Once again just who is calling the shots folks? This directive is not coming from dheere, oh no. Rather its coming straight from the occupiers. Why need a middle-man when you've got complete control!! Ciidamada Itoobiya oo amar ku bixiyay in shacabku ka guuraan degaanada ku dhow warshadda baastada Aayaha.com, Arbaco, 30 May 2007 - Cadowga Itoobiya ee xoogga ku heysta xaruntii hore ee warshadda baastada ayaa ku amray dadka deggan warshadda baastada agagaareheeda in ay ka guuraan ilaa 10-km oo isku weer ah. Ciidamada Itoobiya ee ku sugan xaruntii hore ee warshadda baastada ayaa amarkaan ay soo saareen waxa uu ka dambeeyey markii xaq u dirirka Muqdisho ay halkaasi la beegsadeen weeraro isdaba joog ah,waxaana go'aankaan uu u muuqdaa mid la xiriira weeraradaas. Dad badan ayey la yaab ku noqotay in ciidamada cadowga Itoobiya aay dad Soomaaliyeed ku amraan in ay isaga guuraan xaafadohooda,waxaana dadka qaar ay sheegeen in ay tahay tani mid muujineysa cadaawadda ay Itoobiyaanku u hayaan shacabaka Soomaaliyeed. Horey ayaa ciidamada cadowga itoobiya waxa ay dad Soomaaliyeed uga saareen guryihii dowladda oo ay dadkaasi daganaayeen,waxaana hadda magaalada dhexdeeda daadsan oo hooy la'aan ah qoysas Soomaaliyeed oo ay si arxandarro ah ciidamada cadowga Itobiya iyo kuwa maleeshiyada Imbagathi uga soo saareen aqaladii ay daganaayeen.

Originally posted by Castro: Wisdom and intelligence are gifts that cannot be achieved with age. Compare the lucid answers of this bright young man with the answers of the 80 year old dimwit (also known as "president") who counts on his fingers during interviews. What have we done wrong to deserve the likes of Yeey and Geedi ? Both Yey and Geedi are men devoid of ideas. Sheikh Sharif was borne out of a movement which brought with it not only sheer determination and goodwill but also concrete ideas on how to move this shattered nation forward. As such, along with his brilliant mind, he has inherited a clear, unshakable vision on how to solve the problems of the horn. International players quickly realised the stark difference between the ICU and the TFG; namely, the TFG's complete lack of ideas for the way forward and the apparent abundance of clear and progressive ideas on the side of the ICU. Whether publicly displayed or not, these international players felt ambivalent about their support of the TFG. On the other hand, the ICU instilled in even its strongest critics, a profound sense of admiration. Admiration for what it has already accomplished and what it was capable of accomplishing, given the chance. This is why the biggest threat emanating from the ICU is its strong and clear vision of the future. It won the battle of ideas at every turn; whether it was with the U.S., the Ethiopians or with the TFG. The days of the TFG shouting out the words 'terrorist' and 'terrorism' are over. It now has to come up with real ideas for the future. In this sense, perhaps the battle of ideas is more important than ever. The international community will soon realise how void of concrete ideas the TFG really is. This coupled with a new and more favorable US administration should ensure that the ICU remains to be a player to be reckoned with.

This is more than just the opening of an embassy. The new administrators of Somalia are setting up new structures with which to run their newly conquered colony. This picture says it all for me. Geedi waa nin dhintay oo inuu noolyahay isku maleeyo.

