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     | Saturday, December 30, 2000 - 12:58 pm Hi All, We all concerrn what is going on in our Country. However, as you all know Ethiopia send a consignment of arm and ammunition to the Somali factions. Therefore,I wrote the following letter to the United Nations Security Council; There will more letters to follow. Please print and distribute to all our brothers and sisters. Your opinion is also welcome. H.E. Sergey V. Lavrov President of the United Nations Security Council 136 East 67th Street New York, N.Y. 10021 December 22, 2000 Your Excellency, We are writing in regards to the currently consignment of arms and ammunition donated by Ethiopia to the Somali factions reached Mogadishu yesterday December 20th 2000 at 3 p.m. [local time]. Reports shows that these consignments, which was picked up from Bare town, eastern Ethiopia, was transported through Waajid District, Bakool Region [southwestern Somalia] and then along Baydhabo- Mogadishu road. The arms are now being stored at several locations in the city's Madina District. We call on the Security Council to impose army sanctions on the Ethiopian Government of Somalia. Because the Somali peace process appears on the Council's agenda, it is particularly unfortunate that the present discussion is limited to the Ethiopian role in supplying army weapons to the Somali warlords. Ethiopian troops in Somalia are doing criminal activity, which does not directly address the grave abuses that continue to be perpetrated against civilian people. It is particularly urgent that the Security Council addresses these abuses now because they are an important cause of the continuing human crisis in Somalia. Failure to do so would mean inexcusably abandoning the Somali people to suffer atrocities at home while focusing exclusively on the Ethiopian government's role in attacks on Somali people. We know that the Security Council is considering what action might be appropriate to enhance the success of the peace process in Somalia. However, the Ethiopian Government supplies weapons to the Somali warlords. This is unacceptable. Ethiopia is a member of the United Nations General Assembly. And the members in the United Nations General Assembly are open to all peace-loving states, which accept the obligations of the Charter, and in the judgement of the Organization, are willing and able to carry out these obligations (Article 4, Chapter 2, United Nations Charter). We call on the Security Council to impose an arms embargo on all warring factions. These warlords must end violations to human rights and humanitarian law. UN must bring these perpetrators to justice. We also urge the Security Council to take additional measures to help the Somali Government to consolidate the country's peace process. The Security Council should restrict arms sales to all Somali warlords; they have committed severe abuses as a result nobody is making serious efforts to bring perpetrators to justice. The ban should be strictly monitored and enforced and should include all forms of military assistance, including arms, other military material. Ethiopian forces are currently on the offensive and have been responsible for some of the worst incidents in Gedo, Bakol and Bay regions. The cumulative result has been massive internal displacement and large refugee flows into neighboring countries. According to estimates by international relief agencies, there are presently at least over a 100,000 internally displaced persons in Somalia as a result of armed conflict during the last ten years. In addition, some 300,000 refugees are in Kenya and over a million Somali people went to different countries all over the world. As you know, Somalia has a Government now and Somalis on all sides will do everything possible to resolve the remaining issues in a peaceful and constructive way and in the interest of the common good we believe that Ethiopia must not supply an army to the warlords. The abuses just described are facilitated by the involvement of Somali's neighbors and other states in providing weapons, ammunition, fuel, and other logistical support to their clients (warlords). The principal supplier to the Somali warlords is Ethiopia. The arms provided have been directly implicated in serious violations of international humanitarian law. Ending this arms flow is an essential step toward curtailing the suffering of the Somali people. We also urge the Security Council to ensure effective monitoring and enforcement of the arms embargo. The proposal offered here, however, will require additional measures to ensure that the ban is enforced equally against all parties and does not inadvertently end up assisting one side. One precondition to success is deployment of a sufficient number of international monitors on the ground. Finally, any embargo needs to minimize humanitarian harm. We are aware of the possibility that UN assets could be used to circumvent an arms embargo. This concern, however, can be addressed by having arms embargo monitors inspect all the arms shipments going to Somalia from Ethiopia. The Council should use means that are the least restrictive on the Somali civilian population in achieving their goals. Thank you for your attention to these important matters. Yours Sincerely, Abdul-Kadir H. Osman, B.A, M.B.A Executive Director Somali-American Community P O Box 281 Salt Lake City, Utah 84110 e-mail: sodca@usa.com
