WHY WOULD SOME SOMALIS DO THIS TO THEIR FELLOW SOMALIS?

[RedSea]

Assalamu Calaykum,

 

As I was serving the internet I have came across some disturbing images of dead bodies described to be Somalis who fled the wars in the South to pursue better life else where. Most of these people paid undisclosed amount of money to ride boats from Puntland State of Somalia to Yemen, unfortunately most of them didn't make it after they were forced and dumped in the middle of the Red Sea by Somalis from Puntland state of Somalia.

 

Here is the complete report, and considered yourself warned because these are graphic images.

 

 

http://www.shabellenews.com/2006/February/n5901.htm

[LANDER]

When these types of stories started surfacing a few years back, the people in charge in that region said they were trying to curve the traficking but couldn't do much about it. My opinion is to the contrary and as to why it seems pretty simple really; these people who risk their lives to reach yemen and use that country as a gateway to other places such as Europe spend considerable amounts of money in the hundreds and thousands of dollars each. For such modest people I'm guessing it has to be their life savings, therefore this human traficking has become very lucrative and it seems almost certain the authorities have a stake in it if they are not directly involved. Hence the reason why it doesn't benefit them to curb this type of activity,purely from an economic point of view that is. Now this article is alleging people from "Puntland" purposely drowned those people and I do sense the political messaging in the article, but it could simply have been a deal gone wrong. Are all the people of Puntland responsible for what some group of traffickers did? you wouldn't think so, people who don't live on the shores may not even be too familiar with the ongoings at ports such as Bossasso. Nevertheless, if the aim of the article is to hold or even get the attention of those who can make the greatest difference (i.e. the punltand authorities), than it should direct itself at the leadership. In the end it is the leadership who can make a change in this type of problem. Not to say that the greater population has no role, as they should voice their opposition and discuss at such events happening on their territory, but the leadership has to take the greatest blame for this type of problem. I notice those who follow the politics of Puntland or might write articles from a puntland perspective they are often very vocal about issues such as conflict with Somaliland or just about any miniscule movements made by Abdulahi Yusuf, but when it comes to problems closer to home, where is the passion? the will to see change? all of a sudden when issues such as human trafficking come to the fore front people go silent like they're mute. What does it say about the progressivity, the values and political maturity of your region? Each individual may not be directly responsible, however that individual has to be aware of how the actions of people who claim to represent him/her reflect on his greater community.

[Xargaga]

Not to say that the greater population has no role, as they should voice their opposition and discuss at such events happening on their territory,

According to this statement I think Its also high time that we the ppl of somaliland voice our opposition against the events of handing fellow somalis purportedly ONLF to the ethiopian outhority Not mentioning sentencing them to detentions without trial.

[SOO MAAL]

Perils of Somali migrants in Libya

 

 

By Mohamed Olad Hassan

BBC correspondent in Mogadishu

 

 

 

Some 2,000 Somalis are estimated to have died on their way to Europe

Libya has started expelling hundreds of Somalis that had tried and failed to reach Europe.

Those on board the first flight have been talking about their ordeals in Libyan prisons and the dangers they faced as they tried to make it to a better life overseas.

 

 

"We were badly treated while we were in prison," said Safiyo Mohamed Hassan, who spent a year in jail.

 

 

She said that the prison where she was held used to be a chemical warehouse and some of her fellow inmates had developed skin diseases.

 

 

Some of those who arrived on a charter flight from Tripoli at Mogadishu's Belidogle airport were crying as they remembered their dreadful experiences and their failure to reach Europe.

 

 

Horror

 

 

For Said Abdulle Geesey, his prison ordeal was nothing compared to what he went through when the boat he was using to try to reach Italy capsized.

 

 

As I was breathing my last, I saw men stretching out helping hands to us

 

 

Said Abdulle Geesey

Of more than 100 people on board, he was one of just six survivors.

 

 

"We were travelling from Libya, with Italy as our ultimate destination," he said.

 

 

Seven children 26 teenage girls, and five pregnant women were among the dead.

