Is the ONLF struggle an asset or a liability? A response

[Al-Haji Abtigiis]

Is the ONLF struggle an asset or a liability? A response to Wardheernews Editorial.

 

Abdullahi Dahir

(garigoan2000@yahoo.com)

December 6, 2007

 

I read your editorial on the above subject with shock and disbelief. For proponents of Somali nation unity, as you often portray yourselves, it shows how far you are detached from the present day realities and that you live in the past. Not so because you wish to see a united Somali nation, which I fervently do as well, but that you will talk of the revival of WSLF; at a time our cunning foe-Ethiopia- is doing everything to discredit the indigenous struggle as a mere extension of Somali ‘expansionist wars’; and frankly, can get away with that claim and get support from the big powers. So, be pragmatic and come to your senses; that name is a non-starter. Do not mistake me though. The transformation from the ****** label to a more inclusive one is a must!

 

One other common mistake with you seems to be that you are very wary of the domination of ******s and see a success by any organisation with that label as a threat. The arrogance and chauvinism you repeatedly stated might be there with some people, but the fact that other non-****** Somali’s have either stood aside or cooperated with the enemy hasn’t helped either. It is so unjust of you to exonerate the non-****** alliances you mentioned, which itself is a myth, from blame as a cry of sympathy for their next door kins would have helped. Is it god-given duty for the ******s to either lead or organise the rest of Somalis to resist the Ethiopian occupation? The question is why would the Issa in Diredawa readily surrender the ownership of Diredawa, or the Jijiga coalition do same for Somali towns of Babile and Chinacsani? By all accounts, the fact that an organisation is fighting by the name of a clan could not deter the other clan from fighting for its right and land in this case?

 

Just for the record, do you know all regional presidents from the ****** clan refused to agree to the land theft by the Ethiopian regime? Do you know that it was Abdi Jibril, a man from Shinile, who had signed the deal that saw Meiso going to the Oromos? Let’s be fair here!! Was there a single demonstration against the land annexed to Oromia, by any politicians from the non-****** clans? Where were the ******, Gadabursi and Issa elders and intellectuals? The biggest fuss was coming from the Ogden clan members. And credit goes to ONLF for clinging on to the claim to these territories, though with the wrong name. What would have been the fate of the Somaligalbeed dream had there not been an armed resistance to date? Would anyone have cared about our plight and marginalisation? Look what is happening in Mogadishu and how the international community has responded.

 

Contrary to the claims of the ONLF, it is pretty much clear that it is operating in the ******-inhabited areas and is exclusively from the ****** clan. So, unless you tell me that they are operating in Gashamo, Liben, Galadi and all areas you listed, they are not doing any other Somali any harm by resisting occupation in their localities. Why would the man in Liben feel that he cannot fight for his rights because in Degahbour someone is fighting in the name of ******? And what is wrong with a clan fighting for its right if the Ethiopian policy of divide and rule has worked and succeeded in turning a large section of their brothers either docile or more fearful of their kins?

 

In June 2007, when a massive anti-****** insurgency was launched by the TPLF, how did the elders in Jijiga behaved? In case you didn’t hear let me tell you. The likes of Suldan Buseiri, Sultan Mohamuud dool, Suldan Muhyadin Odowa and Suldan Abdirahman Bade organised series of meetings where they incited hatred against the ******s; whom they accused of being anti-peace and terrorist outfits. Mind you! They were not saying ONLF. They were making comments such as “…Ogadeenbaa dalka qasaya!” How many declarations in the name of this or that community did they issue? On the other side, when their brethrens were facing the wrath of an arrogant dictator who has nowadays belittled the whole Somali’s to something of ‘worthless tribalists”, did I hear a single utter of sympathy from any non-****** brothers in Somaligalbeed? NO! Including wardheernews who apparently felt the arrest of Qaran party politicians in Somaliland and the misrule of Adde Muse in Puntland warranted more attention! I am not accusing you of anything, but it was a terrible oversight on your part. Did wardheernews condemn the atrocities in its editorial?