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| | Friday, January 12, 2001 - 12:52 pm Dear All: As I promised, here is the other letter I send to Ethiopian Ambassador in New York and Washington, DC. Please print and distribute to all our brothers and sisters. There will be more letters to follow, which I will be sending to UN secretary-general and US Secretary of States. December 30, 2000 H.E Ambassador Abdul Mejid Hussein Ethiopian Ambassador to the United Nations Permanent Mission of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopian to the United Nations 866 Second Avenue, 3rd floor New York, N.Y. 10017 H.E. Ambassador Berhane Embassy of Ethiopia 3506 International Dr. NW Washington DC 20009 Dear Mr. Ambassador Berhane and Mr. Ambassador Abdul Majid: The Somali people were concerned by the reports that the Ethiopian Government provided a consignment of arms and ammunition to the Somali factions that reached Mogadishu December 20th 2000 in Somalia. Any such policy would undercut whatever chance exists that the Ethiopia would be able to effectively promote a just peace. Moreover, as the United Nations Human Right Report on Somalia makes very clear, all the Somali warlords have engaged for years in the most serious human right abuse, including extra judicial killings, beatings, arbitrary detention, slavery, rape etc. The Somali Government wants to demobilize 75,000 militiamen across the country over the next three years. While the Somali Government and international community continue to focus on achieving peace, security and stability, your Government (Ethiopia) is supporting rebels. This is unacceptable. We all want to see the dangers posed by the Ethiopian Government weapons stop. We recommend that you and your senior Government colleagues reflect on the damage a decision to engage in such activity would do to the credibility of the Ethiopian Government. Our people suffered the pain and those guns killed more then half a million Somali people, especially women and children. Use of weapon to any Somali warlords for political purpose would be a stark and most unwelcome departure from the policies and practice of successive administrations. It also could damage the reputations of the non-government/UN agencies, which act as the government's implementation partners in the distribution of humanitarian assistance and could restrict their access to populations in dire need. Furthermore, guns provided to the Somali warlords by the Ethiopian Government from whatever source would put not only Somali people/humanitarian aid workers at risk but also jeopardize vulnerable people in need. Guns used as a political purpose of war such as this can only exacerbate the present conflict, continue the death and suffering of Somali people, and do nothing to promote finding a just peace. As you are aware Mr. Ambassador, Under Article 24 of the Charter of the United Nations, members of the United Nations have entrusted the Security Council with the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. The Member States agree that the Council, in carrying out its duties under this responsibility, act on their behalf. In discharging these duties, the Ethiopian Government shall act in accordance with the purposes and principle of the United Nations and the powers vested in the Security Council. Hence, the mandate for maintenance of international peace and security is a joint responsibility of the General Assembly and Security Council. Thus, the primary responsibility for maintenance of international peace and security is not an exclusive function of the Security Council. Your country (Ethiopia) is a member of the United Nations General Assembly. And the members in the United Nations General Assembly are open to all peace-loving states, which accept the obligations of the Charter, and in the judgement of the Organization, are willing and able to carry out these obligations (Article 4, Chapter 2, of the United Nations Charter). Your country's violation of the United Nations Security Council Committee resolution 751 (1992) concerning Somalia's arms embargo is unacceptable. We are therefore not prepared to accept any resolution that would contravene Paragraph 7 of Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations, conveying the right to intervene in the domestic affairs of any state. Therefore, we are accusing it the Ethiopia Government interfering in the internal affairs of Somalia. Good intentions, statements, public debates or even closed sessions cannot heal Somalia wounds. Somalia looks to the world to take concrete action on the urgent and persistent issues. Somalia needs concrete actions to be taken to help it wounds and enable it to achieve economic, political, and social progress. As you know Mr. Ambassador, Article 33 of the United Nations clearly says that: The parties to any dispute, the continuance of which is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, shall, first of all, seek a solution by negotiation inquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means of their own choice. Therefore, the Government of Ethiopia must withdraw its forces from the Somali territory and stop interfering in the internal affairs of Somalia. We (Somalia) can solve our problems in peaceful ways. The difference of the Somali people can also thwart the possibilities of solution and we will seek a solution to our differences through such means as are suggested in Chapter VI of the Charter of the United Nations. October 9, 1998, Agenda item: 164; The 53rd Session of the United Nation General Assembly in New York you statement indicated that " In fulfilling the mandate entrusted to it by the OAU and IGAD, Ethiopia had made and continues to make efforts to assist in the resolution of the crisis in Somalia. Our experience in this regard has clearly shown that parallel initiatives and lack of coordination among external actors created obstacles to make an effective impact on the peace process. Therefore, with recognition of the need for coordination of all external efforts for durable peace in Somalia, encouraging efforts are now being made to establish a mechanism for harmonization of the policies and actions of external actors. We are (Ethiopian) confident that the international community and the United Nations in particular will provide their support for this endeavor, and remain actively engaged in the search for peace in Somalia." Your expressions of humanitarian concern for all the Somali conflict were appreciated. What