A very interesting interview. Sheds light on some not so well-known facts about the early days of the UIC. As part of Al Jazeera English's Talk to Jazeera series Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, a leader of Somalia's Union of Islamic Courts, discusses the group's hopes for Somalia, their opposition to Ethiopian troops and US involvement in the country. Interviewer: Would you please explain to me what is going on in Somalia in general? Sh. Sharif: First, the Ethiopian government had a plan before the Union of Islamic Courts was established. If we re-examine history, Siad Barre's regime was ousted because the Ethiopians supported forces that were opposed to the government. The first person to have allowed Ethiopian to enter our country and to perpetrate this abnominal act was Abdullahi Yusuf himself. They continued their practices; Siad Barre's government was overthrown, tribal wars followed and then came the warlords, who used to receive armaments from Ethiopia. Consequently, Somalia suffered a lot because of this war. Governments were formed but were not able to assume their duties. The latest in date was the government of AbdulQasim, formed in Djibouti in 2000. The warlords were also an obstacle. They established a huge anti-government coalition and were able to overthrow it. They then planned for the Nairobi conference that led to the creation of the present government. This government was created to satisfy the desires of the Ethiopian government and its terrible plans for Somalia. Apparently this government was fighting our traditions and customs - Islam and Muslims in general. Each candidate used to have his program and he had to say explicitly that he would fight Islam and the Muslims. Abduallhi Yusuf was one of the first of them. The situation was grim in Somalia at that moment. When the Somali population realized that the situation was constantly aggravating, it decided to form Courts. People might not understand our concept of a court. Somali Shariah courts are kind of a mini-state. Among other things; it seeks to achieve peace and stability, achieve reconciliation between litigants, settle disputes, raise awareness, help citizens and guide them. Their role is not limited to the legal aspects, but also administrative areas and all the services they can handle. The UIC achieved great success within a short period of time. It was established in 2003. It kept growing and was welcomed by the Somali people. They were Islamic courts and the name was used to serve an international program known as the 'war on terrorism'. The Ethiopians wanted to exploit this appellation and use it in the way they like. They had convinced the Americans that what was happening in Somalia was nothing but terrorism and that it was necessary to fight us. They received huge amounts of money. Wars against various means were launched against the Somali people and the UIC since its establishment. The latest in date was the invasion of the Somali capital and the main cities by the Ethiopian forces. Interviewer: Are there any Al-Qaeda fighters in Somalia? Sh. Sharif: Let me tell you, there is no Al-Qaeda in Somalia. The UIC does not have any relationship with Al-Qaeda. It was chosen by the Somali people to achieve clear objectives and aims; and they were achieved. Nothing has changed. The UIC was founded on a clear vision and continued along the same lines. These are rumors serving the Ethiopian plan inside Somalia. Interviewer: Your vision for a state is similar to that of the Taliban or Al-Qaeda. Sh. Sharif: First of all, this is not true. Strictness, moderation and other trends were not mentioned in Islam. These are political terms used to describe Muslims for a certain period of our history. We have not interfered in other peoples freedoms or harmed their interests. These were rumors. Some individuals may have committed some mistakes but there were no serious mistakes at the level of the UIC as an institution. We have to differentiate between the individual's behaviour and the institution's behaviour. This country lived in chaos for 16 years, we have never seen a new force enjoy such a great level of discipline and I don't think this will happen again. The UIC was disciplined and achieved good results. Its success exceeded its mistakes. It reached results that were not achieved by any state in the past. Superpowers interfered in Somalia and tried to restore peace and stability but they failed miserably. On the contrary and within a short period of time, the UIC was able to restore peace and stability, to unite people and to lift psychological barriers caused by war in Somalia. Interviewer: Such achievements cannot be reached by the UIC alone, who is supporting the UIC, who is providing you with money and assistance? Sh. Sharif: Why not? Why can't the UIC achieve all this by itself? As long as it has the determination, loyalty and the people's support, it can. It is the Somali people that have been supporting the UIC and it continues to do so. Interviewer: Some say that you've been receiving funds from organizations like Al-Qaeda or others that want to support the establishment of a hard-line Islamic state in Somalia. Sh. Sharif: This is another lie. We in the UIC used to work as volunteers. None of the UIC members used to receive salaries. The maximum we used to get was food from time to time. We found ourselves facing a crisis. We then decided to sacrifice our work and life in order to change the situation and to save Somalia. We had the determination and willingness to make sacrifice. There is a difference between the ones who want to sacrifice everything and those who want to gain . The UIC did not want to make any gains. They wanted to make sacrifice for the sake of the Somali people and in order to save the country. Interviewer: How did you finance the projects targeting the society? You used to be armed; how did you finance all these projects? Sh. Sharif: When the UIC was established we did not have weapons or money, however, we had the determination and the idea. The Somali people were armed, so we asked them to arm us so that we could fulfil our duty. We also asked them to finance us so that we can carry on. During the first six months, we succeeded and were able to gain the sympathy and trust of the Somali people. Our support continued and grew bigger. We pursued our journey until we achieved a great success inside the capital. Then war broke out between us and the warlords who were supported by the U.S. We fought this and we were expecting that we all would be executed. But we decided not to run away or leave this battle. We had only two choices; either to die as martyrs or to succeed in our confrontation. We prevailed, ceased their weapons and took power again. Our victory in this war gave us a big impetus. We confiscated new weapons and spread our influence in many regions. After that, we opened back the airport and the ports. After consultations with the people and with their consent, we imposed minimal taxes in order to expedite business. Inteviewer: Okay. You have been victorious in these battles, but what about the defeat after that. Would you describe to us what happened? How did Mogadishu fall easily? Sh. Sharif: When we felt that the Ethiopian forces wanted to enter Mogadishu, and they began to bombard all the areas where our troops were, we said that we had to withdraw. The entry into the Somali capital and its bombardment would have harmed many of its people. We decided to withdraw our troops and leave it up to the Somali people to decide their future. We were expecting that the Ethiopian troops would not enter the capital after we withdrew . However, contrary to our expectation, they entered the capital and there were cases of rape, murder, abduction and abuse that targeted Somalis from all backgrounds. Following these events, resistance restarted. Interviewer: Where did your troops go after you withdrew from Mogadishu? Sh. Sharif: We withdrew our troops and deployed them in areas far away from the capital, in a way that would make them invisible. Interviewer: Are these troops still present and holding together in some particular Somali areas? Sh. Sharif: Our troops are present. With gods help they are still holding together and united in solidarity. There are direct contacts between us. Interviewer: Immediately after the fallout of Mogadishu and your withdrawal, there were reports about massacres, murders and air bombardments against your troops. How do you describe this, did it really happen? Sh. Sharif: They used to bombard our areas, even before we withdrew from the Somali capital. However, with gods help, the enemy was not able to achieve its goals. The losses our troops incurred were minor. We thank god for this. Interviewer: Some of your troops moved to the south, there were reports that those troops were besieged in one area. There no media, cameras or news reported by the press. What happened to the troops that were besieged in the southern part of Somalia? Were they exterminated? Sh. Sharif: I was among those who went to the south of Somalia. They wanted to besiege us but this did