An illegal invasion

[BiLaaL]

Let us refresh our memories back to August of 2006. Remember the mass defection of parliamentarians back in early August. The source of this defection emanated from the opposition many parliamentarians voiced about a resolution aimed at legalising TFG's plan to 'invite' Ethiopian military advisors to 'train' TFG soldiers. Back then, the mere presentation of this resolution led to scuffles in parliament, followed by mass defections. In fact one-third of the cabinet quit parliament.

 

In the end Abdullahi Yusuf had no choice but to dissolve parliament.

 

The point here is that the resolution aimed at legalising Ethiopia's so-called military advisors was never passed. Despite this, the TFG continues to claim that the Ethiopian presence in Somalia is at the invitation of the TFG. This contention is baseless. The resolution was never passed, therefore the Ethiopian presence in Somalia is illegal. It is illegal. After failing to get the endorsement of their fellow parliamentarians, Abdullah Yusuf and his domesticated animal (Ghedi) invited the Ethiopians unilaterally.

 

Equally groundless is the notion by Ethiopia that this war was launched in self-defense. Addis Ababa has ratified and is party to the UN Charter which permits military action only in response to ‘actual or imminent’ attack. The ICU never attacked Ethiopian nor was it planning to do so. Furthermore, this Ethiopian invasion is also in breach of the recent U.N. resolution barring all neighbouring countries from involvement in the proposed ‘peacekeeping’ force.

 

The framers of this recent U.N. resolution including (red neck) Bolton are of course not going to honour the contents of their own resolution barring all neighbouring from involvement in this conflict; why would you, when the real aims behind that U.N. resolution are now being fulfilled on your behalf.

[BiLaaL]

Even the defunct AU has approved of this illegal invasion. If it were for any other country, the above points would not have been dismissed as lightly. The events of the last few days will not be forgotten, nor will the defeaning silence from the international community. The instigators of these events will be held accountable. Soomaaliyeey hurdada ka kac. Abdulaahi Yuusuf iyo Geedi naar aakhiro iyo mid aduunyaba isku diyaariya.

[BiLaaL]

As the likelihood of a swift Ethiopian withdrawal from Somali territory appear increasingly distant, questions about the legality of this invasion are being discussed in diplomatic circles.

 

On the 25th of Dec, i started a thread 'An illegal invasion'. The thread was designed to highlight the lies spread by Geedi and Abdullahi Yusuf that Ethiopian troops were invited at the behest of the TFG and that a resolution authorising this 'invitation' was passed by cabinet. In fact, no such resolution was ever passed. This 'invitation' was unilaterally taken by the Abduallhi Yusuf and Geedi (pls read the first thread of this post for more details).

 

It was, perhaps, understandable that not many SOL members were interested in replying to legal matters at a time when the battle was raging. Now that the real intentions behind this illegal invasion are starting to become more clear; it is incredibly important that we discuss this crucial matter.

 

Many TFG supporters will be shocked to learn how undemocratic and dictatorial Geedi and Yusuf were in their 'invitation' of this occupying force.

 

The following aricle by Salim Lone, is relevant to the above post. The author does not mention the lack of a binding resolution from the TFG to authorise this invasion, but he does discuss the recent UN resolution barring all neighbouring countries from involvement in Somalia, as welll as wider legal concerns from the perspective of international law.

 

Salim Lone was UN spokesman in Iraq in 2003 and is a columnist for the Daily Nation in Kenya.

 

Read: International lawlessness

[Wisdom_Seeker]

Bilaal what is the point when our so called traitorous leaders aren’t speaking out against it and not to forget we have Somalis who are cheering for the ET’s.

 

Who gets all excited about their nation being occupied by cold-blooded-killers?

 

The Somalis.

[Wisdom_Seeker]

Everyone knows this invasion is illegal, it is worse than the Iraqi one. We have a poor nation who managed to attack us. A wolf that is hiding under a sheep’s wool. Just give it time, time will tell soon how cheerful the supporters of the ET invasion will be after they find out that they were given nothing but empty promises.

[BiLaaL]

Mystic, this invasion is not seen as illegal by the international community. This misunderstanding is largely due to the fact that the TFG continues to announce at almost every press conference, that the Ethiopian forces are in Somalia at the 'invitation' of the TFG. The parliamentarians who had the power to authorise this 'invitation' refused to give their approval when this resolution/bill was initially tabled. Some of these parliamntarians fled Baidoa after this incident, with at least one of them being killed as a result. It was only after failing to get the endorsement of their fellow parliamentarians, that Abdullah Yusuf Geedi invited the Ethiopians unilaterally.

 

I think some in the international community would have had second thoughts about this invasion, had they know this crucial fact. There are of course some diplomats who may have know of this fact, but i am totally convinced that most diplomats who were working on this issue lacked adequate knowledge on the illegality of this resolution to 'invite' Ethiopian soldiers to our country.

[RedSea]

^BILAL,good points and thanks for the article.

 

Mystic,bro,I am just as shocked as you are about the folks who refer themselves as somalis,nationalist even and yet are applauding the invasion of filthy xabashis into our land.

[Abdi Gedi]

Too much unnecessary energy has been wasted, because of our failure. It is our failure and no ones fault, STOP blaming other people, but ourselves. If we keep focusing on unnecessary ‘he say and she say’, nothing could be accomplished. As Somali, how can we bring peace and stability in Somalia should be the focus. But , there seem to be grid and lack of leadership within our community.

[RedSea]

who is "We",buddy you are lost,hanasoo dhinac istaagin daba dhilif ahaa.