 

Compare that to the response by the ******s. The old Somali saying goes “…gaalka dil gartiisase sii.” No one decried the silence or in many cases the wiirsi of fellow Somalis for whom that the “arrogant ******s are taught a lesson” was justifiable and enjoyable. How about that for magnanimity? This is not to incorrectly associate all non-****** citizens of complicity. There were a large number of the ordinary Somaligalbeed brothers who were equally dismayed by the summary killings meted out against their compatriots. But where were the voice of the elders, or intellectuals.

 

And what is the guarantee that when and if the name is changed to Somali …Front, which I strongly believe it should, that non-******’s will join? Can you guarantee that the sii galbeed (further west) syndrome will not transpire? Because we are all Somali’s and we judge organisations by who is on the top! So, even your noble call for a united front by all Somali’s against the Ethiopian occupation needs far more than a name change. It needs a discussion among all Somali’s and an agreement on what concerns we have, how to achieve them and with what tools? The issue of the name comes at stage of what tools to use. For the last 16 years, one clan was being killed, displaced and raped. To suggest otherwise and that all clans are equally oppressed is dishonest and disingenuous. And what has the response been from my brothers now in coalition apparently because they can’t stand my name? Collaboration and silence!!!? I can tell you there are many ******s who now feel that they should not bother about Diredawa, Jijiga, Harshin, Galadi or Liban and are content with liberating where the clan is. This because they feel if the others are oppressed then it is up to them to take up arms or if they feel the Ethiopians are fine, then they should live with them.

 

For your information, apart from the death, destruction and under-development, the ****** zones still fare better in many aspects than the submissive zones. Nearly 50% of civil servants in Jijiga, Shinile and Liben are highlanders. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS rate is much higher in these areas according to the Regional Health Bureau; which estimated the rate at 19% for Jijiga town in 2006. Coincidence? The worst aspect is the deterioration in youth morality and sense of identity. I live there. Who can guarantee that the demographic realities on the ground will not shift in favour of Ethiopia in say 10 years time from now? I foresee a situation whereby it will not be technically possible to bring these major towns to a future Somali nation. Can you bet against that?

 

Other aspect of the obsoleteness of your argument is the failure to capture the relation current clan mentality in the region has with the destruction of the Somali Republic. I have always been here in Somali-galbeed, and was spared the hatred and animosity clans developed in Somalia. But, realistically, tell me if the **** in Harshin and Gashamo will have a common agenda with the ****** in Aware at this particular time? Do you honestly believe the arrest and deportation of ****** Somali’s from Somaliland is done by a government or you see it as a clan vengeance under the facade of a measure taken for geopolitical expediency. Do I have to tell you that when **** officials run away from Jijiga, they seek refugee in Hargeisa and no one dares to bring them back to Ethiopia even if Meles insists.

 

Could a common sense of identity and unity be brought about? Certainly yes! But it needs much more than a group of the two people coming together in Jijiga. The wider issue of Somalia, Somaliland will also determine the outcome of such negotiations. You well know this. So, why take the easy route of moral appeal while you duck the hard part of how? To assume that yesterday’s zeal for Somali nationalism is still intact is either a gross error of judgement or sheer hypocrisy. The nature of the struggle has moved massively, and failure to appreciate and adapt to this dynamism is nothing but an obvious sign of intellectual obsolescence. One which ONLF is deeply immersed as manifested by its failure to either re-brand itself with more inclusive label or to discard the territorial claim to Diridhabe, Jijiga, Gashamo, Galadi, Mustahil etc. In the latter case, it would be necessary for ONLF to redefine its geographical scope of struggle; as no other clan is ready to let its territory go under a name that it doesn’t share.

 

All ******’s are Somali’s and I haven’t met one who is not pro-Somaliweyn. I am sure the ONLF fighters on the ground are fighting to join Somalia one day. Myself, I am not moved by the ONLF flag but by the blue Somali flag; of which its sight brings a shiver down my spiral. So, you see I support the ONLF as long as the ultimate aim is to join Somaliweyn. If I am ready for that, you can be sure I also regard my Somali brethrens in Somaligalbeed with dignity and affection. But, I will not mince my words here: The divergence of interests in Somalia has adversely affected them and some seem content with the status quo lest that a bigger clan may swallow them. Some have even gone to the extent of suggesting life under Ethiopia is better and have shown their contempt to the sacrifices made for Somaliweyn. The current regional president and a group of powerful youngsters in the regional government known as “Tawolde’ s Toddlers” are the proponents of this policy.