not happen. We took our precautions early. They were bombarding us. There were operations of personnel reinforcements ahead of our troops and after them and from all sides. But with gods help our troops were not besieged. I can say that only five percent of our troops were either killed or injured. Interviewer: What about you? Would you tell us briefly; how did you get out of Somalia? How did you reach Kenya? Sh.Sharif: We headed to the south of Somalia; namely to the Kenyan-Somali border, which is full of dense forest, and we wanted to hide there. With gods help, we were able to disappear inside the forest. The U.S. and Ethiopian troops were tracing us everywhere. There were also heavy rains and mud and it was difficult to move. Most of the cars stopped midway and we had to continue walking. Military airplanes, American and Ethiopian, were hovering over every tree. With god's assistance, we were able to disappear. We stayed there for a relatively long period of time. I stayed in the forest for around 20 days. We were finally able to contact our brothers in Yemen and we asked them to contact the Kenyan government. Our relationship with the Kenya government was not bad. Even though they were supporting the transitional government, we kept our relationship with them. They were told that I would move to Kenya. They agreed and welcomed me on the Kenyan-Somali border. They sent me a plane. I went to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, by plane and then to Yemen. Interviewer: Did the Kenyans place any conditions on hosting you? Sh. Sharif: No, not at all. The Kenyans were the ones that best understood that the UIC is a national force and that one should deal with it. There were some government officials who had a different opinion but the majority of Kenyan officials considered the UIC as force that they should have contact with. When we talk about bilateral relationships between the neighboring countries, many factors should be taken into consideration. Interviewer: Let us talk about your meeting with the U.S. ambassador. Who asked for this meeting? Sh. Sharif: The Kenyans told me that the U.S. ambassador wanted to meet me. Of course, the U.S. ambassador was dealing with me based on his government's recommendation. He was dealing with us in a good manner, since the beginning. Even after we left the capital, we contacted each other. He said we want to send you a plane. I replied this is impossible now because we are fighting and defending ourselves. We will consider your offer later on. He was also among the ones encouraging the Kenyan government to treat me well. Interviewer: How do you explain this? Isn't there a kind of contradiction? The Americans are supporting those attacking you and at the same time they want to protect you? Sh. Sharif: I mean this is a double-standard stance. The U.S. administration has always been using double-standards. Within the same state, the department of defense would deal with you in a way and the state department in a different way. This is common place when it comes to the Americans. Interviewer: How do you interpret this? What do you think was their intention? Sh. Sharif: We cannot explain this position. In all cases, we know that the U.S. support encouraged the Ethiopians to send their troops to Somalia. This support is continuing. If they were aware of the ensuing problems faced by the Somali people, maybe things would have been different. I think that their wrong understanding of the Somali reality pushed them to take wrong decisions. Interviewer: Did the U.S. ambassador offer you a certain deal, interests or a plan to deal with them? Sh. Sharif: I don't think we can describe it as a deal, but rather the vision of the U.S. administration; like engaging in dialogue with the government in our personal quality and not as an institution, calling upon the Somali people to stop the war, renouncing violence and terrorism amongst others. Our answer was clear: it would not be useful to take part in a dialogue in our personal quality. If we want peace, the UIC should engage in negotiations as an institution. In terms of terrorism: we are not terrorists and we do not encourage terrorism. Interviewer: If you refused the demands of the U.S. ambassador, there must have been consequences. How do you describe the current relationship between you and the Americans, between the UIC and the Americans? Sh. Sharif: I cannot describe the relationship between the UIC and the U.S. administration because they were not good in the first place. The UIC were driven out of Somalia. As Somali people, we want to protect ourselves, to defend our country and to seek peace. This remains the case, whether we are inside Somalia or outside. When we were inside Somalia, we did not attack or harm any country. All our activities were oriented towards Somalia; towards restoring security and stability in our country. Interviewer: You said that there were no Al-Alqaeda members, no terrorism in Somalia. What is Somalia's strategic importance for the Americans? Sh. Sharif: First of all, Somalia enjoys a strategic location in the Horn of Africa. Second, Somalia's natural resources are still un-tapped. I think the Americans look to Somalia from a strategic and economic point of view. In my opinion, the Americans know that there is no terrorism in Somalia. They went into Somalia and did not find any terrorists. They did not hand over any terrorist. They should have told us – we found these terrorists in Somalia, we killed some of them, wounded them or arrested them but they didn't find any. The UIC did not undertake any terrorist attacks that could threaten its neighbors or others. In my opinion, the Americans are confident that there is no terrorism. Terrorism is created for political ends. Interviewer: But this contradicts the reports saying that a U.S. attack inside Somalia led to the killing of an armed leader affiliated to Al-Qaeda? Sh. Sharif: I heard about it when I was in the forest. He was a Somali member of the UIC. He's never been accused of taking part in any terrorist attack. Until now, we cannot accuse him of any terrorist attack. There is another problem. Laws and Islamic Shariah say that an accused remains innocent until proven guilty. He was a normal person but then they said that he was a member of a third organization and that he was a terrorist. When did they check these reports? Who has the right to say he was a terrorist? Terrorism is an accusation - it should be substantiated and he should be indicted according to the law. It would be unfair to describe people as terrorists. This is unjust. Just for being a Muslim and refusing to follow the Americans or others; they would call me a terrorist? That is wrong. International laws guarantee the freedom of belief, where are these laws? Have they disappeared because of crazy political aspirations? Interviewer: Who is perpetrating organized crime in Somalia; such as ship piracy and other crimes? Sh. Sharif: This is an important question. Mercenaries financed by foreign bodies perpetrated these acts of piracy. They used to commit crimes and kidnappings. The UIC was established in order to face them and was able to defeat them. With gods help, the UIC contributed to ensure the world's stability, because too many accidents used to take place in the Indian Ocean. The U.S. troops were present there but they could not stop these incidents. The UIC was able to oust the pirates and ended this phenomenon. The UIC should have credit for this achievement. Interviewer: What is your current vision for a solution? With whom would you like to engage in negotiations? Sh. Sharif: 1. Withdrawing the Ethiopian troops from Somalia. 2. Holding a reconciliation conference in a neutral country and inviting all concerned parties to take part in this conference. 3. Ensuring international support for this conference and respecting its recommendations. Interviewer: Did you receive any foreign support during the last periods of the conflict? Is it true that you received support from Eritrea? Sh. Sharif: These are nothing but lies. We did not receive any foreign support. Our only support was our people's solidarity. Interviewer: The governments plan or the proposals for negotiations or reconciliation, do they contain any points you agree on? Sh. Sharif: This is not a reconciliation that we could accept. For us, this is not reconciliation, but rather infighting incited by the government. Interview: Incase you refuse this proposal and the others reject your own conditions, how will the future be like? What are the prospects? Is it more infighting? Sh. Sharif: Frankly, we have always been seeking peace and we are continuing to do so. However, we cannot agree on something that will not bear any results. Those setting arbitrary dates for reconciliation are not being realistic. Interviewer: The way the current war is being fought; will it lead to the fallout of the present government and the withdrawal of the Ethiopians? Sh. Sharif: I have no doubt about it. I'm confident that they will be able to drive out the invading Ethiopian troops out of Somalia. Interviewer: Thank You.

