Somali parliament backs plan for peacekeepers

[General Duke]

Somali parliament backs plan for peacekeepers

By Sahal Abdulle

 

MOGADISHU, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Somalia's interim government voted on Wednesday to support a U.S. proposal that would let east African peacekeepers deploy in the violent state, but the rival Islamist movement said that would trigger a war.

 

Diplomats say Washington will soon unveil a proposed U.N. Security Council resolution that would lift an arms embargo to let regional troops legally enter Somalia with their weapons.

 

Somali lawmakers, confined to provincial Baidoa town because of rapid territorial gains by the militarily superior Islamists, voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to support the plan.

 

"This resolution will pave the way for regional peacekeepers to help the transitional federal government stabilise and bring peace to the country," member of parliament Abdirashid Adan Gabyow told Reuters by telephone after casting his vote.

 

The proposed U.N. resolution has prompted a lively debate about whether it would help stabilise Somalia, as the U.S. and Britain hope, or cause a broader conflict, as European Union experts and a major international think-tank have suggested.

 

The Islamists -- who threaten the government's authority after seizing the capital Mogadishu and much of the south in June -- bitterly oppose foreign fighters operating in Somalia.

 

"The whole world knows the passage of this resolution will bring nothing but war," Ibrahim Hassan Addow, the Islamists' foreign affairs chief, told Reuters in Mogadishu.

 

He said it was aimed at legitimising the presence of thousands of Ethiopian troops the Islamists and diplomats say are in the country to prop up the Western-backed government.

 

And he said if it was approved by the United Nations, it would spell the end of stalled peace talks between the two sides.

 

"The Americans will bear the responsibility," he said.

 

At a rally of thousands of protesters in the capital on Tuesday, one top Islamist leader said their forces had exchanged artillery fire with Ethiopian troops at a key central town.

 

There was no independent confirmation of the reported clash, 700 km (435 miles) north of Mogadishu. Ethiopia denies sending troops, but says it has several hundred military trainers there.

 

Analysts fear an all-out confrontation between the government and Islamists could spiral into a wider regional war, sucking in neighbouring countries. (Additional reporting by Hassan Yare in Mogadishu)

 

Source: Reuters, Nov 29, 2006

[Somali_Friend]

A proposal that came out in our chitchat among friends here. There is one friend among us who used to be active, but now reduced only to sympatizing with ONLF.

Someone from the Somali Democratic League in the past, but now member of SPDP (the governing party in somali state and all the federal parliament members) proposed the following:

 

The TFG propose to Djibuti, Ethiopia and Kenya that they demilitarize 25km on each side of their borders and have joint patrol. TFG assures Somaliland and Puntland as well as other states as they come along that, they are allowed only state police within 25km of the neighboring countries, so does ethiopia does with Oromia, Somali and Southern states.

Anyone found armed in these zones without permission of the joint patrols and beyond the arms of police of the regional states is to be captured arrested and if resisted killed.

 

What do you think?

 

The 5 persons chitchating this have approved of the wording of the conversation. Some are laughing and some have long faces afraid such a thing might actually happen.

[General Duke]

^^^I thik its an idea worth studiying, though what would be the main aim?

[Che -Guevara]

What waste!!!

 

Do you seriously believe the IGAD troops with America's blessing could bring peace to the Somali Republic.

 

Africans and Americans could hardly counted on to produce any lasting positive changes in conflict areas, case in point Darfur & Iraq,

[General Duke]

^^^Che. you are the joke comparing Somalia to those tow nations. Somalia has a governemnt which has the support of its people. No government can function with an arms embargo on it. The TFG will get what no governemnt ever had before it an opportunity to recruit, arm and feed its troops. Which are loyal not to clan but to country.

 

The IGAD troops will assist in training and securing the officials and offfices of the state. They will not fight, the Somali national forces will be enough for the courts and so on.

 

This is a landmark moment and thus all the cries and panic of the opposition is to be expected.

[Che -Guevara]

Somalia has a governemnt which has the support of its people

What people?, the goverment hardly controls anywhere, and lacks any credibility. And if your so called national army has to enough power to take on the courts, why do they need foriegn assistance.

 

P.S Ethiopians are not merely assisting duqa. They will be doing da actual fighting. Let's not misinform people.

[General Duke]

^^^You dont know who will fight and dont try to get clever like the clan courts and make everyone agaisnt them "Amxaro".

 

The government has the support of the people, no single clan even the clan courts has rejected the TFG. The other point about control, is a valid one and this removal of the arms embargo against the TFG will give it the necessary strength to take over the control of the regions one by one.

 

PS: This supposed war or Jihad, is no more than the talk of the Clan Courts, their power is strong relative to armed clans of Somalia but nothing in the conventional sense.

 

We have to wait and see, but lets note that if any faction attacks peace keepers which has approval from the security council, you will become wanted world wide. Aside from boasts we will see if the Clan Courts actually declare war on the Peace keepers if they do, even their retainers in the Arab world will be in hiding.

 

You win wars, not just by fighting but through diplomacy and politics as well. So far advantage Yusuf..

