<
http://www.bikyamasr.com/75911/why-somali-ogaden-want-self-determination-fr
om-ethiopia/> Why Somali Ogaden want self-determination from Ethiopia?
Ogadentoday Press <
http://www.bikyamasr.com/author/admin-2/> | 22 August
2012 |
The Ogaden region is located in the eastern part of Ethiopia, its shares
borders with Somalia, Kenya, and Djibouti, the region is populated by ethnic
Somali people, Sunni Muslims, and the Ogaden Region was occupied by Ethiopia
in the early 19th century after serous accords between, British, Italy and
Ethiopian Kingdoms. Ogaden is a like, the Kashmir and Palestine conflict
which exists almost a century.
Somali Ogaden people in Ethiopia are fighting for Independence of Ogaden
Region. Since a long time ago; the Somali troops invaded Ethiopia backing by
Somali Ogaden Western Liberation front in 1977.
The international community disagreed with the conflict, the Soviet backed
directly to Ethiopia and committed genocide in Ogaden Region, soviet plans
were bombing the town, Even though the American Administration has sympathy
to Somalia, Mohamed Siyad Barre Government, they did not offer direct
military assistances to Somalia.
Both Soviet and Americans were interesting the geopolitics of horn of
Africa, the cold war was looming inside horn-of Africa.
Majority of Arab countries where supporting to Ethiopia, 'many surprises",
but Ethiopian sees Arabs as primary enemy, the idea is from the connection
between Israel state and Ethiopia or Egyptian kingdom attacked Ethiopia in
16 century, Egypt and Iraq were only two Arab states offered military and
economic assistance to Somalia, under the leadership of Anwar Sadad and
Sadam Hussein, Libya and Yemen were providing assistance to Ethiopia. Saudi
Arabia tried to mediate the Somalia and US in order the US to control the
Berbera Port but failed.
After 1991 the collapse of Mengist Haile Mariam, Ethiopia adopted a new
constitution, new system, but little had been done, as promises of the news
changes.
"Cohen Conference in London" Ethiopia promised a human right respect,
political space open, and the draft constitution which declares self-
determination of ethnic based nationalities in Ethiopia.
Cohen was a former US ambassador to Ethiopia; the Idea of conference was to
save Ethiopia from destruction and civil war.
Ethiopia is federalism system with a little democratic space, there are
political parties but the last 20 years, EPRDF, The Ethiopian primes
Minister Meles Zenawi, ruling party leads the with iron-fist. His party
controls, the state media, intelligence, and the military.
The president, speaker of parliament and the prime minister belong one
party.
Ogaden Population and Region
The Population of Ogaden region is a about 5 million, according to UN
Agencies, its size is about 200,000 sq. km. there are important towns such
as, Jigjiga, Qabridahar, Godey, Dhagaxbuur, Fiiq, Afdheer, Shilaabo,
Kebribayax.
The Modern Day Struggle
After the Ogaden National Liberation Front come into birth 1984 inside
Somalia, it started under-ground liberation movement, Somalia and Ethiopia
signed an agreement in Djibouti, both agreed to shut down all rebels
offices, Somalia closed the Liberation front office also the liberation
radio in Muqidisho but Ethiopia continue its support to SNM, Somali National
Movement against the Siyad Bare rule.
In 1991, the Ethiopian Marxist rule, Mengist Hiale Mariam was ousted by the
union of rebels, EPRDF, Ogaden National Liberation Front fought
self-determination of Ogaden Region, in a campaign to depose Mengist Rule.
The Mengist fled from Ethiopia in May, 1991.
The New chapter was opened in Ethiopia, The new coalition of Ethiopia
founded a transitional government in Ethiopia; Zenawi was elected as
President, 1995 Ethiopia turn into Federalism system composed of Nine
Regions based on ethnic groups, (Somalia Ogaden, Oromia, Tigray Amara ,
Afar, Harari, Southern Nations, Gurage, Gambella).
It was an historical moment, the first time in the human history Somali
Ogaden Region people elected their representative in Ethiopian parliaments,
84.6% voted for the ONLF, Ogaden National Liberation Front. The capital of
the region was elected in Goday Town, a town that the Shabelle River is
located in.
A few months later, Ethiopia's ruling party intervened the Administration
led by, Abdullahi Mohamed Sacdi, president of Ogaden Administration, and
Sheekh Ibraahim Abdalla Maax, the Chairman of ONLF.
