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OPEN LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER OF ETHIOPIA U.S. Calls for End to Sudanese Ethnic Violence
HAN Editors: The Geeska Afrika Editorial Board and HAN Regional Reporters would like to appeal to our readers and observers to Facilitate regional commentary amicably to act as an independent, objective and impartial body so the remaining days can bear the long awaited fruits. This is a self syndicated column. If you wish to publish this column in your newspaper, magazine, journal or on your websites please ask HAN & Geeska Afrika Editor or click here: Syndicate
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Nairobi (HAN) December 1, 2005 - According to the Number of International and Regional humanitarian agencies and reports from International news agencies, it was clear that, the Somali National Regional State Administration based in Jigjiga and were run by Abdirashid Dulane, Khadar Mo'allin and the current Abdulahi Hassan Moh’ed are re-organizing and backing their Ogaden militias, financing, and supplying state transportation and funds to eradicate Sheikhash tribes in Raaso, Fiiq and played a fatal role to stop their participation of their federal and regional political rights and administer their local zones and cities. Neither the Federal Government of Ethiopia led by Melez Zenawi nor the Somali National Regional Administration in Jigjiga has an adequate plan to reverse the ethnic cleansing in Raaso Area or to assist their safety and security.
OPEN LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER OF ETHIOPIA The Raaso Human rights Watch in North America calls upon Human Rights organizations and individuals in North America, Europe and anywhere in the world to take an active role in the fate of Raaso zone in Ethiopia; to globally raise the profile of this issue; to advocate for a peaceful political engagement; and to restore credibility of the peaceful Ethiopian – Somalis in Raaso, ignored by the Ethiopian Federal system and Institutions. To this end, we should contact our Senators, Congressmen/women, Members of Parliament (MPs) and peace lovers in the world over to inform them as well as enlist their assistance in order to save RAASO zone and it’s citizens from the current Somali state regime and do its level best to bring to international justice those responsible for the civilian attacks in Raaso Zone, like Ambassador Abdulrashid Dulane Rafle, Khadar Mo’alin, the current Somali Regional security & Justice Head, Mahdi Ayub; , and called on the Federal Ethiopian Government to stand by their innocent civilians. The Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders will raise with the Ethiopian Federal government the need for an independent, thorough and impartial investigation into Raaso Zone killings. The Special Rapporteur will meet with judicial authorities at various levels to assess the status of their investigation, to press them to investigate acts aimed at undermining and obstructing the investigation and to press for the investigation of other crimes committed against Raaso Civilians with the watchful eye of the current prime minister of Ethiopia, Melez Zenawi. The matter of the Sheikhash and Ogaden Clan fighting has been going on
unabated for some time now in Ethiopia. If this continues with the new
Somali national Regional Authority led by Ogaden Clan which is 90% of it’s
administration, the Sheikhash people are likely to be totally
exterminated, yet the Ethiopian government seems unwilling to do its duty
of protecting these people. The, African Human Rights Defenders, ICG and
the European Humanitarian Crisis
Group are watching closely the situation of Raaso zone and how the
Ethiopian Federal Government responds this matter urgently. In view of the seriousness of this slaughter, the people in Jigjiga, Addis Ababa, Somali Ethiopian Communities in North America, London, Australia and Europe have began speaking about this matter. Their objective is to inform the international community and their humanitarian attention of the civilian killings in Raaso zone, including women and children. Even though these atrocities are being brought to the attention of the media, Ogaden Militias with their support of ONLF fighters continue with the killings and lootings often with heavy fighting and large amount of casualties in the remote villages. Therefore, as citizens of the world, we must all join together and try to stop this massacre. In February 3, 2005 Mr. Mark Buchanan of Belgium, Brussels (ICG) reported that " Since February 1998, in the context of a gorilla insurgency campaign against Raaso area and Sheikhash tribe in Ethiopia by the Ogaden/Al-Itihad Movement (OAM), ONLF-Ogaden Militia forces and hand picked member of parliament in Jigjiga Regional State government are backing ethnic Ogaden militias (Underground Group) known as " Ogadenia forces " have committed war crimes, crimes against humanity and " ethnic cleansing " in the Raaso Area of Southern Ethiopia. Noting " ONLF/Al-Itihad forces and militias have systematically targeted civilian communities that share the same ethnicity of Sheikhash groups, killing, looting, raping, forcibly displacing and destroying hundreds of villages. " Mr. Buchanan also stated that " The ONLF/ Al-itihad with the support of Ogaden Member of Parliament in Both Federal Ethiopian Government, Like Abdurashid Dulane Rafle, Sarhaye, Khadar Mo’allin and other Ogaden members of both Federal and provincial parliaments joined to commit war crimes. Regional Somali State Administration in Jigjiga have also been responsible for some direct and indiscriminate attacks that have resulted in deaths and injuries to Sheikhash civilians in Raaso area for the last Eight Years. These atrocities should not be tolerated by the today ’ s civilized society. Therefore, the Ethiopian government should be pressured by the politicians, media and communities of the world to undertake their elected duty to protect the people of their land, regardless of the people’s ethnicity. Like all the other Ethiopian people, the Sheikhash tribe deserves the basics of safety and security from their government. As members of the global community We appeal to you to do your utmost to put a stop to this silent ethnic cleansing and return safety and security to the people. Human Rights Watch urges the Ethiopian Human rights Commission to call on the Ethiopian authorities to establish an independent inquiry into the killings and genocide that took place in Raaso Zone, and to demand the immediate help of Raaso Zone. Worse of all, is the negative experience of fanning tribal conflicts and the anti-peace political orientation of the ONLF and elements within the Jigjiga Authority, which raised arms against the Raaso inhabitants. Finally, we emphasize that, should ONLF and elements within the Jigjiga Authority enter Raaso zone, it might lead to a renewed full-scale civil war among the Somali zone clans or it might result a direct military confrontation between the new Jigjiga Administration which is 90% Ogadens against Sheikhash Civilians in Raaso zone. Sincerely, Shafy Ahmed-Nuur HAN Note: Human Rights Watch urges the Ethiopian Human rights Commission to call on the Ethiopian authorities to establish an independent inquiry into the killings and genocidal war and political discrimination that took place in Raaso Zone, and to demand the immediate help of Raaso Zone. The Geeska Afrika Online
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