HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS ESCALATE IN SOMALIA
Kanini Evans Kariuki
June 11, 2009
IT is a grave situation and concern of every human being who has a conscious over what is happening to the Somali civilians, Mogadishu in particular, committed by the parties to the conflict.
The recent violence which erupted in Mogadishu on May 7 2009, generalized by the fighting between the Transitional Federal Government(TFG)forces, the armed opposition groups of AL-Shabaab and the allies of Hizb Islam forces is the most devastating in the last years of Somalia civil war.
The bullet-pumping of Somalia citizens and public places has forced over 120,000 people to flee their homes in Mogadishu and central regions of Somalia from May 7 to June 8th this year.
The manner in which civilians are being victimized by this conflict is regarded as unacceptable, in any terms.
Many families have allegedly been separated from their children, as local human rights groups accuse the warring groups of committing child abuse for recruiting them as soldiers of war.
The ICRC – International committee for the Red Cross, provides support for the Mogadishu´s two surgical referral hospitals which is managed by the Somali Red Crescent Society, and the community-based Medina hospital in the southern part of the city.
The ICRC reported that the two hospitals are treating more than 1,500 since January-mostly civilian weapon- wounded patients, women and children included.
Local journalists in Mogadishu comprising print, broadcasting (TV and radio) and electronic journalists numbering 15 were assassinated in the last two years.
On June 6 this year, Mr. Mohktar Hirabe-director of Shabelle radio in Mogadishu, was shot to death five times by unknown people at Bakara market in Mogadishu, while presenter Ahmed Omar Hassan who was accompanying Mr. Hirab, was left for dead during the incident.
In this respect, local journalists in Mogadishu announced on May 8th to suspend their operations due to threats they were being subjected to in their work places.
Somalia is considered as the worst places for journalists to operate after Iraq.
The Transitional Federal parliament in Somalia categorically condemned the cold – blooded assassinations of journalists, and the threats they were receiving from the perpetrators, and repeatedly urged the government to take the necessary steps pertaining to safety of journalists, besides investigating the atrocities of the villains.
The wrongdoer´s should face the full force of the law in accordance with Somalia´s legal system.
The government should set up a victim´s compensation fund for those who have been killed in the line of state duties.
The condemnation of the said assassinations was issued by the chairpersons of parliamentary committees on behalf of the parliament, who also requested Somalia journalists not to down their tools.
The International Contact Group ICG on Somalia 9-10 June 2009 Rome communiqué, which was the 15th meeting of the groups on Somalia, was held under the chairmanship of the UN special representative for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould – Abdallah.
The meeting was opened by the Italian minister of foreign affairs, Franco Frattini, together with the Somali prime minister HE Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke.
The ICG welcomed the commitment made by the Transitional government of Somalia to achieve political stability through inclusive proceeds.
The ICG called on all partners to support through a comprehensive approach, the Somali government politically, financially and technically to enable it to deliver improved security, the protection of civilians, basic services and provide employment opportunities particularly for the youth.
The ICG remained committed to help bring stability, security and prosperity to Somalia.
IT urged the international community to operationalise its development and assistance strategies in order to further support the progress made by the Somali government.
The group requested joint Somali government and United Nations reports on the support provided.
The ICG recognized the need for planning processes for the international reconstruction and development conference to start.
The group condemned the recent attempt by extremist armed opposition groups to overthrow the legal, legitimate and internationally recognized Somali government.
The ICG also supported the engagement of the inter governmental authority on development(IGAD) and the African Union peace and Security Council, and called for urgent discussions on the recommendations of their recent meetings.
Although the ICG is working hard to ensure that peace and stability is restored in Somalia, the right and ideal approach to the process has not been found.
The problem in Somalia stems from clan power fighting,clearly exacerbated by two groups which are against the restoration of state sovereignty and peace..
These two groups are divided between those who looted property and those who made a fortune in the absence of the government,unless they themselves ascend to the throne or seize control of the state.
The Transitional Federal government and the UN have not adopted the six documents which emanated or were produced from the historic Nairobi Reconciliation Conference, and which were the road map for Somalia peace.It is for this reason that peace is elusive in Somalia.