What happens next?
The 54 of ONLF central committee announced an extra-ordinary meeting, and
then, the regional parliamentary announced an urgent session, the parliament
hold first vote of self- determination in Ogaden region 1993.
The ONLF were attacked, prominent leaders were assassinated, hundreds of
civilians are killed in Wardher( Doollo) Region, the Kebridahar
Administration leaders, Mohamed Omar Tube and his Vice Deq Mohamed Carab
were killed in, after the Ethiopian military troops attacked Sheekh Ibrahim
Abdalla Maah, ONLF leader in Wardher. The Capital of Ogaden region was moved
to Jigjiga by force.
A few, brave about 100 men started the hit and run conflict in Ogaden Region
in 1994, after years, Ethiopian Prime Minister Melez Zenawi said ONLF is
growing and we cannot capture, if we did not when they were a few members.
First years, Ethiopia denied an existence of ONLF, later, International
Media found a news about it, and asked Ethiopia, they replied, "a few gangs
are blocking roads" ONLF vowed to continue resistance in Ogade region, and
promised Ogaden civilians a long liberation. ONLF is backed by Somali Ogaden
nomadic providing, assistances, foods, money, moral and whatever they can,
In turn off that Ethiopia troops brutalized Ogaden civilian.
Today, According to a Wikileaks report in Ethiopia, ONLF is biggest threat
to Ethiopian ruling party EPRDF, even surprising the ONLF) posed a further,
political threat to the EPRDF and its core TPLF.
Political Concerns: Not only was the brutal ONLF attack at Abole a brazen
act, but it marked a more deadly departure from prior type attacks by the
ONLF in the past. Further, the attack was an embarrassment for the ENDF, its
failure to protect the oil project site and respond immediately against the
attackers.
More important, the ONLF attack came at a time when Somalia operations had
the ENDF (Ethiopian National Defense Forces) bogged down and extremists
vowed to take the war to Ethiopia to cut off supplies and logistical
support. The ONLF's public statement following the attack insisting that it
would play a role in determining the future and economic development of the
region was certainly perceived as a direct threat to the GoE's authority in
the region.
An expert says, Ogaden is like the Darfur of Sudan, human right
organizations accused Ethiopian Troops a war crime against humanity, Link
Peace and negotiation in the future
Peace is needed to all human beings; peace is a factor that humans feel
respected, Ogaden people are peace-loving people, since the creation of
Ethiopia, and they did not see Ethiopian Leader who treats them like Human.
The Ethiopian Kingdom, Menelik, Haile Salasle,Mengist Haile Mariam, and the
current Melez Zenawi is brutalizing the civilians in Ogaden, how possible
the Ogaden people love then Ethiopia and accepts as Ethiopian.?
This question needs to be asked, those old-fashioned minded, believe in
"Ethiopainisim."
International community, African, Arabs, Western, China, and Japan, must
reconsider the policy and open a new chapter in Ogaden. Peace and justice
must be initiated in Ogaden, if there is any sense of humanity and respect
for international law.
International role and complicity of Genocide
Ethiopia gets a huge International donor by the USA, China, UK, France and
Saudi Arabia, all these assistance are used a political and military to
silence the minority people in Ethiopia. The helicopters that are bombing
Ogaden villages are donors from the International community. By this way
Ogaden people cannot except to be forced Ethiopians.
World are ignoring the genocide taking place in Ogaden Region,, civilians
needs action not critics to Ethiopian government.
State-Department aware of all these crimes, but because of war on terrorism
are denied by the Human right in Ogaden Region.
In addition to that, the State Department granting visa for suspected war
crimes individuals, from Somali Ogaden Administrations by ignoring the
bleeding women and children in Ogaden region, meanwhile USA was a
Championship of Human right.
"The view of Ogaden People"
Naturally Ogaden people believe in that they are not part of Ethiopia and
that is why they are killed, raped, looted, and humiliated. The Addis Ababa
Regime marginalized the Ogaden region economically, socially, and
politically.
Based on article 39 of Ethiopian constitution defines the right of
self-termination. In addition to that, the self-determination is a matter of
International law.
That is why they are fighting for the Independence of Ogaden Region.
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Received on Wed Aug 22 2012 - 07:47:14 EDT
