Ogaden: Litmus Paper for the Kinijit Amhara aspiring tyrants of ‘Ethiopia’

The Ogaden Human Rights Committee Report, issued on August 8th, contains a lengthy list of appalling extrajudicial killings that are comparable to, if not worse than, those of Darfur.

It is essential for the American administration, the US Congress and Senate, and the State Department to fully prove that America did not give the guns that were used by tyrant Zenawi’s thugs to perpetrate this Crime against the Mankind.

It is critical for America, so deeply engaged in the War against Terror, to dissociate the current Republican and the former Democrat administrations from the mistakenly supported African ‘Hitler’ – the Abyssinian Tigray Dictator Meles Zenawi, whose deeds eclipse by far those of the often repudiated by Western mass media Zimbabwean President Mugabe.

If America has a chance to convince the tolerant, moderate and multicultural Muslims of Africa about its true, humanist and democratic intentions and convictions, America must lead the effort of obtaining a UN Security Council resolution stipulating the end of Ogaden’s occupation by the alien Amhara and Tigray Abyssinian dictatorial forces.

Ogaden: the Litmus Paper for Africa’s democrats and humanists

For every American diplomat and statesman engaged in bilateral meetings and discussions, Ogaden should be the litmus paper that indicates who can be a democratic and humanist interlocutor for representatives of the Free World: anyone who denounces the Monarchical (Haile Selassie), Communist (Mengistu) and Pseudo-Federal Republican (Meles Zenawi) tyrants’ deeds in Ogaden, and accepts a UN-monitored Referendum leading to Ogaden’s Secession, Independence and Democracy.

It is critical to put any bogus-democratic, neo-totalitarian Kinijit Amhara "activist" in front of the Ogaden dilemma. Only then, the smiley mask of the post-modern/authoritarian, pseudo-intellectual elements of the mysteriously funded Kinijit "alternative" will disappear, leaving in its stead the execrable skull of Africa’s most inhuman racists.

Following the publication of earlier articles that included parts of the valuable OHRC document, we reproduce integrally in this article the first chapter of the Report’s main part that focuses on Human Rights Abuses, and more particularly on Extrajudicial Executions.

Human Rights Abuses

Ethiopia under the TPLF/EPRDF government has accepted or ratified several international human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Convention on the Prevention and the Punishment of the crime of Genocide, Convention on the Right of the Child, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Slavery Convention of 1926 as amended, Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery, the 1977 Additional Protocols I and II of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and lately the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. The Ethiopian Constitution states that ratified treaties automatically become national law (Article 9.4).

Somalis in the Ogaden are the poorest, least educated, most unemployed, most persecuted and most jailed of Ethiopians. They are disenfranchised, downtrodden minority in the empire-state of Ethiopia.

The Ogaden Human Rights Committee (OHRC), which monitored closely the human rights situation in the Ogaden for the last twelve years, confirms the deterioration of the human rights situation in the region on a daily basis. Therefore, the OHRC believes that the Ethiopian government's accession to the treaties was merely intended to mislead the international community, in order to avoid international public censure over its human rights record, and also to get more aid from donor countries, which demand the improvement of human rights situation in the Third World Countries which receive their aid.

In the Ogaden, arbitrary detentions without charge or trial, torture of detainees to death, summary executions, gang raping of women, child molestation, looting and illegal confiscation of property are commonplace, and are daily practiced by Ethiopian army and security forces with impunity.

To illustrate the abovementioned assertions, some cases are detailed in the following pages, while other cases are listed and attached at the end of the report, with brief notes indicating the destiny of the victim(s).

