Gabbal Posted March 12, 2004 Somali Peace Rally (Galkaio City) PRESS RELEASE March 9, 2004 Posted to the web March 10, 2004 The Somali people had their hopes rekindled upon hearing the establishment of the International War Tribunal. They followed with interest the establishment of Special War Crimes Courts for former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. They are also aware of the efforts being made to create special courts for Sierra Leone and Cambodia. Yet, the Somalis are asking themselves why the perpetrators of genocide and war crimes in Somalia are not held accountable for the heinous crimes they have committed against humanity? Why Somalia does not get the attention it deserves? Trigger-happy warmongers have brutally massacred hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians mainly women, children and elderly people for no other reason but for their tribal affiliations. They forced more than a million into exile, wiped out entire communities, plundered the resources of the country, committed rape, torture, kidnapping and indiscriminate bombardment of densely populated urban areas. On top of that, no setting down of the silent slaughter is in view either. Furthermore, it is tragic that some countries recognize the perpetrators of these barbaric crimes as legitimate leaders, and thereby supply them with money, arms and ammunitions. It is more tragic and frightening that the same warlords are recycled to form the future government of Somalia. The Somali Peace Rally earnestly appeals to the conscience of the civilized world in general and in particular to the Security Council of the United Nations to establish a special war crimes court for Somalia to try the Somali warlords who committed crimes against humanity. We urge the United Nations to condemn in the strongest words possible any country or organization that recognizes, or gives any form of support to the warlords and to ensure the implementation of the arms embargo to Somalia. We request the Secretary General of the United Nations H.E. Kofi Anan to send legal experts to Somalia to investigate and report on the heinous crimes committed by the warlords against the Somali people. We also appeal to the international community to curb the movements of the warlords by preventing them from having access to Visas and to freeze all their ill-gotten assets. Finally, we appeal to the international community not to leave Somalia to the pernicious grasp of the ruthless gangs and warlords and to bring the Somali warlords to justice. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