 

On the issue of differentiating ONLF from the Ogden clan, I think it is well known that the reality on the ground is different. So, if you wish to bring all Somali’s together, trying to attack the ONLF and praise the ******s on the other will not work; for the fact is all ******’s are behind the ONLF. Take them as one group and let us concentrate how to bring others on board. Hence, why not try to form a Jidwaq LF, Issa LF and Liban LF and then come under the umbrella of (Somali…) LF including the ONLF. By the way, The existence of ****** clan members who are in power and allied to the TPLF doesn’t take way from the earlier claim as it is almost universal in all struggles, past and present, that there always were and will be collaborators of the enemy.

 

To come to your argument of the ONLF atrocities, I challenge you to present an evidence of ONLF participation in clan fights in Imey, Aware, or Wardher? Unless, of course, every ****** clansman who fights with his neighbour over pasture, water or politics is ONLF! This biological association is wrong and insidious. Onto the atrocities against the ******s, I am surprised you found it necessary to compare to the Ethiopian killings. How insensitive that it came at this particular time! The Video you posted is the production of Guleed Asowe, editor of EEGGA.com. A young man in Jigjiga; whose father incidentally was also killed by the WSLF accused of being an informer. Like father like son, I am tempted to say. I challenge you to go and do a reality check on him and the credibility of his products. His mastery of forgery is a public knowledge in Jijiga; made easier by his otherwise impeccable IT and digital technology skills. Let us move on. Yes, ONLF have killed many civilians in Danot, Garbo, Gunagado and other areas. But honestly, do you know the full story and the circumstances. I, myself, lost my uncle in the raid by ONLF in Garbo. Can we really call a group of civilians armed by the government and forced to fight the ONLF as civilians anymore? Yes, we can argue whether the ONLF could have avoided pursuing them? But for Allah’s sake, if you are in the bush, fearful for your life and a militia who is likely to know better about your whereabouts is sent by the military, what are you supposed to do? Pre-empt and discourage that or continuously flee!!!

 

The important thing is that the ******s themselves do not see the ONLF as perpetrators of violence. Do you believe me if I tell you I talked to a woman who lost her husband and brother (both of them members of the local militias-i.e., Tadaaqiis) and who said… “May Allah’s mercy be on them but iyagaan kari weynay.” These ones were loyal tadaaqiis who wanted to rise to fame and fortune by killing ONLF and displaying their dead bodies in towns. But there are many more, who are simply going to fight the ONLF, under the barrel of gun. It is time to denounce Ethiopia’s use of civilians as human shields. In the face of this reality, your cry is only going to be viewed as shedding crocodile tears.

 

If you are genuinely concerned about Somali unity, why chide the western liberals for giving coverage to the atrocities; implying that ONLF is equally barbaric. Leave the judgement of who is killing the people to the victims, please. If the issue is about how inclusive the ONLF is and why not transcend beyond the clan, it is brotherly and rational criticism the ONLF leadership should duly address. But I also assure you given the bitterness among my clan and the feeling of abandonment; your article will do more damage than good. I urge you to desist from putting salt into the wounds of your brothers by such careless editorials. Now, do you have any message to the coalescing coalition in Jijiga on the current massacre in the ****** areas?!! Like, sympathise with your brothers…

 

I am a wounded Somali nationalist and a moderate, and I apologise if I offended anyone with my hysterical outburst. Let it be known that I hold Wardhernews in high regards despite my disagreement on this specific editorial. I know I have made assertions on their beliefs which are purely conjectural, and I apologise for that.

[Al-Haji Abtigiis]

dad qabiil ku mashquulsan oo reer hebel haday wax helaan armaan wax waaya leh ayaa dadka lug'goynaya. war meesha hadal mayaal e ama dagaalka gala haddaad doontiin magac kale la baxoo ama hoosaasinta joojiya under the pretext of more inclusive name.