Gaas to Faysal Roble ONLF remarks were"slip of the tongue"

[EEGA9]

Faysal Rooble of Wardheernews claims to have spoken to Gaas.

REFLECTIONS ON THE SAGA OF THE SOMALI QUESTION
September 3, 2014

By Faisal A. Roble

ONLF as a Political Commodity

In a recent interview with the Ethiopian TV, English Program, Dr. Abdiweli Ali Gaas, President of Puntland state of Somalia, uncharacteristically painted the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) with a negative broad brush and banded it with the terrorist group of Al-Shabab. However, in fairness I contacted President Gaas on this matter. He responded to me in writing by saying this: “It was a slip of the tongue and I will try to rectify it as soon as possible.” I completely accept that explanation and encourage Dr. Gaas to act on his promise as soon as possible. The President’s rectification may even be a lesson in the future for others to rectify in public when they err in their judgment.

ONFLPrior to Dr. Gaas, former President Farool of Puntland in an extrajudicial way apprehended suspected ONLF “sympathizers” and handed them over to Ethiopia; in the era of the rule of war lords in Mogadishu, hundreds of innocent civilians, including pious elders and businessmen, were passed on to Ethiopia in exchange for arms shipments. In 1996, the late President Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal of Somaliland also apprehended and gave innocent civilians over to Ethiopia. The same was done both by Presidents Riyale and Ahmed Silanyo.

The culture of ONLF bashing by post-civil war Somali politicians, and the political commodification of the name “ONLF” speaks more to the demise of Somalia and the vision for being Somali or “Soomalinimo” than to what ONLF‘s politics represents. In the larger geopolitical scheme of the Horn of Africa, the meek position often exhibited by post-civil war Somalia is an ostensible reflection of the weakening, if not disappearing, sovereignty of the once proud and progressive Somalia.

[eliteSomali]

Do you believe this bs? There is no need to cover for gaas. He was trying to impress and appease the Ethiopians by saying what they like to hear the most, opposition to ONLF. It wasn't a slip, it was deliberate. ONLF has become a tool everyone uses to get in bed with Ethiopia. How was ONLF a threat to this guy again? f-king Somalis man.

[thegoodshepherd]

[Gabre]

nigga pls

Pirateland, Gaas

[EEGA9]

Do you believe this bs? There is no need to cover for gaas. He was trying to impress and appease the Ethiopians by saying what they like to hear the most, opposition to ONLF. It wasn't a slip, it was deliberate. ONLF has become a tool everyone uses to get in bed with Ethiopia. How was ONLF a threat to this guy again? f-king Somalis man.

I believe he meant it then considering where he was but in hindsight he knows they were weak comments.The backslash forced him to recant, even many Jubbalanders weren't cool with what Gaas said.

Gaas hasn't done anything drastic yet though like send people back to the torture chambers in Jigjiga if I'm not mistaken but it seems like with those comments he has been warming up to it, time will tell.

[eliteSomali]

Do you believe this bs? There is no need to cover for gaas. He was trying to impress and appease the Ethiopians by saying what they like to hear the most, opposition to ONLF. It wasn't a slip, it was deliberate. ONLF has become a tool everyone uses to get in bed with Ethiopia. How was ONLF a threat to this guy again? f-king Somalis man.

I believe he meant it then considering where he was but in hindsight he knows they were weak comments.The backslash forced him to recant, even many Jubbalanders weren't cool with what Gaas said.

Gaas hasn't done anything drastic yet though like send people back to the torture chambers in Jigjiga if I'm not mistaken but it seems like with those comments he has been warming up to it, time will tell.

You sound like one of those people that see only the good in people. One thing is certain, and that is any Somali politician will use the onlf card if it buys him favors from Adis. onlf needs a leadership change. They've been too soft on Somali politicians. If it were up to me, I'd say silence anyone who cuts deals with Ethiopia regarding onlf starting with ilay and his cabinet.

[EEGA9]

Do you believe this bs? There is no need to cover for gaas. He was trying to impress and appease the Ethiopians by saying what they like to hear the most, opposition to ONLF. It wasn't a slip, it was deliberate. ONLF has become a tool everyone uses to get in bed with Ethiopia. How was ONLF a threat to this guy again? f-king Somalis man.

I believe he meant it then considering where he was but in hindsight he knows they were weak comments.The backslash forced him to recant, even many Jubbalanders weren't cool with what Gaas said.

Gaas hasn't done anything drastic yet though like send people back to the torture chambers in Jigjiga if I'm not mistaken but it seems like with those comments he has been warming up to it, time will tell.

You sound like one of those people that see only the good in people. One thing is certain, and that is any Somali politician will use the onlf card if it buys him favors from Adis. onlf needs a leadership change. They've been too soft on Somali politicians. If it were up to me, I'd say silence anyone who cuts deals with Ethiopia regarding onlf starting with ilay and his cabinet.

I don't expect much from these regions who work as client states hence why if they at-least look the other way then that in-itself is a good outcome considering the times, Gaas hasn't locked anyone up or sent anyone away at the current time so besides those comments which in my books beats the previous conditions put upon civilians fleeing or those suspected of ONLF ties he still has a chance to redeem himself and focus on those matters which affect his region. of-coarse I will not be surprised if he continues on the road he has currently taken as its not uncommon in the Somali Peninsula these days.

[eliteSomali]

When it comes to onlf and Ethiopia, there is no neutral stance. You must either support Ethiopia or you are by default against them, according them, even if you look the other way. Gaas and other politicians don't act alone. And it's been proven that Somali politicians will go to great depths to appease Ethiopia. Like I said, the only way to make sure people don't fuck with you is to teach them a lesson. onlf has been harassed by a lot of groups. If ONLf wants respect, it has to earn it. It has become very weak which is the reason why people started f-king with it. Ilka doofaar la sahansay naan maqli jiray.

[EEGA9]

ONLF policy is not to engage Somali regions who transgress upon them so the focus can be on Ethiopia, it just opens the door to a bigger conflict with more ramifications. Ethiopia is enough abuse for them, they believe Ethiopia is helping them but its doing the opposite.

Ethiopia wixiii hoos gala iyadaa dib u cuni....look at Ilay now.ONLF can't be like Shabab and aimlessly start fires everywhere. ONLF is in it for the long haul.

[Khalid Ali]

It was not a slip Mr faisal rooble tries to sugarcoat it for the wider Darood coexistence and alliance , you see if you deeply read his article he forgives Abdiweli for trying to brand ONLF as a terrorist group. Why did he compare Shabaab to ONLF. Puntland begin this year has captured and tortured Somali Ogaden community who were normal citizens. Abdiweli was giving an interview to ETV the Woyane Television station.