Ogaden Human Right Committee appeals to the International Community

In an earlier article, we published the Executive Summary of the Report issued by the Ogaden Human Right Committee on August 8, 2007. In this article, we publish the Report’s second introductory unit, namely the Recommendations and Appeals. We believe every international body, NGO, governmental authority, diplomat, political activist and concerned humanist should read these lines very carefully; they bear witness to Ogadenis’ tolerant culture, well-tempered mind, forbearing attitude, and balanced judgment.

It is crucial for the International Community to catch this opportunity before the shameful and barbaric murders, perpetrated by criminal dictator Meles Zenawi’s soldiers, radicalize the Ogadeni suffering population, driving their majority to the hands of the most venomous adversaries of both, the West and the present Ogadeni class.

In the Ogaden Human Right Committee, and in the ONLF (Ogaden National Liberation Front) the Western diplomats and activists, statesmen and politicians can find the correct interlocutors and exit strategy partners, who are the only to help isolate the ominous and clandestine Islamic Courts of Justice. The present ‘offer’ will not stand for long, as the indelible and inhuman deeds of tyrant Zenawi’s Tigray thugs will soon drive the Ogadenis to extreme exasperation. When you have nothing to close, your only hope is named Ossama Bin Laden. In forthcoming articles, we will publish further parts of the Report.

Recommendations and Appeals

Although prestigious international and national human rights organizations, have issued several reports about well-documented human rights violations in the Ogaden and elsewhere in Ethiopia by the current Ethiopian government, the international community has remained tight lipped about those violations for the last sixteen years. Nevertheless, the Ogaden Human Rights Committee has not given up hope of the international community's help to force Ethiopia to honour its commitments to internationally accepted human rights principles. Hence, the OHRC requests and recommends the following:

To: The International Community, Donor Countries, United Nations, Ethiopian Government, and Ogaden National Liberation Front:

The international community intervene to stop human sufferings and senseless carnage in the Ogaden. The sooner the better.

The Ethiopian government and the Ogaden National Liberation Front, declare immediate, comprehensive and unconditional cease-fire in the Ogaden.

The international community exert more pressure on all the parties to the conflict in the Ogaden in order to reach a peacefully negotiated and just settlement.

Since there is no confidence between the warring sides the Ogaden Human Rights Committee urges the United States and European Union to act as mediators and facilitators in order to put an end to the senseless carnage in the Ogaden.

The Ethiopian government allow all humanitarian and relief organizations to operate in the Ogaden without restrictions as well as national and international human rights organizations and international press.

The international donor community help the Somali people in the Ogaden generously and directly through international NGOs in order to assure the reach of the food and medical aid to the victims of the famine.

United Nations Security Council designate a safe heaven for the civilian population fleeing from Ethiopian armed forces’ onslaught and atrocities.

The international community publicly censure Ethiopia over its human rights record in the Ogaden.

United Nations Security Council form an independent inquiry commission to investigate recent massacres and atrocities in the Ogaden.

The United Nations appoint a Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in the Ogaden.

The Ethiopian government should be held responsible for infamous mass killings; disappearances, rape, arbitrary arrests, torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and perpetrators of those atrocities should be brought before an international tribunal.

United Nations Security Council freeze all foreign bank accounts belonging to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and his entourage.

United Nations Security Council impose visa and travel restrictions on Ethiopian government officials.

The international community refrain from aiding and supporting the Ethiopian government as long as it violates human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Somali people in the Ogaden.

The Ethiopian government and Ogaden National Liberation Front give ICRC free access to all detainees in their custodies.

The Ogaden Human Rights Committee asks for all political prisoners in Ethiopia to be immediately and unconditionally released or charged with recognized criminal offences, and given fair trials; and be given unrestricted and regular access to their family members and to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

To: Individuals, Local Human Rights and Humanitarian Organizations

The Ogaden Human Rights Committee requests individuals, local human rights and humanitarian organizations to support its efforts to promote and improve the human rights cause in the Ogaden, and recommends the following:

Please write to your Foreign Ministry:

Asking that your government exert pressure on Ethiopia to improve its human rights record in the Ogaden.

Urging that all political prisoners be either immediately and unconditionally released or charged with recognized criminal offences, and given fair trials; and be given unrestricted and regular access to their family members and to, representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (name some or all from those in this report or in other OHRC’s reports, which you can get in OHRC’s web site www.ogadenrights.org).

Expressing concern at the disappearance of a large number of suspected government opponents in the notorious military detention camps throughout the Ogaden and asking their whereabouts (name some or all from those in this report or in other OHRC’s reports, which you can get in OHRC’s web site www.ogadenrights.org).

Asking your government to support the Ogaden Human Rights Committee's efforts to appoint a UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights as well as sending a fact finding mission to the Ogaden in order to stop and prevent more human rights violations in that country.

Please copy your letter to diplomatic representatives of Ethiopia accredited to your country as well as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The address is:
United Nations Human Rights Council
Palais des Nations
1211 Geneva 10