Renegade leaders issue warning 24/05/2007 11:00 - (SA) Asmara - Renegade Somali leaders in Eritrea have called on all Somalis to boycott planned reconciliation talks next month, warning of further violence in the war-torn country if they go ahead. The peace conference, planned for June 14, has been delayed several times due to insecurity in the Somali capital Mogadishu and difficulties in gathering funding. Speaking to reporters in Asmara late on Wednesday, top Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and former parliament speaker Sheikh Sharif Hassan Aden said the proposed peace talks would be futile. "We would like to call for the Somali people to boycott this so-called reconciliation conference, which will be unsuccessful ," they said in a joint statement. The leaders, surrounded by Somali opposition lawmakers, reiterated that "all Somali stakeholders" must take part in any conference to forge a national unity government. The Somali interim government has repeatedly said that Islamist leaders can only take part as representatives of their clans, not of their movement. Ethiopian-Somali forces ousted the Islamic Courts Union from their six-month rule of south and central Somalia at the start of the year. An Ethiopian-Somali offensive last month ended weeks of clashes with Islamist-led insurgents that killed hundreds of civilians and forced tens of thousands to flee Mogadishu. The renegade leaders called on Somalis to keep fighting Ethiopian troops and the Somali interim government. The planned conference was organised to create a "sense of false legitimacy for the Ethiopian occupying forces ", the statement said, calling for an international boycott. Somalia has been without an effective government since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre sparked a bloody power struggle that has defied numerous attempts to restore stability.