we as a Somali people need is help by building our country and our community capacity for a better quality of life worldwide through voluntary giving and action. Our people have experienced a numerous challenges for the last decades. We urge the Ethiopian Government to embark on a drastic review of decision it took at very critical circumstances against our people, taking into consideration what I have said in this statement. We as an Africa have to put aside war to tear down barriers to peace and Democracy. We pray to God to help us all in obeying what he said in the Holy Koran, " we have made you into peoples and tribes so that you may seek to get to know each other. The best, among you, in the eyes of God, are those who worship him the most." May God bring peace and blessing into the heart of our people and our country (Somalia) for this New Year. May peace and the blessing of God be upon you. We look forward to hearing from you. Yours Sincerely, Abdul-Kadir H. Osman, B.A, M.B.A Executive Director Somali-American Community P O Box 281 Salt Lake City, Utah 84110 e-mail: sodca@usa.com cc: Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nation. Mr. Kebe Amadou, OAU to the United Nation. Ambassador Said Ben Mustapha, Security Council Chairperson of the Somali Sanctions Committees. Fartun Mohamed Hassan Permanent Representative of the Somali Democratic Republic to the United Nations.
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| | Sunday, January 21, 2001 - 07:06 pm fck all you and kiss may ass ok you ain't that match lesser ok by now
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| | Wednesday, January 31, 2001 - 01:28 pm H.E. Kofi Annan Secretary General of the United Nation United Nations Headquarter New York, NY 10017 January 17, 2001 Your Excellency, Allow me, first of all, Mr. Secretary General, to extend my thanks to you and to your United Nations Secretary General's representative for Somalia, Mr. David Stephen for your efforts in rebuilding and reconstructing Democracy in Somalia. We know that the Security Council is considering what action might be appropriate to enhance the success of the peace process in Somalia. We will therefore be very brief and not repeat what has already been said. The Somali people know what had happened in our country and will not go into the details. We, as a Somali have to forget during the struggles for civil war, and focus in the area of reconstruction and development, in stopping bloodshed in our country and prepare Somalia to enter the next century unified and on the road to recovery. These actions are for us daily acts and are an integral part of our shared responsibility. At these sorts of peace, we see an opportunity to continue, to a boring degree, to remind our people of what they have offered to and spent on the Somalia. Somalia must be one nation under one God. It is unnerving for Somalia that the United Nations and the rich and powerful states do not give it anything other than words. The United Nations withdrew from Somalia and let it drown in its conflicts and fade into oblivion. The Somali people are being killed and misplaced and their territory is being divided. Somalia's wounds cannot be healed by good intentions, statements, or even closed sessions. Somalia looks to the United Nations to take concrete action on the urgent and persistent issues. Let me briefly address these: First, with respect to conflicts, it should endorse the studies or decisions that the Yemeni Government has arrived at through the efforts or mediation by our country. This should be done in accordance with the formula adopted by the Yemen President Ali Abdallah Salih without any fundamental or substantive changes. As before has happened in regional conflicts where the United Nations Council adopted draft resolutions submitted to it by the geographical groups where these conflicts took place. The United Nations should also finance what is needed for the implementation of these resolutions. Second, with respect to humanitarian aid, an urgent international program should be set up under the auspices of the United Nations, supervised by the United Nations agencies and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), to deal with humanitarian aid, disease prevention, and awareness. The cholera disease threatens part of the country and must be swiftly dealt with through an international plan of action. It should also adopt a similar international program against malaria and other endemic diseases. In addition to the United Nations, all international organizations, governmental and non-governmental, foundations and companies should provide financial contributions and in kind, to this humanitarian work. Third, turning to democracy, I would like to note that the meaning of that word, according to its Greek origin, is government by the people. People have the right to govern themselves. Indeed, it is their duty. This means that no one has the right to impose on Somali people his or her own formula for democracy. To achieve democracy, we must take into consideration many objective considerations: political, economic, social, educational, and cultural. Some of these considerations are historical and others are still relevant today. There is absolutely no question about the importance and necessity of democracy, but where disagreements between the Somali Government and Somali faction. The United Nations must help the Somali peace process. To ignore the level and degree of peace is to ignore reality and the objective considerations that have formed the particularities of these societies. To try to make reality fit a prefabricated formula is akin to forcing someone into a suit made for someone else. If we were to recall what happened in most industrial societies or so-called democracies only a few decades ago, we would realize that those generations that survived the Somali civil war known or even expected the freedoms and rights that exist now in Somalia. In