Extrajudicial Executions

Article 3 of the UDHR proclaims the right to life, liberty and security of person. Under Geneva Conventions of August 1949 and Protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions, in case of armed conflict not of an international character, principles of humanity must be safeguarded in all situations. Acts prohibited in all circumstances include: murder, torture, corporal punishment, mutilation, outrages upon personal dignity, hostage-taking, collective punishment, executions without regular trial and cruel and degrading treatment. Furthermore, article 51 (1, 2, 6) of protocol 1, protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 state that: "The civilian population and individual civilians shall enjoy general protection against dangers arising from military operations. The civilian population as such, as well as individual civilians, shall not be the object of attack. Acts or threats of violence the primary purpose of which is to spread terror among the civilian population are prohibited. Attacks against the civilian population or civilians by way of reprisals are prohibited. "

Nevertheless, contrary to the spirit and the letter of the International Human Rights Instruments ratified by Ethiopia, the Ethiopian armed and security forces have carried out systematically extra-legal, arbitrary and summary executions throughout the Ogaden with impunity. These extrajudicial killings have been confirmed by adequate witnesses and documented by OHRC.

The following cases are illustrative of the above assertions:

On 26th 2007, in Qoriile, an Ethiopian soldier has beaten up Hanad Moallin Abdullahi, a four-year-old boy in front of his mother Fadumo Abdi. Then he laid him on the ground and stamped on his abdomen for a long period. Hanad passed away shortly.

In Qoriile, on July 22nd 2007, Ethiopian armed forces came with a list of names, and then arrested a number of civilians. They transferred them to their barracks, where they were subjected to extensive torture. On July 24th 2007, the Ethiopian armed forces carried out a cold-blood massacre killing the detainees in their custody, in Babaase. Most of the victims were hanged from acacia trees and then shot to ascertain their death. The names of the dead are: Hassan Abdi Abdullahi, Ilmoge Badal Abdi Abdullahi, Hassan Burale Ilmi-Yare, Ali Burale Ilmi-Yare, Ahmed-Gani Guled Ali, Farah Hassan Halonfi, Mrs. Ayan Aw Ali God, Hussien Gahnug and Abdirashid Sheikh Mohamoud. Ridwan Hassan Rage survived but in a critical condition. Qarjaf Haji Osman and Ina Arab Ismail are missing.

The bodies of the victims were forbidden to be buried and were displayed in public to spread terror among the civilian population.

An elder from Qoriile who preferred not to be identified said, "Is the Ethiopian government going to win our minds and hearts by mass killing, carpet bombing and destroying our livelihood? The longer Ethiopia denied rights to the Ogaden people the more likely they were to join a growing liberation movement for independence from Ethiopia and its inhuman rulers."

On June 29th 2007, as an act of reprisal Ethiopian government forces killed a number of civilians, in Caleen. Among them were the following three senior citizens: Mrs. Madina Dirshe Hirsi, aged 90, Ahmed Abdi, aged 72 and Abdullahi Moallin, aged 70. Most victims of Caleen massacre were children, women, sick and elderly people who could not run away when Ethiopian armed forces started burning houses and killing the people.

In Gumareey, on June 23rd 2007, Ethiopian armed forces conducted a house-to-house search looking for ONLF supporters. They arrested, tortured and then killed Hassan Ahmed Jes, Taman Mohamoud and Omar Awil in a firing sqaud. Mohamoud Mashkoke who was in the group was left as dead, but has survived sustaining serious wounds. Mr. Mashkoke stated: he pretended being dead.

On June 21st 2007, in Labiga, Dhagaxbuur district, Ethiopian armed forces killed Mrs. Nimo Yassin, Ibrahim Ahmed and his little daughter. Ibrahim was gunned down while he was weeping and sitting beside the body of his daughter who was killed earlier by Ethiopian soldiers.

On June 20th 2007, Ethiopian armed forces killed Mrs. Fadumo Shire, Ahmed Abdi Hamud, a two-year-old boy and Mohamed Abade. They also wounded gravely Ruqiya Adan, Abdi Ahmed, an eight-year-old boy and his younger brother Mohamed Ahmed, and a one-year-old boy, in Dayr. They also killed Yusuf Ahmed Khayr and Haji Ahmed Hussein, in Gocondhaale.