By THE NEW YORK TIMES Published: May 23, 2007 Three journalists for The New York Times were arrested by the Ethiopian military on May 16 in the ****** region of the country, held for five days and interrogated at gunpoint, and then released Monday without any charges being lodged against them, The Times said yesterday. The three journalists — Jeffrey Gettleman, 35, Nairobi bureau chief; Vanessa Vick, 43, a photographer; and Courtenay Morris, 34, a videographer — were reporting on the conflict in ****** when they were detained by soldiers in the town of Degeh Bur. They had entered the country on journalists’ visas and were not in a restricted area. While in detention, they were moved to three different jails before being released in Addis Ababa on Monday. The three journalists, who have now left Ethiopia, said that they were never told why they were detained, and that Ethiopian military officials refused to notify the American Embassy of their arrest. During questioning, Ms. Vick was kicked in the back, and all three were repeatedly threatened. Ethiopian soldiers confiscated all of the journalists’ equipment, including computers, cameras, cellphones and notebooks; none of the equipment has been returned. The Ethiopian security forces say they are holding the equipment for security reasons. “We are greatly relieved that our journalists have finally been released and that their ordeal is over,” said Bill Keller, executive editor of The Times. “We would like to thank Ambassador Yamamoto and his colleagues at the American Embassy in Addis Ababa, and Prime Minister Meles for their help in freeing them,” Mr. Keller continued, referring to Donald Y. Yamamoto, the United States ambassador, and to Meles Zenawi, the prime minister of Ethiopia. “Now we are looking for explanations,” Mr. Keller said. “Why were journalists on a legitimate news-gathering assignment arrested, imprisoned for five days, manhandled and threatened? Why were they denied a chance to communicate with the American Embassy in Ethiopia or with civilian officials of the Ethiopian government? Why were we unable to get accurate information about their whereabouts and condition?” The ****** region is a contested area of eastern Ethiopia, close to the border with Somalia, where the Ethiopian government is confronting separatist rebels. In December 2006, Ethiopia, with covert American help, intervened in Somalia to prop up Somalia’s transitional government and defeat Islamist forces that controlled much of the country and were widely suspected of sheltering Ethiopian rebel groups like the ****** National Liberation Front. The hot, arid and inhospitable ****** region is home to Somali-speaking nomads who tend to identify more with neighboring Somalia than with Ethiopia. Part of the reason is religion: Ethiopia’s leaders have generally been Christians, while ******is are almost all Muslims.