 

 

"It was very horrific and unspeakable," he said, with tears streaming from his eyes.

 

 

He and the others were rescued by unknown workers from a fishing vessel.

 

 

"As I was breathing my last, I saw men stretching out helping hands to us," he said.

 

 

They were then handed to the Libyan coast guards.

 

 

Libya pressed

 

 

More flights full of migrants deported by Libya are expected in the coming days.

 

 

 

Mogadishu human rights groups estimate that nearly 2,000 Somalis have either drowned in the Red and Mediterranean seas or disappeared into the long desert between Sudan and Libya over the past six years.

 

However, such alarming figures do not seem to prevent large numbers of people attempting to make the difficult and dangerous journey to escape war-torn Somalia - which has been without a working government for more than a decade.

 

 

 

Somalis used to travel to Yemen on their way to Saudi Arabia but now most use Libya as a stepping stone to Europe.

 

 

Italy is both urging more help for Libya and putting pressure on Tripoli in a two-pronged bid to stem the flow of illegal migrants.

 

 

"Libya has taken in one million desperate people from all over Africa and it needs to be reassured," Italy's new EU Commissioner, Rocco Buttiglione, told the Corriere della Sera newspaper.

 

 

On Monday, Libya's ambassador to Rome, Abdulati Ibrahim Alobidi, was summoned to the foreign ministry, after Italian coastguards apprehended 650 would-be migrants in two boats near the island of Lampedusa.

 

Undocumented migrants includes people who enter a country that is not

their country of origin without the proper authority, and people who

remain in a country in contravention of their authority. This may include,

for example, people who arrive on foreign country shores by boat, people who

“overstay†their visa, people who work in contravention of their visa,

and people who travel using fraudulent documents.

• Human smuggling refers to practices that involve a person gaining entry

into a country without the necessary permission, whether or not this is

undertaken for profit. This may include, for example, people who are

hidden below deck on container ships and people who travel on

fraudulent documentation.

[SOO MAAL]

 

Libya: Tough gateway to Europe

Libya's proximity to Italy means it has long been a destination for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa seeking a better life. But the journey overland to Libya and then onwards to Europe is costly and full of risks, as the BBC's Mohammed Adow found out.

 

Smuggling people is a big and lucrative business for the cartels in Libya which specialise in transporting Africans through the Sahara desert and then across the Mediterranean sea.

But it is also a very dangerous venture for the migrants from West Africa, and increasingly from places like Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

 

Survivors of the desert ordeal have harrowing tales of watching their friends die slowly of thirst and hunger after walking hundreds of miles in the scorching desert sun.

 

"I've drunk my own urine because there was no water," Suleikha Mohammed from Kenya told me in Tripoli.

 

Suspicion

 

And for those who succeed in crossing the Sahara, their problems are far from over.

 

 

They are greeted with animosity by some Libyans.

Ghanaian Michael Isaac came to seek employment in Libya and is hoping to save enough money to finally migrate to Italy.

 

Two years after he first arrived, the 20-year-old is far from achieving his dream.

 

The problems he has faced have made him totally change his perception of Libya.

 

"Libyans are very dangerous people. They look on us as monkeys. They treat us bad. They beat us up. I was chased by a car for sport," he said.

 

Boats

 

These experiences influence many migrants to attempt crossing the Mediterranean even at times of high winds when it is extremely dangerous to travel.

 

If I die, I die. If I succeed, I succeed

Former prisoner Madey Mohammed

 

They find this a better option than having to return home via the Sahara desert.

 

However, many too have died in the course of the voyage through the Mediterranean sea.

 

The boats are often in poor shape and are overloaded.

 

The crew are generally inexperienced sailors, mostly drawn from the migrants themselves.

 

Despite the conditions, getting a ticket is not easy.

 

The desperate migrants often fall into the hands of unscrupulous middlemen who swindle them off their hard earned cash promising to put them on a boat to Italy.

 

Said Abdel Hamid from Ghana fell victim to the middlemen.