 

Besides,one way to bring peace and stability is to not bring trouble,such as bringing back the warlords of Xamar,unfortunately Ethiopia has done that,so then would you tell me that Ethiopia is aimed at bringing peace to our land,xaasha..

[Wisdom_Seeker]

Bilaal, we shouldn’t disregard who exactly the international community is, they like Ethiopia have their own interests in Somalia. Somalia is the meat and the animals are ready to fight over it and negotiate on who will take what part. America, EU and African Countries have all agreed that the Ethiopian invasion is one which could be justifiable. Even if the bill was passed, they would still consider it a legal invasion. The bill is one which is disastrous to the Somali people, and it shouldn’t be one which could be able to verify whether or not the Ethiopian invasion is legal. I would still consider the invasion illegal even if the bill was passed.

[BiLaaL]

^International legal norms and institutions have been against Muslim countries for sometime now. I do agree with you on that point. However, although it may not make a difference, it is still important to expose the lies being spread by the TFG.

[Wisdom_Seeker]

Bilaal

 

There lies are to be exposed. But I doubt anyone will actually care

 

I wonder that the TFG supporters have to say about this. They seem to be rather very quiet on the issue.

 

But when it comes to the international world in general, the lies of the west or those of non-Muslims are not heeded, just the same way our cries of injustice are not heeded.

 

Look at Iraq no WMD, I bet in Somalia there is no AQ. In Afghanistan no Osama, now they are saying he is somewhere along the border of Pakistan.

 

These people have turned the ignorant lot into complete dim-wits

[Wiilo]

East Africa: Foreign Troops Must Leave Somalia - Rep. Donald Payne.

 

United States Congress (Washington,DC)

 

PRESS RELEASE

December 29, 2006

Posted to the web December 29, 2006

 

Donald Payne

Washington, DC

 

The invasion of Somalia by Ethiopian forces, despite claims of invitation by the weak Baidoa-based Transitional Federal Government, only leads to more suffering and instability in the Horn of Africa region. United Nations Security Council resolution 1725 clearly stated that "all Member States, in particular those in the region, should refrain from any action in contravention of the arms embargo and related measures."

 

Using military force instead of negotiations is a deliberate and ill-advised measure that will further destabilize and increase the suffering of the Somali people. I strongly condemn this aggression and call for the immediate withdrawal of Ethiopian and all foreign forces from Somalia.

 

 

The African Union and the Arab League have called for Ethiopian and all foreign troops to immediately leave Somalia. Unfortunately, the inaction by the United Nations Security Council has once again failed the helpless people of Somalia.

 

The international community should be supportive of an all-inclusive peace process and the deployment of a peacekeeping force as stated in resolution 1725. The Union of Islamic Courts has consistently stated and indeed participated in negotiations with the Transitional Federal Government.

 

A negotiated settlement is the only guarantee for a lasting peace, not war. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia accuses the Union of Islamic Courts as Jihadist and extremist. He also justifies his action against Somalia because of the threats he claims the Courts pose against Ethiopia. The fact of the matter is Ethiopian forces are in Somalia and not the other way around. Besides, how is it possible for a non-conventional force to really pose a threat against the largest armed forces in Sub-Saharan Africa? Ethiopia's military adventure not only diminishes hopes for a negotiated settlement, but confirms the suspicion of Somalis that the TFG is a proxy of Ethiopia.

 

For those who deliberately ignore the reality on the ground, it is important to remember what the Courts have done since June 2006. They brought about relative peace and stability in the area they controlled and ended the brutality of the so-called warlords. How is it possible to effectively fight those terrorists roaming around or hiding in the region, if Somalia is turned into a battleground for foreign armies with their own agenda? We must never forget the helpless civilians who have endured over a decade of hardship and untold suffering. A generation of Somalis are growing up surrounded by violence and poverty. The millions being wasted in a military campaign against innocent civilians could be spent to build schools, hospitals, or feed the hungry.

 

Donald Payne represents the tenth district of New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives and is the incoming chair of the Subcommittee on Africa Global Human Rights and International Operations of the House International Relations Committee.

[BiLaaL]

Wiilo, thanks for digging up this article. It advances a number of points relevant to this post. I'll summarise some of these below.

 

Originally posted by Wiilo:

East Africa: Foreign Troops Must Leave Somalia - Rep. Donald Payne.

The invasion of Somalia by Ethiopian forces,

despite claims of invitation by the weak Baidoa-based Transitional Federal Government

, only leads to more suffering and instability in the Horn of Africa region.

The author, Donald Payne, seems to have been following events quite closely. Of all the articles i've come across on the so-called 'invitation' of Ethiopian forces by the TFG; Donald Payne's anaylsis comes closest to the truth when he uses the words 'claims by the TFG'. This is the point of this thread. The 'invitation' authorised by the TFG is illegal. It was never passed in Parliament. It indeed nothing more than a claim. A claim calculated to deliberately mislead. If Donald Payne had known of this troubling fact, his analysis of this conflict would have been significantly different. It would have given him greater amunition to demand urgent action.

 

United Nations Security Council resolution 1725 clearly stated that "all Member States, in particular those in the region, should refrain from any action in contravention of the arms embargo and related measures."

The author, as with all concerned parties, rightly points out the contents of this yet to be implemented resolution.

 

I strongly condemn this aggression and call for the immediate withdrawal of Ethiopian and all foreign forces from Somalia.

The Union of Islamic Courts has consistently stated and indeed participated in negotiations with the Transitional Federal Government.

A fact too often dismissed by many, including some members in this forum.

 

The fact of the matter is Ethiopian forces are in Somalia and not the other way around.

Meles can lie but he cannot deceive.

[RedSea]

Very good article that touches very key points.

 

Thanks wiilo,Mystic and Bilal.