^Spot on!

Very sad. Heartbreaking news. Ilaahow adaa weyn oo waaxid eh.

^I'm aware that getting rid of them is the best solution but its not viable at this stage. As such, the approach should be to encourage as well as challenge the TFG to act like the 'government' it has designated itself as. If it doesn't take action regarding this issue, its image will slide even further. For now, our interests lie in it doing something about the impunity with which the Ethiopians are using to continue their crimes against the Somali women.

The welfare of our Somali sisters has been one of the most under-reported items of news about the Ethiopian occupation. I thought i'd post a reminder for us all. The reminder may seem somewhat long but the nature and importance of the topic demands it. Also -Pls check out this short video. It has brought tears to the eyes of all those who have viewed it. The woeful plight of Somali Women under the twin evils of Occupation and the TFG Life under the yoke of an occupier is never a pleasant one. The longer it last, the more lasting its negative outcomes. The Ethiopian occupation has brought nothing but destruction, rape and pillage. The women of Somalia are the real victims of the occupation. Only this week, The Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, backed away from his plan to withdraw his forces from Somalia. This is bad news for Somalia but even more so for its women. Apart from internal displacement, the Somali women have been and still are at the mercy of being raped by the Ethiopian forces. Ever since setting foot on Somali soil, the Ethiopian forces have embarked on a campaign aimed at humiliating and dehumanising the Somali people. What better way to do this then target the most precious yet vulnerable section of our society. They have sought to employ rape as a weapon of war in order to weaken both our will to resist occupation and our integrity. Its is, of course, not the first time that the Ethiopia military has transgressed against the honor of the Somali women. The Somali women of the ****** have endured over half a century of brutal Ethiopian occupation coupled with sexual violence of the worst kind. The sheer scale of the sexual violence perpetrated against women of the ******, indicates that it was and still remains to be state-backed and systematic. These crimes have become so systematic that they are now more about advancing social control and redrawing ethnic boundaries. A crucial part of this plan is to infect as many women as possible. As all major clans of Somalia can be found in this region, the aim appears to be long term. Its ironic that the same crimes committed against Somali women in the ******, crimes we all guilty of ignoring for so long, have come to visit women residing in the capital of Somalia itself. From Mogadishu, Jowhar and beyond; with each passing day, Somali women are being confronted by the reality that they are utterly powerless and subject to the cruel and inhuman whims of the Ethiopian forces. The Ethiopian forces know well that they are inseminating terror into the hearts of millions of Somali women, with each rape they commit. A raped Somali woman’s physical and psychological injuries, emotional torment and deep disappointment at her nation’s inability to protect her will ultimately come back to haunt Somalia as a nation. Rapes of pregnant women, women being raped in front of their children, use of cigarettes to burn their nipples and genitals have all been recorded in countries where either an occupation force or a peacekeeping force have operated. It’s not farfetched to presume that such incidents will soon take place in Somalia and become the norm. Some of these incidents may have already occurred. Somali women at the mercy of Ethiopian forces The plight of Somali Women since the start of the occupation has been woeful. The Ethiopian military’s campaign of rape against started as soon as the first Ethiopian soldier landed in Baidoa. Back then, those cases in Baidoa were dismissed as propaganda against the TFG. Despite this, there have been some well publicised cases of rape. On 13 March 2007, Suubaan Ma’alin, a 37 year old mother of eight was raped by Ethiopian soldiers. She recounted her ordeal during a teary press conference in 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”. This was the first officially reported case. Later reports revealed that up to eight soldiers raped her. Suubaan’s husband, Ali Hasan, with all the emotions he must have been going through, sat next to his wife and appealed on “everyone who can help to rush to our help”. Ali also made a written appeal to the TFG to take legal action against the Ethiopian forces at large and the perpetrators of the act in particular. He is yet to receive a reply. On the same day, another yet to be named Somali woman was raped by no less than five Ethiopian soldiers. By now the Ethiopian forces were acting with absolute impunity. On 15 March, only two days after the aforementioned incidents, a young Somali girl of only 15 years was gang raped by Ethiopian forces. The second case to reach the press, took place on 16 April. An 18 year old, Fardowsa Abdi Hashi, was on her way back to her house in Hamar Bille, after fleeing fierce fighting with her family the previous day. She returned to pick up a few belongings that the family had left behind. While on her way, she was ambushed and raped by twelve Ethiopian soldiers. She was later dumped on the street. Speaking from hospital, she recalled how she lost consciousness. Following her ordeal, she called on her fellow sisters to be vigilant and avoid venturing near areas occupied by the Ethiopian military. On April 21, at the height of one of the fiercest battles in Mogadishu, a Somali man responded to a BBC news website call for people in Mogadishu to write in and explain the atmosphere of the city. The man wrote about how he hid in a corner and helplessly observed his cousin getting raped by Ethiopian forces pillaging his neighbourhood. In his notes, he mentions how his cousin appealed for help, calling him by his name but that he could not respond. It was a moment in which a Somali man was forced to endure, just as countless Somali women have, what it feels like to feel helpless. The situation was by now developing from one of isolated incidents of rape to mass rape in order to humiliate, punish and subdue the Somali women. A plethora of unreported cases Elsewhere in the country, transgressions against defenceless women are on the rise. In fact, the situation might be a lot worse than we perceive. Ethiopian forces have been occupying lower lying regions for sometime now. They have established large bases in places such as Lugh. When one takes these regions into account, the enormous dangers exposed to the Somali women become apparent. Significant numbers of those who have disappeared since the start of the Ethiopian occupation are said to be women. One wonders if these women have fallen into the hands of Ethiopian forces. Presumably, they were raped, returned to Military barracks and then killed. Even worse, they might be in military barracks and being used as sexual slaves. Furthermore, thousands of Ethiopian soldiers have criss-crossed Somalia in their pursuit of the UIC. These forces passed through a great number of towns and villages across Somalia. It is not inconceivable that they would commit acts of rape against defenceless Somali women in their pathway. Legal black hole There will be no end to these violations as long as Somalia remains occupied by Ethiopia. Lack of independence on the part of the TFG and their unwillingness to take legal action or even request one from Ethiopia has made things worse for the Somali women. The Ethiopian forces, although an occupying force in the eyes of the Somali public, are in the country legally according to the TFG. Why then, one might ask, is the TFG not leaning on its ‘equal partner’ and urging it to prosecute troops committing crimes in Somalia? The answer is quite simple. We have a puppet regime which is more concerned about pleasing its master than taking measures to serve and protect its vulnerable citizens. Ethiopia is not in Somalia under a peacekeeping mission under either the UN or the AU. Legally, the scenario would have been less complicated if the troops committing crimes were in Somalia under the auspices of either the UN or AU, as is the case with the Ugandan force. Under UN regulations, military personnel cannot be prosecuted in the country where they are serving. There are, however, provisions for them to be prosecuted in their home countries. The rules are binding on all serving members. There is close scrutiny from the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and the UN Office of Legal Affairs, both of whom have close cooperation with all UN missions. Any allegations levelled are then investigated by a unit from the Office of Internal Oversight Service (OIOS). This unit is embedded in the Mission and yet autonomous from it. We are further told that OIOS has full and unobstructed access to personnel as well as a reporting structure separate from Mission management. Similar regulations have haphazardly been created by the AU following allegations of sexual abuse against the AU peacekeeping force in Darfur. Even with these seemingly strict regulations, the UN Secretary-General’s adviser on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Peacekeeping Operations, stated that the “number of [abuse] allegations, being registered in some locations, still causes us considerable harm”. If this is what happens under strictly controlled UN operations, what do you think is happening in Somalia where no such controls are in place against the Ethiopians forces? The introduction of Ugandan forces, with their dismal track record of mass rape in the Congo, coupled with talk of a fresh UN led mission is bound to make things worse for the Somali women. The more than 200,000 UN peacekeepers work on a rotational basis. This means that there will most certainly be large numbers of peacekeepers who have abused women in previous missions and will keep doing so. The responsibilities of the T.F.G. From the first reported cases of rape by Ethiopian forces in Baidoa, the TFG has failed in its duty to protect its citizens. Having designated itself as the sole governing authority in Somalia, it had responsibilities towards setting clear codes of conduct for the forces it had ‘invited’ into the country. Its failure to voice concern over reported cases of rape has contributed to the climate of impunity the Ethiopian forces have been operating under. One wonders whether the TFG is waiting for an Ethiopian soldier to somehow come forward and accept responsibility or plead guilty. Families of rape victims have been waiting for months for justice to be served. Included in these are Suubaan and her husband. This couple wrote to the TFG and appealed on them to take action. They are yet to hear from the TFG. The TFG has treated these families with utmost contempt. They have dismissed their claims as fabrications, including the ones where proof was at hand. Some ministers have even engaged in degrading diatribes against the integrity of the Somali women. It is as if the TFG is an advocate for a foreign power, instead of for its own citizens. It cannot continue to deprive its people of their most fundamental rights under international law and human rights conventions. Rapes continue under the so-called ‘Transitional Federal Government’ – which seeks to renew its mandate while the Somali women continue to suffer. Parallels are few in history where a government, popular or unpopular, has failed so miserably to protect its citizens. Urgent action required from the TFG • Acknowledge that it has failed to adequately register its concerns with the Ethiopian forces • Cease depicting reports of rape as hoax or as conspiracies against the TFG, thereby allowing Ethiopian soldiers to act with impunity • Setup a joint task force with the Ethiopians to deal with reports of abuses committed by Ethiopian forces (this would avoid a scenario in which the Ethiopian military would conduct their own dubious internal investigations)