 

"I had $1,100, but the middleman ran away with all my money," he said.

 

Crackdown

 

The Libyan authorities have now started to take action against the human smugglers and the migrants.

 

The government has set out heavy punishments for both parties involved in the illegal trade.

 

 

Already many Africans are serving in Libyan prisons.

More than 400 Somalis are awaiting deportation after they were arrested by Libyan authorities while trying to illegally migrate into Italy.

 

Madey Mohammed, a Somali migrant has just been released from the Jansuur Prison in Libya where he served four months after his dream journey to Italy was foiled.

 

"I was arrested and taken to prison along with 30 other Somali migrants. Life in prison has been very hectic. I am not in a position to tell you how the conditions were as I fear for my life. I can only say we faced lots of problems while in hands of the Libyan authorities," he said.

 

But these harrowing tales still do not deter Said.

 

"If I die, I die. If I succeed, I succeed. But I don't want my brothers to suffer as I have done."

[SOO MAAL]

Salaam Bro Red Sea

 

 

I believe it is baseless and unfounded the claim that hundreds of Somalis who drowned in red sea since 1990s, were from southern Somalia regions and people from Puntland deliberately drowned fellow Somali people. Although, Substantial portion of illegal Somali immigrants who continuously cross the red sea to Yemen came from southern Somalia regions, but in reality significant portions if not majority are non-southern Somalis like Puntland natives itself, nugaal,sool,togdheer, western Somalia region, and even Oromia region (Ethiopia) to cross the red sea and go to Yemen.

 

I don’t think that Puntland authorities or Puntland economy benefit from this illegal trade as lander suggested, however Puntland admin has a big responsibility to their Somali people from all regions of Somalia including Puntland, therefore Puntland admin should do something to help end the suffering of Somali people in red sea, because so far the administration has serious underperformance problems.

 

 

Anyways,These are shocking crimes against Somali people in general, unacceptable suffering of human beings.

The individuals who carried out are very cruel criminals, whether they are Somali or not. Usually, smugglers are merciless individuals and all Somali people became victim of this illegal trade of human smuggling because of the harsh situation in most parts of the country.

 

Although, media both international and Somali covered a lot the plight and the high risks encountered by Somali people who traveled illegally using smuggler still people are persistant to embark this dangerous journey(from Somalia to Yemen through Red Sea, From Sudan to Libya through Great Sahara, from Libya to Italy through Mediterranean Sea)

 

 

 

Lander,

I advice you It is unhealthy to exchange endless accusations, before you observe the inadequacy of those who follow the politics of Puntland or might write articles from a Puntland perspective. I think you should become aware the inadequacy of Somaliland perspective first as well.

 

Originally posted by LANDER:

1) Not to say that the greater population has no role, as they should voice their opposition and discuss at such events happening on their territory

 

2 ) Each individual may not be directly responsible; however that individual has to be aware of how the actions of people who claim to represent him/her reflect on his greater community.

Excellent points lander, both Somalilanders and Puntlanders instead of being very vocal of the of Sool Region and international recognition, need to review their way of thinking.

 

Originally posted by nabadshe:

quote:Not to say that the greater population has no role, as they should voice their opposition and discuss at such events happening on their territory,

According to this statement I think Its also high time that we the ppl of somaliland voice our opposition against the events of handing fellow somalis purportedly ONLF to the ethiopian outhority Not mentioning sentencing them to detentions without trial.

Nabadshe, true the people of Somaliland need to voice against their opposition of the mistreatment and handing fellow Somali by Somaliland Administration to Ethiopian occupation forces.

 

I urge both Puntland and Somaliland administrations to come clean out of these scandals (Somalis mistreating their fellow Somalis, before we discuss how others like Ethiopia mistreating Somalis), and advise Somali people in both Somaliland and Puntland to be very critic to their administrations mishandling of issues.

