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What has Happened in Somalia is more than Human Rights Atrocities
SHHRF 0090/2007 (English)
08 April 2007
Over the last decade and half, Somalia has been
devastated by human rights atrocities. Regrettably, the world was either
uninterested in the Somali affairs or it was distracted by other more
compelling events. It was perhaps accidental that whenever a crisis unfolds
in Somalia, there has been other crisis more important in the eyes of the
international community. In the end, Somalia was forgotten under the claws
of warlords who have continued to prey on innocent people.
Somalia is now going through its worst period in terms
of ‘government’ versus its people. The current ill-fated administration in
Mogadishu propped by the Ethiopian troops has committed unprecedented
atrocities against the people of Mogadishu and elsewhere. This warlord
dominated government has just continued to do what it does at its best –
killing its people. All Somali warlords have a history of killing their
political enemies. This did not go away when the warlords were given titles
such as Minister, Speaker or President.
The unfortunate events now unfolding in Mogadishu are
the extension of what had happened in other parts of Somalia ruled by brutal
warlords. President Warlord Abdullahi Yusuf had committed broad-day-light
killings in Puntland, with the gunpowder of Ethiopia. With no meaningful
punishment, he has now continued to play his old trick of killing all those
opposed to him. Shellaing parts of Mogadishu is only an extension of the
warlord president’s behaviour in Puntland.
The insurgent groups operating in Mogadishu have also
some responsibility towards the making of the atrocity on Mogadishu
population. In response to their attacks, Ethiopian forces have used
helicopter gunships and artillery into neighbourhoods without considering
the consequence of their action. What is happening in Mogadishu is much more
than human rights atrocities, it is tantamount to genocide.
Sultan Hurre Human Rights Focus (SHHRF) believes that
Ethiopian occupation must end immediately. There
must not be any excuse for the Ethiopian forces to remain in Somalia until
the neutral foreign peace mission is bolstered. As there is no national
police force, it is obvious that without an international peacekeeping
force, it will be difficult to support peace. However, sustainable peace can
only come with genuine reconciliation and trust building. The government
manipulated conference is a waste of time to say the least. What is clearly
happening is the result of another Mbegati style conference dictated by the
warlords and countries with vested interests.
SHHRF is strongly condemning the killing of the
innocent Somali citizens by the Ethiopian forces supporting the warlord
government. We look forward to an international investigation of the matter.
Sultan Hurre Human Rights Focus (SHHRF) |