Somalia, belonging to a tribe or a religious sect is much stronger than belonging to a political party or having any intellectual or political affiliation. Political parties in Africa are made up of tribes, religious sects or geographic groups - in Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and other countries where there are internal or regional conflicts. Therefore, if the United Nations wishes to help Somalia with respect to democracy, it can do the following: . Refrain from imposing a particular models of democracy and respects the choice of peoples, their history, their particularities, and their level of development. . Affirm that any formula to be followed must guarantee freedom, the rule of law, rights and rotation by frees popular choice at the local and central level. . Invite all Member States to respect these fundamentals and deal with African and other countries economically and politically without the imposition of any formulas or conditions. In addition, international financial institutions and others must not impose any conditions that would prejudice the choice of peoples in governing themselves. With respect to development, the following steps should be taken: . US$ 2.3 Billions Somalia's debts should be canceled. . An international technical training program should be set up. . The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) must prepare studies on agricultural projects that would maximize food and agricultural production. Somalia would contribute to these projects through its natural and human resources, and international investment firms should provide financing and technical know-how. . The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) must prepare studies on industrial projects for manufacturing basic commodities - agricultural and mineral - where Somalia again would contribute raw materials and human resources, and the international investment firms should provide financing and technical know-how in a fair manner applied to all. . The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) must finance infrastructure projects in Somalia, such as roads and bridges, and also develop port systems and electrical grids. . Support should be given to the present economic groupings and the economic institutions. . Abandonment of imposing the requirement of the market economy system. Somalia does not have an economy or a market that conforms to current economic concepts. United Nations must inform the Somali Government that the abandon the cliched policies of the IMF, which were created and distributed to all over the world without taking into account conditions and differences. . The Security Council must impose an arms embargo on all warring factions. Somalia needs concrete actions to be taken to help it heal its wounds and enable it to achieve economic, political, and social progress. We hope that this dialogue will lead to that outcome without any delay. We also wish to highlight the final document of the Beijing + 5 Conference (A/S-23/10/Rev.1, esp. sec. II.E, pares. 48, 86), the Brahimi Report of the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations (S/2000/809) and the first follow-on implementation proposal by the Secretary General (A/55/502). In this regard, we too consider today's exercise as an important contribution to a missing link in the Brahimi report on the reform of United Nations peace operations, that cannot be supplanted by the Report's call for a "clear, credible and achievable mandates" (A/2000/809, Annex III, paragraph 4). In our view, as drawn from our experience with having hosted two peace operations in our country, we are convinced that the Security Council's mandates must also favor and help usher the end objectives of achieving self-sustainable peace. This goal, of course, requires a well-thought out strategy and unwavering commitment by all the Somali parties involved. We all have a stake in building peace and relieving poverty, achieving development and curbing disease. We all want to see the dangers posed by weapons and war stop, refugees cared for, children nourished, and our environment protected. But in the 21st Century, no nation can protect and serve its people simply by doing it alone. That's why we will all benefit from strengthening regional bodies such as the United Nations. We remain confident and optimistic over the prospects for a new beginning for our country in the new century. We are looking forward to that new beginning in which good governance, respect for human rights and a consolidation of the democratization process will prevail in Somalia. We have to do this not because democracy always produces good governments, for it does not, but we are convinced by the evidence of the old century that the hopes we share for the new will more readily be accomplished if Somali people are able to live and work in freedom. Democracy is the one road we can all walk down together and the best system yet devised for sowing and growing the seeds of economic opportunity. Make no mistake, in any country, at any time, dictatorship is an imposition. Democracy is a choice. Thank you, Mr. Secretary General. Yours Sincerely, Abdul-Kadir H. Osman, B.A, M.B.A Executive Director Somali-American Community P O Box 281 Salt Lake City, Utah 84110 e-mail: sodca@usa.com cc: Mr. Kebe Amadou, OAU to the United Nation. Fartun Mohamed Hassan Permanent Representative of the Somali Democratic Republic to the United Nations.
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| | Sunday, February 25, 2001 - 04:22 pm keep up the good work bro and thanks
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| | Monday, April 02, 2001 - 10:57 am Abdul Kaadir- I thank you for trying to do something for our troubled nation!!! Much respect. Just one question though, why are you calling the generals of the UN "your excellency" you should be calling no one your excellency" EXCEPT ALLAH (SWT)
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