On June 19th 2007, Ethiopian armed forces carried out a cold-blooded massacre killing more than 20 nomads including two toddlers and wounding many others, in a hamlet housing a pastoralist community near Labiga, Dhagaxbuur district. Their huts were torched and livestock confiscated. Among the dead were: Muhiaddin Yusuf Omar, age 21, Mohamed Yusuf Omar, age 23, Muhiaddin’s brother, Moallin Abdi Hashi, age 45, Mohamed Abdi Qarayare, age 60, Abdullahi Mohamed, Qorgab Ali Bashir, age 30, Miyir Yusuf Iley, age 19, Asad Yusuf Iley, age 17, Miyir’s brother, Farhan Abdi Arab, female age 16, Sharaf Moalin Abdi (his two young sons also died in the massacre), Abdullahi muhumed Matan, age 55, Wayel Abdi Iman, age 63, Mohamed Abdi Hussien, age 27, Ahmed Abdullahi, age 35, Abdi Mohamed Hashi, age 35, Fathi Ali Shide, age 15, Mohamed Hassan Wahar, age 24, Abdullahi Ahmed Fure, age 23, Mohamed Mohamoud Adiful, Abdullahi Timojad and Abdullahi Muhumed Gahnug . They were nomad pastoralists with no political affiliation.

On June 07th 2007, Mohamed Hussein and Ali Farah, both civilians, were arrested in Dayr, Aware district by members of EPRDF forces. After cruel torture they were strangled to death with an iron cable. No reason was given for their murder.

In Gabagabo, Sahra Khalif, a nomad young girl was gang raped, tortured and then killed by members of Ethiopian armed forces, on June 07th 2007.

On 02nd June 2007, members of Ethiopian armed forces abducted, gang raped and then killed Korad Ali and Saqa Abdi, two nomad teenage girls from Lahelow.

On June 02nd 2007, the Ethiopian army razed to the ground the village of Daratoole, which is located in the northeast of Wardheer, killing many defenceless civilians. Among them were: Hudle Badal, Ali Jama, Abdullahi Yusuf, Fadumo Ali, Ali Mohamed and Qamar Omar. Like many other towns, villages and hamlets, the residents of Daratoole were accused of helping " anti-peace elements," a term Ethiopian authorities frequently use to designate members of ONLF fighters.

On May 30th 2007, four dead bodies belonging to young students, who were detained on May 28th 2007, were thrown out of the military barracks in Dhagaxbuur. The bodies were carrying marks of torture. They were killed by strangulation. Their death was a terrible shock to their families and the whole public. According to their families and friends they were innocent civilians with no political affiliation. No reason was given for their murder.

On May 28th 2007, two terrorist hand grenade attacks took place in Dhagaxbuur and Jigjiga, killing and wounding a number of defenceless civilians, who were attending two gatherings sponsored by the Ethiopian Government. Without delay Ethiopian Federal officers accused the ONLF of being behind the two grenade attacks. The ONLF rejected angrily the charges, which it blames on the Ethiopian security forces.

According to eyewitness accounts most of the victims died as a result of stampede and indiscriminate firing into the crowd by the Ethiopian security forces, after the explosion of the grenades. Among the dead in the two terrorist explosions were: Ahmed Mohamed Aftag, Abdi-Wali Muhumed Tuluh, Bashir Gadhyare, Astur Mohamed Balul, Leyla Sharif Hassan, Abdi Kamil Awale, Aw Gambadh and Khalid Nur.

Ethiopian armed forces destroyed the village of Laasoole by torching the residences after looting personal properties, on May 16th 2007. They killed a number of civilians. Among them were: Duale Guled Arab, Adan Mohamed Anshur and Ja’ur Fatah, all civilians. No reason was given for their murder.

On April 20th 2007, in Bulxan, Ethiopian armed forces killed Mohamed Hassan by a firing squad. No reason was given for his murder.

In Banbaas, on February 02nd 2007, Ethiopian armed forces detained Ahmed-Shukri Mohamed Abdi. After three days of his detention his tortured body was thrown out of the military barracks. According to members of his family scars covered all over his body.