[Che -Guevara]

"PS: This supposed war or Jihad, is no more than the talk of the Clan Courts, their power is strong relative to armed clans of Somalia but nothing in the conventional sense."

 

They don't have to be well mechanised army. Guerilla warfare against ragtag IGAAD troops is their aim here.

 

And also, one could hardly consider IGAD regiments to be peace-keepers' Never seen aggresive peace-keepers. The idea itself is an oxymoronic one.The truth is they will be engaging with the courts, and the fact alone is gonna make them an occupying force.

[Somali_Friend]

Che-Guevara,

 

May I suggest that, for a change you look at things from the other side. What I mean is look at things first from what the Somali(a) wants, needs. Then place foreigners in positions relative to it.

 

You have done enough looking at somalia from what ethiopia may or maynot want. That can lead you to so many mistakes. One of them is that you think ethiopia has the power of independent action in somalia proper.

Thats absolutely false. Let alone the TFG, a single state of Puntland or Somaliland determines what foreigners can do or not do in the territory they control or represent.

 

The TFG is much much stronger and influential than some of you folks give it credit. Ethiopia and Uganda are totally committed and doing every little or big thing based on TFG.

 

example. The warlord in Jowhar could not do anything with ethiopia, even though he was friendly before his conflict with TFG. If you can't see the relation of TFG to ethiopia, uganda or kenya in this example, I would say you have been too much influenced by the fakery in mugadishu.

 

First define what the Somali needs are and don't be afraid if the Somali and ethiopian interests coincide. Either one or both of these countries have changed and are going through major changes.

 

You may be witnessing a wholesale historical change in the horn of Africa, but regardless how its shaped the Somali will be prominent in it. Of course he has to share and give and take with other peoples or countries, but he will be very significant.

[General Duke]

And also, one could hardly consider IGAD regiments to be peace-keepers' Never seen aggresive peace-keepers. The idea itself is an oxymoronic one.The truth is they will be engaging with the courts, and the fact alone is gonna make them an occupying force.

Under international law any aggression against mandated peace keepers will be seen as a criminal act. That fact alone should spell much trouble to the courts.

 

Che, you seem to be deluding yourself. The Clan Courst will not gain the support of the majority of the people of Somalia. Lets look at the regions of the south for example, who will fight for the courts in Lower Shabbele, Bay & Bakool, Gedo, Juba's and even in the middle Shabbele and North of Mogadishu?

 

Can one compare this ragtag clan millitia to the Sunni's of Iraq 5 million people who all feel angry at the loss of their power. The Pashtun majority of Afghanistan, supported by the powerful ISI, or the ethnic conflict of the people of Darfur supported by Chad and the Janjaweed which has the blessing of Khartum.

 

The Clan Courts are an obsticle to the people of the South of Somalia, they have no power in the North-West, North-East and even parts of the centre. Thus with international support the TFG insha Allah will be able to regain the whole country.

[Che -Guevara]

You have done enough looking at somalia from what ethiopia may or maynot want. That can lead you to so many mistakes. One of them is that you think ethiopia has the power of independent action in somalia proper.

Actaully, I don't think that. On the contrary, I believe Ethios will be in for rude awakening should they go ahead with this futile quest. My concern here is simply the suffering of the ethnic Somalis in Somali proper and SomaliGalbeed which in my estimation will pay the highest price in terms of lives and materials.

 

And Iam not looking into this through what Ethiopia wants with Somalia, but through what is good for Somalis. And what's good for our people is to resolve this long conflict peacefully, and preferably without foriegn interference.

 

First define what the Somali needs are and don't be afraid if the Somali and ethiopian interests coincide. Either one or both of these countries have changed and are going through major changes.

What we need sincere leadership who puts the country's interest first. Iam afraid the warlords won't be the ones to provide that leadership.

[General Duke]

^^^Saxib the game is up. Ethiopia wont invade any where, the IGAD countries notably Uganda, Sudan and Ethiopia will send troops.

 

The motive speech and predictions of all out war is laughable, we are known for our boasts.

 

I predict that there will be small scale clashes but no major war, the tide has already begun to turn.

[Che -Guevara]

Under international law any aggression against mandated peace keepers will be seen as a criminal act. That fact alone should spell much trouble to the courts.

Duke...Under International law, peace have to be secured first, only then you could have peace-keepers to keep the peace. The IGAD troops are fighting force!!!

 

N as far as support is concern, I guess we leave that to time.

[General Duke]

^^^We agree to disagree..

[Naxar Nugaaleed]

few pionts i feel need to be cleared up:

 

ethiopia is not an issue because when the sanctions are lifted, the TFG will get peacekeepers from all over the place and there is no need for "frontline" states.

 

Dishonest discourse only leads to false conclusions. Why some oppose the the easing of the sanctions is not to stop arm flow, Somalia is awash with arms, is because they want to handicap the government but this embargo was not for that purpose. If some of you anarchist want to stop the government from establising security, please say so instead of pretending you all of he sudden care about arms flow into Somalia and that this embargo has accomplished anything other than violate the sovereignty of Somalia.