John Holmes: "Clearly, human rights abuses have taken place, but the government categorically denied reports and accusations of their involvement ". Guilty as charged.

Not that i have much respect for the U.N. or anyone affiliated with it but its worth noting that John Holmes had some scathing words for Abdullahi Yusuf. "While the fighting was going on, we were very, very concerned about the plight of civilians. Clearly it was not the normal respect for humanitarian law," Holmes told the president. After the meeting, Holmes said the fighting in the city had violated international humanitarian law. "When you have a pitched battle going on in a city full of civilians, that is not in accordance with the Geneva Conventions," he said. Holmes said he was disappointed that his trip was cut short, but he got "a first-hand appreciation for the appalling situation in Mogadishu." Damn right! The situation in Mogadishu is appalling. But you needn't go there to find that out you knuckle head!

Originally posted by Ana_Juwa2: http://www.hiiraan.com/news2/2007/may/uganda_country_praised_on_somalia_mission.aspx Compare and contrast the different thinking behind the two different blocks involved in facilitating or directly participating in the aggression against the ICU and the somali people. http://www.hiiraan.com/news2/2007/may/egypt_eu_urge_for_comprehensive_national_reconciliation_in_somalia.aspx Its interesting that whilst the egptian minister along with the EU (who have expressed serve reservations regarding the TFG and its legitimacy) to note that they urgers true reconciliaition and a comprehnsive one at that. Whilst the us one of the arcitects of this conflict and financier of both the ethopians and the warlord's of the TFG instead choises to have a broadside against the now ousted but still extremely popular ICU when praising the Ugandan Peace keepers. It's telling that reference wasnt made to the ethopians, the fact that there isnt a peace to keep in the true sense of the phrase. Ana_Juwa2 - You're right to highlight the different approaches taken by third parties. The EU and AL have always taken a more realistic stance than the U.S. and its proxy in the horn, Ethiopia. Having said that, the EU and AL are powerless on their own. I would have preferred that they weren't in the picture at all. The EU in particular has been a major financier of the T.F.G. Somalia's only real hope is for its own people to unite.

Peacenow - Their misinformation will not go far. The realities on the ground will soon overpower their misinformation. A clear and undeniable pattern is emerging from recent military maneuver's undertaken by the Ethiopian military in different parts of our country. These military maneuver's bear the markings of an occupier bent on securing its new found resources and land. Why on earth would Ethiopia need a military base in Central Somalia? And why now? The answers to these two questions are self evident. Those who wish to side step and deny the painful truth will realise their folly one unpleasant morning.

^Reverting to the 'custom' line won't fool me. Lets drop it. I won't provide the source.

^^I have the source. Before giving the source, I'd like the SomaliE to tell me why he's not satisfied reading the post and leaving it at that - just like everyone else.

Originally posted by Ana_Juwa2: Are we sure were are not mixing up Ethopian troops with this so-called Somali National Army? Ana_Juwa2, The few trained SNA members are a precious commodity these days. They're needed in Mogadishu. The area we are talking about is in Central Somalia. I wonder whether we will be able to get as much news coverage into this latest aggression and incursion violating international law's etc etc . This is an important region. I'm sure word will get out somehow. In any case, i hope the likes of Garoweonline can keep tabs on this important development. Any optimist care to still suggest that this TFG is running the show? Dictating matters? Somalia looks like being colonised very slowly. You'd have to be more than an optimist to suggest anything of the like.

Xanthus , he'll tell Meles first. Don't forget YEY is not the superior in this matter.

^Can't do that. Anything else you'd like to add?

Originally posted by TheSomaliEconomist: ^^ - Islamic Courts Union - Popular Resistance Movement in the Land of the Two Migrations - Youth Mujahideen Movement of Somalia Hmm wonder what they will call themselves next week. Hi there. You must be filling in for Duke today. I say that because your reply lacked substance just like Duke's. Add something constructive or do us a favor and head to your next TFG cheerleading session.

^BTW - you'll find the story in the AFRICA section.

Xanthus, Garoweonline might be unknown to you. Here's their link. Garoweonline. There is wide consensus that it is a reliable news source.

There is only one explanation as to why more Ethiopian troops would be on their way to Somali territory - that Somalia is under an Ethiopian administration and not that of the so-called T.F.G. Thats right folks. Our country is no longer being run by fellow Somalis but by a full-blown foreign administration. While other occupied countries before us did not deny their being under foreign occupation/administration, there are some Somalis who paint a rosy picture about our condition and deny that Ethiopia and not the T.F.G. is running our country. Some of us might remember that Paul Bremer was the US administrator in Iraq. His administration ended on June 28 of 2004. It was only then that sovereignty was transferred back to Iraq and control of the country was signed over by Bremer to the Interim Iraq government. While the U.S. administration in Iraq had a public face, that of Paul Bremer, the Ethiopian administration of our country is shrouded in secrecy. But then again, why need a public face when AY and his thugs can function as one for you. The only thing left is for us to wait for the handover ceremony. Don't hold your breath waiting though - Ethiopia unlike the US administration of Iraq is hungry for both resources and land. This it has found in Somalia. I'm afraid the only handover ceremony we are likely to see is that of officially lowering the Somali flag and replacing it with the Ethiopian one, once and for all. Coming back to the following news article. You'd notice that the Ethiopian military gave elders in the Galgaduud region an ultimatum - disarm peacefully and prepare for an Ethiopian occupation of your region or perish. Mind you, this ultimatum is not being carried out on behalf of the T.F.G.; nor is it about security. Rather, its about Ethiopia flexing its muscles and getting ready to settle into its new found home. 5,000 Ethiopian troops to deploy, disarm central Somalia MOGADISHU, Somalia May 9 (Garowe Online) - An ongoing series of meetings between the Ethiopian military and a group of Somali clan elders and politicians have concluded, officials and the elders said. The meetings where the two parties discussed general security issues were being held in Shilabo, a town in the Somali-inhabited region of Ethiopia. Independent sources at the meeting told Garowe Online that the Ethiopian military informed the clan elders from Galgaduud region in central Somalia to peacefully transfer weapons and prepare for the arrival of an Ethiopian contingent. Col. Wato Tadhu, the ranking Ethiopian officer at the meeting, told clan elders belonging to the Habar Gedir sub-clan of the ****** clan-family to bring all their weapons to the home of the clan chief in Guri El town. Galgaduud is the home region of several Islamic Courts leaders, including influential chief Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys and their vocal ex-defense secretary, Yusuf Indha Ade. Col. Tadhu also informed the clan elders that a 5,000-strong Ethiopian contingent would arrive in Galgaduud region to oversee the peaceful transfer of the weapons and prepare for the arrival of Somali government troops. The Ethiopian military suspects that stockpiles of weapons were secretly hidden in the towns of Guri El and Dhusamareeb, the regional capital. The colonel also accused local elders of “harboring” Islamist officials and fighters and promised to crackdown on weapons shipments from Eritrea that often land at the Dhusamareb airstrip. Military sources said the 5,000 Ethiopian troops could deploy in Galgaduud region as soon as next week. The clan elders accepted the Ethiopian military proposal and had returned to Galgaduud to inform residents, a local journalist said by telephone. Ethiopia's government has repeatedly said its troops would retreat from Somalia as soon as a complete African Union peacekeeping force is deployed. But observers say the weak transitional government can neither function nor survive without Ethiopian protection. Source: Garowe Online