[miles-militis]

Red Sea – Whilst one rebukes abominable, illegal activities of cramming people onto wrecked dhows, at own will it must be noted risking own lives, abhors the lack of redress on the part of local authorities, from the onset one must condemn the culprits along with the authorities in charge of the seas in Puntland. The former for encouraging the poor victims, who mind you at will choose to venture at own peril, whilst condemning the latter for failing to bring an end to this tragic saga. After all, the latter bears collective onus for the goings in Puntland, thusly liable and accountable for all deeds, rightly or wrongly.

 

Noteworthy, it is that the said dhows do not sail from the main port of Bosaso and not in broad day light contrary to popular perception; rather unguarded, natural posts along the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean as far places as Hurdiya, Sayn, Caluula, Bargal, Bitiyaalo, Murcanyo, Bareeda, Durduri, Ceelaayo etc., are being used in darkness whilst all else sheds off arduous fatigue of erstwhile days. Which one post is to be used for a particular trip, the departure schedule, the deals and monies exchanging hands are only known to the Mukhalas and their clients.

 

Further, the presumption that the people of Puntland or the administration are, directly or not, involved in or are economically benefiting from the deaths of poor Somalis perishing on the high seas is farcical to say the least.

 

Lander – just because you do not read about it, or hear it discussed at your locals should not be construed as to mean that people and the administration of Puntland are willing partners in the misery of the victims, and are condoning the plight of these Somalis, thusly such assumption is at best ill-conceived.

 

On a more serious note, “Gaalka dil, gartiisana sii baa la yidhiye†instead of trying to cry foul as is the object of the referenced article, perhaps we should be looking at the root cause of the problem. Why are people fleeing their homes?

 

And by the way, the story was first aired in early January by a local website of Puntland to raise awareness...

http://horseednet.com/

 

Tata...

[Yeniceri]

^^

 

Kudos to you for informing the ill-informed.

 

Furthermore, I'd like to add that the people that think its a "Puntland conspiracy" to drown those poor Somalis are motivated not by logic or physical evidence, but rather by human emotion in all its unpredictable nature. Who else, in their rightful mind, would believe that smuggling ships leave Bossaso port in broad daylight?

 

p.s. The Puntland admin must bear the brunt of the responsibility, but wait...they're too busy building the TFG. A tragedy in and of its own, no?

[SOO MAAL]

Human smuggling is a global crisis

 

Migrants paid up to $40,000 to be smuggled over border: RCMP

 

Lauren La Rose

The Canadian Press

 

 

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

 

 

 

CREDIT: CP PHOTO/ The Windsor Star/ Dan Janisse

RCMP Inspector Glenn Hanna speaks Tuesday Feb. 14, 2006 at the headquarters of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Windsor, Ont. Hanna revealed details regarding a international ring which smuggled people from several countries both ways across the Canada-U.S. border. Fourteen people were arrested in Toronto, Windsor, Detroit and New York City.

 

TORONTO -- Some of the nearly 100 migrants captured when police closed in on an alleged international human smuggling operation paid up to $40,000 for illegal passage over the Canada-U.S. border, investigators said Wednesday.

 

Despite the large sums of money collected in the operation, Ontario residents alleged to have helped transport the migrants in the high-risk operation were paid only a few hundred dollars, the RCMP say.

 

"The leaders, the organizers had these migrants to move across and they were the ones getting the bigger bucks, but they didn't want to take the risk, so they were paying local people involved in the Windsor and Sarnia area a few hundred dollars,'' said RCMP Insp. Glenn Hanna.

 

They "were naive and gullible and decided it was worth taking the risk for a few hundred dollars, not realizing how much was going in at the beginning of the pipeline, how much they were getting at their end of it, and how much they were being used.''

 

The RCMP partnered with Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to crack the international ring after a two-year investigation.

 

Hanna said they were alerted to the ring after a tip from the Windsor-Sarnia area that a group was moving people across the border in an "organized fashion.''

 

Police allege the migrants came from China, Korea, Albania and Eastern Europe and were tucked away in car trunks, on rail cars, in the back of transport trucks or on small boats to be smuggled both ways across the border.

