergence of a powerful neighbour blocking Ethiopia’s direct access to the Indian Ocean. The international community has a moral responsibility under the UN Charter to provide unselfish assistance to Somalia and support change through political reconciliation instead of military intervention and occupation.



Jama Ali Jama

Member of the Transitional Federal Parliament of the Somali Republic

Chairman of the Somali Parliamentary Committee for Foreign Affairs, Regional Co-operation, Communities & Refugees

Presidential candidate and former President of Puntland State of Somalia



4 May 2007



Offensive? Unsuitable? Email us



MohamedIngiriis



May 6, 2007 12:03 AM



The resentment and irritation of Somali people toward Ethiopian Regime led by former communist and warlord Zenawi are much more than humdrum and predictable. Zenawi aggressively attacked Somalia under peaceful ambiance, thanks to Islamic courts, and it will never be forgotten by Somalis. Zenawi must be held accountable for the crime he has comitted. May Allah view us a day Zenawi be brought to justice in the International Criminal Court of Hague.

I am certain that we should not put out of our mind to those who helped Ethiopians made irreplaceable history by setting foot in Mogadishu, our nation's capital. It should be evident for the UN, USA, Arab League and AU that Meles meddled in Somalia to assail Somali sub clan, as his Ambassador to the UK puts it. It is undiplomatic and uncivilized track to notice someone who claiming the title of Ambassadorship argues this fallacious contention.



But we need to bear in mind that the merely conundrom that dents our consistency and logic is that authoritarian warlords like Zenawi, Abdullahi Yusuf and Ali Mohamed Geedi are real albatross around our neck. But as Rene Descarts often used to say, “minds are free, they can think whatever they want to think.” As you may deduce, people have different temperaments and outlooks - some are suspicious and some are unusually naive. I'm referring to these protégées of Zenawi, like this so-called Ethiopian Ambassador to the UK who believes in earnest the lies of his mentor Meles as an absolute verity.

By Mohamed Ingiriis

Brussels

(06 May 2007) (reads: 568)