The six documents are the Charter, the conflict resolution, dispute and settlement and return of property to their rightful owners which include farms and land,demobilization, disarmament and re-intergration (DDR), recovery of the economy and rehabilitation report and the International and regional relations report.
The recent violence which erupted in Mogadishu on May 7 2009, generalized by the fighting between the Transitional Federal Government(TFG)forces, the armed opposition groups of AL-Shabaab and the allies of Hizb Islam forces is the most devastating in the last years of Somalia civil war.
The bullet-pumping of Somalia citizens and public places has forced over 120,000 people to flee their homes in Mogadishu and central regions of Somalia from May 7 to June 8th this year.
The manner in which civilians are being victimized by this conflict is regarded as unacceptable, in any terms.
Many families have allegedly been separated from their children, as local human rights groups accuse the warring groups of committing child abuse for recruiting them as soldiers of war.
The ICRC – International committee for the Red Cross, provides support for the Mogadishu´s two surgical referral hospitals which is managed by the Somali Red Crescent Society, and the community-based Medina hospital in the southern part of the city.
The ICRC reported that the two hospitals are treating more than 1,500 since January-mostly civilian weapon- wounded patients, women and children included.
Local journalists in Mogadishu comprising print, broadcasting (TV and radio) and electronic journalists numbering 15 were assassinated in the last two years.
On June 6 this year, Mr. Mohktar Hirabe-director of Shabelle radio in Mogadishu, was shot to death five times by unknown people at Bakara market in Mogadishu, while presenter Ahmed Omar Hassan who was accompanying Mr. Hirab, was left for dead during the incident.
In this respect, local journalists in Mogadishu announced on May 8th to suspend their operations due to threats they were being subjected to in their work places.
Somalia is considered as the worst places for journalists to operate after Iraq.
The Transitional Federal parliament in Somalia categorically condemned the cold – blooded assassinations of journalists, and the threats they were receiving from the perpetrators, and repeatedly urged the government to take the necessary steps pertaining to safety of journalists, besides investigating the atrocities of the villains.
The wrongdoer´s should face the full force of the law in accordance with Somalia´s legal system.
The government should set up a victim´s compensation fund for those who have been killed in the line of state duties.
The condemnation of the said assassinations was issued by the chairpersons of parliamentary committees on behalf of the parliament, who also requested Somalia journalists not to down their tools.
The International Contact Group ICG on Somalia 9-10 June 2009 Rome communiqué, which was the 15th meeting of the groups on Somalia, was held under the chairmanship of the UN special representative for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould – Abdallah.
The meeting was opened by the Italian minister of foreign affairs, Franco Frattini, together with the Somali prime minister HE Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke.
The ICG welcomed the commitment made by the Transitional government of Somalia to achieve political stability through inclusive proceeds.
The ICG called on all partners to support through a comprehensive approach, the Somali government politically, financially and technically to enable it to deliver improved security, the protection of civilians, basic services and provide employment opportunities particularly for the youth.
The ICG remained committed to help bring stability, security and prosperity to Somalia.
IT urged the international community to operationalise its development and assistance strategies in order to further support the progress made by the Somali government.
The group requested joint Somali government and United Nations reports on the support provided.
The ICG recognized the need for planning processes for the international reconstruction and development conference to start.
The group condemned the recent attempt by extremist armed opposition groups to overthrow the legal, legitimate and internationally recognized Somali government.
The ICG also supported the engagement of the inter governmental authority on development(IGAD) and the African Union peace and Security Council, and called for urgent discussions on the recommendations of their recent meetings.
Although the ICG is working hard to ensure that peace and stability is restored in Somalia, the right and ideal approach to the process has not been found.
The problem in Somalia stems from clan power fighting,clearly exacerbated by two groups which are against the restoration of state sovereignty and peace..
These two groups are divided between those who looted property and those who made a fortune in the absence of the government,unless they themselves ascend to the throne or seize control of the state.
The Transitional Federal government and the UN have not adopted the six documents which emanated or were produced from the historic Nairobi Reconciliation Conference, and which were the road map for Somalia peace.It is for this reason that peace is elusive in Somalia.
The six documents are the Charter, the conflict resolution, dispute and settlement and return of property to their rightful owners which include farms and land,demobilization, disarmament and re-intergration (DDR), recovery of the economy and rehabilitation report and the International and regional relations report.
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