“DON’T BE SAD! INDEED ALLAH IS WITH US!” In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful All praise be to Allah, The Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds. Peace and prayer be upon our prophet, Muhammad, his family, and his companions. To proceed: We bring glad tidings to the Ummah of Islam that the Mujahideen are all right and well and are enjoying high spirits. We have a lot of capabilities and we are determined to continue forward. The Mujahideen have been able to, by grace of Almighty Allah, strike an Oraal troop transport vehicle as it traveled between Mogadishu and Baidawa. It was completely destroyed and all those on board numbering between 30 to 40 men were killed. That attack was carried out on April 30 and was the first operation after the withdrawal of the brothers from the battlezone. Some might feel depressed and feel weak if they saw the control of the enemy on the capital but this is short sightedness because they consider victory and power in the hands of the one who controls some specific parts of the city. So we remind you of the saying of Mujahid Imam Abu Abdullah Usamah, May Allah protect him, which is that “Victory is not by gaining material control only; victory is remaining steadfast on the basics.” The brothers were concentrating on protecting some particular points to raise the spirits of the society and to let the ordinary people know that in the corners there are holes and that there are some men still left that remain steadfast. When the brothers saw that the power was not equal and that the traditional ways were not working to our advantage, then we made the decision to change strategies and withdrew to reorganize. And now we have returned again and guerrilla operations and explosions are the beginning of the new strategy however it is too early to yet gage the effects of the technical withdrawal on the spirits of the people. “Honor, power and glory belong to Allah, to his messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites know not.” Oh Allah, Revealor of the Book, the One who is quick in judgment and Defeater of the enemies, defeat the crusader Ethiopians, and their brothers among the disbelievers and those who are in their ranks. Your brothers, Youth Mujahideen Movement of Somalia 17 Rabi Al-Akhir 1428 May 4, 2007

SOMALIA: Practising medicine in the middle of violence, displacement and deprivation NAIROBI, 9 May 2007 (IRIN) - In the midst of Somalia's chaos and violence, mostly in and around the capital, Mogadishu, one woman has vowed to make a positive contribution. Hawa Abdi is a gynaecologist with a practice in a 26-hectare compound that has become a camp for thousands of displaced Mogadishu residents fleeing the fighting between Ethiopian-backed government forces and insurgents. Abdi was one of the few female professors in the Medical School of the University of Somalia, before the collapse of the Somali state in 1990. She attributes her achievements to her father. "I was blessed with a very progressive father who put a lot of emphasis on education," she says. Abdi opened her practice - 20km south of Mogadishu - in the 1980s with in-patient and out-patient facilities. The civil war began in the 1990s and with it the crumbling of her successful practice. "Back then [before the civil war] every one of my patients could afford to pay for the services. Now it is a different story," says Abdi. "I even worked normal hours and had time for rest and relaxation." She now cares for thousands of internally displaced people who cannot afford to pay for her services and need constant care. "Most of the people in my compound could not afford to pay for their lunch, so how can I ask them to pay for my service? "Most days, I work 15 hours and sometimes more, but I am thankful that my daughter [also a doctor] is with me and has been by my side through it all." Abdi has another daughter who is also a doctor but lives abroad. Her son, who was studying medicine, was killed in 2005. Abdi says running the practice and helping people has been satisfying both "personally and professionally". She says her compound has not been targeted and is "respected by all sides throughout the civil war as a neutral zone where anyone can seek help". The main challenge remains finding supplies, "whether it is medicines, food or water. It is a constant struggle to provide the basics, even for my staff." Abdi says the compound has a staff of 72 - mostly volunteers. "Sometimes they are lucky if they are paid once a week." Aid agencies have helped but they had to increase their activities, she says. The United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR, and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) have assisted the displaced, but "we need the agencies to scale up much more seriously - and soon". She says children are the most affected and they should concentrate on them. Despite enjoying her work, Abdi says she is growing physically and mentally tired and is losing hope of the situation improving. "When you are hopeful that things will improve, you can go on but when you lose hope then you cannot go on. "I see nothing but hopelessness in the faces of the people in the compound." Abdi says she is not optimistic that peace will ever come to Somalia. "I am not very optimistic. It is almost as if peace is getting farther and farther away from us." Source: IRIN