On July 25th 2006, in Qamuuda, Ethiopian troops rounded up a number of nomads who were tending their animals in Qamuuda area. They were beaten up and shot dead in a fire squad. Among the dead were the following five women: Ruqiya Yusuf Ali, Madin Abdi Ali, Nasra Ali Farah, Hina Muhumed and Ardo Mohamed Rabi. They were all middle-aged mothers except Ardo. No justification has been given for this cold blood massacre.

In Garigo’an, on June 16th 2006, members of Ethiopian armed forces detained Mrs. Adar Mohamoud Adan a nomad woman aged 70. They took her to military barracks where she has been tortured and gang-raped. After three days her body was thrown outside military barracks. She was buried by the town folk. A community elder who do not want to be named said, "She came to visit her relatives in the area. She was not familiar with the region. Ethiopian soldiers rape our women at will. We have to defend our honour and pride by all means. We have no other option. There is no law and no government to protect us. They are not soldiers they are monsters."
On June 12th 2006, in Ceelweyne, members of Ethiopian forces abducted Shiriya Ajiye at gunpoint. After five days her tortured body was found in a nearby bush. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted, and her breasts were cut off.

In Biyo-Qadhaadhe, Fiiq districts, on the 11th June 2006, members of the Ethiopian armed forces shot dead Abdi Qeh. Abdi was suffering from mental disorder, and they knew his illness. No explanation was given for this callous act.

On June 06th 2006, in Garasley, Abdullahi Mohamed Abdi, was arrested, his properties confiscated and then was tortured to death by members of the Ethiopian armed forces. He was a nomad pastoralist with no political affiliation.

In San-Xaskulle, Dhagaxmadow district, members of Ethiopian armed forces robbed Deq Ahmed Wali and Ahmed Abdulkadir of their money and other properties and then gunned them down before their families, on 19th May 2006. No one has been arrested for their murder.

Sahra Abdi Abdullahi, a mother of eight children, was shot dead by Ethiopian armed forces, in Sagag, military barracks, on May 16th 2006. She was among 16 civilians who were detained on suspected membership and sympathy for the ONLF. There were marks of torture on her dead body. Family members and relatives of the remaining detainees expressed their fear and apprehension about the safety and well being of their loved ones to Ogaden Human Rights Committee’s researcher. " We cannot visit them. They have no contact with the outside world. They are constantly under torture. Only god can save them," said a family member to OHRC.

On January 28th 2006, in Abahay-Gablan, Ethiopian government forces killed Mohamoud Gaadh-haye. He was an unarmed civilian with no political affiliation. No reason was given for his murder.

Ethiopian government forces killed Hassan Ismail, in Farmadow, on February 02nd 2006. According to his family’s testimony Hassan was killed because he refused to pay extortion money.

In Danbarweyne, Dhanaan district, Ethiopian government forces killed Yusuf Baroud Kahin, on February 04th 2006. No justification has been given for his murder.

On the11th February 2006, in Barmiilka, members of Ethiopian armed forces killed Arab Dahir Arbe, a teenage boy who was tending herd of goats. After his murder they took the goats with them.

On March 04th 2006, members of Ethiopian armed forces opened fire on a civilian truck travelling near Ceel-ma -Xidho. Muse Abdi, the assistant driver, was instantly killed and four other civilians were wounded.

In Gurdumi, Ethiopian government forces shot dead Mohamed Hassan Dere, beside his underground water reservoir known locally as (BARKAD), while he was watering his animals. No reason was given for his murder.

On April 06th 2006, in Qabridaharre, members of Ethiopian armed forces opened fire indiscriminately at a group of civilians killing Ms. Ardo Dayib Mohamed and wounding seriously Lade Layli, Abdifatah Sheikh Abdullahi, Maryan Hashi Qalonbi and her daughter.

Members of Ethiopian government forces killed Muhumed Rafle and Muhumed Sharif Abdi, in Laas-Galool and in Barmiilka, on April 06th and on April 18th 2006, respectively.