 

Twenty-four people were apprehended crossing from Canada into the U.S during the investigation, while another 74 were caught heading south from Canada.

 

U.S. immigration and customs official Greg Palmore said most of the migrants have been repatriated to their home countries, but there are some who will remain to testify at trials, although he wouldn't confirm how many or their country of origin.

 

Seventeen people were arrested Tuesday in Windsor, Toronto, Leamington, Ont., Detroit and New York City in connection to the ring. Hoa Ly, 42, of Macomb, Mich., was arrested Wednesday and arraigned in Detroit.

 

Maitham Alzehrani, 34, of Windsor, was named in the indictment released Tuesday as the ring leader, and is among those facing charges in both countries.

 

The others are accused of human smuggling and conspiring to violate U.S. immigration laws and face up to life imprisonment if convicted.

 

The 16 U.S. defendants are accused of conspiring to smuggle aliens, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

 

Palmore said the Canadians charged could be extradited to the U.S.

 

A 2004 RCMP assessment analyzing the scope of human trafficking in Canada estimates between 600 and 800 people are smuggled into the country annually.

 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman Kelly Klundt said human smuggling has been steadily climbing in the United States, jumping from 31,261 in 2002 to more than 53,500 people in 2005. Only 103 people captured last year were nabbed at the northern border.

 

Despite the revelation of the smuggling ring, border officials say it is business as usual and there are no plans for any significant changes or crackdowns along the Canadian side of the 49th parallel.

 

"We are already working in that capacity, being extra vigilant and exercising the enforcement of the border as required,'' said Danny Yen, border services spokesman for the Windsor, London and Sarnia region.

 

"Our officers are regularly and routinely advised of situations at the border and information they require to fulfil their duties.''

 

The 11 Canadian defendants appeared in a Toronto court Wednesday, but their bail hearing was held over until Friday.

[SOO MAAL]

Dhagayso Warbaxintan Radio IRIN ugaga hadlayaan dhibaatooyinka ay la kulmaan dadka Soomaaliyeed ee doomanka uga tahriibayaan Boosaaso iyagoo u tahriibayo wadanka YAMAN Waa warbaxin Xambaarsan dhibaatooyinka haysta tahriibayaasha oo cod ah waxaanan ka soo xiganay Radio IRIN qaybta Afka Somaliga

[RedSea]

ASSALAMU CALAYKUM,

 

Brothers Samuria and Yeneciri, I think you have totally misinterpret the points that I was trying to make here.

 

First and foremost, I didn't say that Puntland authority was involved in these events, however I stated the people who were behind these events were Somalis from Puntland state of Somalia. That doesn't mean that Puntland is behind it, however we should acknowledge the lack of care from the Puntland authority to do anything about it since this has been taking place in the ports of Bosaso and else where belonging to Puntland for long time. The lack of willingness from the Puntland authority to do anything is also evidence since this has been going on for as long as Puntland state governance has existed.

 

Secondly, Yen, Puntland and TFG are not working for the sake and the benefits of Somali people from either South or East and definately not the North. A five year old kid can see the vision of the TFG led by warlord and criminal A/Allahi Yusuf, don't be telling me that Puntland is working hard to solve the problems facing Somalis from South, just to prove it to you ask any native from Moqdisho, Beledweyne. They will tell you how they feel about the TFG. It' hard to say though that Puntland is working for the sake of Somalis while they can't even do a thing about the situations that is taking place in their own backyard everday and night.

 

Furthermore, Puntland needs to work on their domestic problems, before they can try to get involved in any other task. I don't blame Puntland for the the drawning of many innocent Somalis but I do blame them for not reacting to them, it is simple as that. It's up to you if you want to blind yourself from these facts and defend brutal politicians such as A/Allahi Yusuf or you can touch the facts and acknowledge these sad events that has taken place in the Red Sea happening to your fellow Somalis, that is if you are so rightous person, aren't you you patriotic as you always claim to be friend?

 

Assalamu Calaykum.