This What I Call Unity..

[King-of-Awdal]

Senior Canadian Ministers Give Hope to Bashir Makhtal’s Case


Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Minister John Baird and Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney

Hiiraan Online
Monday, February 23, 2009

Ottawa, Canada (HOL) - A town hall meeting organized by Free Makhtal Group and the Canadian Somali Congress took place in Ottawa on Sunday February 22, 2009. Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney and Transport Minister John Baird attended the town hall meeting. The two ministers reiterated their commitment to seek justice for Bashir Makhtal who is a Somali Canadian jailed in Ethiopia.

Hundreds of Somalis attended the town hall meeting some of whom came from as far as Minneapolis and from all over Canada.

Mr. Baird said that he put a lot efforts into bringing to light the case of Bashir Makhtal and that he personally visited the Ethiopian Embassy in Ottawa and raised the issue with Ethiopian diplomats. He also said that he met with the current and former Canadian foreign Minister s to discuss the issue.

Mr. Kenny said that it is not fair to hold people in jail without trial and that as part of their effort Bashir Makhtal will appear in court on March 19, 2009.

Bashir Makhtal’s lawyer Lorne Waldman
also gave a detailed background of the case explaining how Mr. Makhtal was snatched in Kenya, deported to Somalia, then handed to Ethiopian authorities at the end of December 2006.

Among those spoke at meeting were Mr. Mohamud Hagi Adan and Fowzia Abdulkaidr who are members of Bashir Makhtal Working Group. They both highlighted the fact that Somalis are united in their support to seek justice for Mr. Bashir Makhtal. Mr. Ahmed Hussien , President of Canadian Somali Congress emphasized the need to be active and engaged in mainstream Canadian Society so that they can advance their interest.

Said Makhtal and Louisa Taylor of Ottawa Citizen
Also in attendance were Alex Neve, the secretary general of the Canadian arm of Amnesty International.

It is remarkable that the Somali communities in Ottawa and other regions of Canada have been campaigning to keep Mr. Makhtal’s case in the news and have been lobbying the Canadian government to assist in getting justice for Mr. Makhtal.

At the end of the meeting, participants asked the Ministers questions. One notable question came from Mr. Mohamed Ali Mire (Cowki) who said that he is planning a trip to Kenya and asked what assurances the Ministers Could give him that he will not encounter similar fate as Mr. Makhtal.

The Ministers said that the Government of Canada is committed to protecting the rights of all Canadian citizen travelling abroad.

[kambuli]

Maasha Allaah Ilaahow cadow gacantiisa hana gelin...

[Mr. Yungnfresh]

I was there...it was refreshing to see that showing of solidarity by Somalis from all different qabiils and cities in North America, lakiin at the same time, waan ceeboobnay. You have the Federal Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and the Federal Minister of Transport there who took time out of their Sunday afternoon with their family to help a bunch of Africans trying to help another African against other Africans, and the whole time, Somaalida there were rudely having their own conversations with each other while the ministers were giving their speeches about lending their support and promising to work tirelessly to bring Bashir Makhtal back on Canadian soil. Cellphones kept going off and instead of turning them off or walking away to take the call, they were picking the phone up and talking right there.

Also, during the Q&A period, one Somali man goes up to the mic and says "I appreciate you guys being here, but Ethiopia doesn't respond to low-level diplomatic pressure. We wanna talk to the Prime Minister."...and this is being said to 2 Federal Ministers who are being called "low level representatives", even tho they report directly to the Prime Minister himself

[AbdiWahab252]

@ Yungfresh.

The Canadians really dropped the ball on this.

[Xashi]

I was there...it was refreshing to see that showing of solidarity by Somalis from all different qabiils and cities in North America, lakiin at the same time, waan ceeboobnay. You have the Federal Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and the Federal Minister of Transport there who took time out of their Sunday afternoon with their family to help a bunch of Africans trying to help another African against other Africans, and the whole time, Somaalida there were rudely having their own conversations with each other while the ministers were giving their speeches about lending their support and promising to work tirelessly to bring Bashir Makhtal back on Canadian soil. Cellphones kept going off and instead of turning them off or walking away to take the call, they were picking the phone up and talking right there.

Also, during the Q&A period, one Somali man goes up to the mic and says "I appreciate you guys being here, but Ethiopia doesn't respond to low-level diplomatic pressure. We wanna talk to the Prime Minister."...and this is being said to 2 Federal Ministers who are being called "low level representatives", even tho they report directly to the Prime Minister himself

"low level"

With somalis the shame never ends. Something like this happens in every gathering.

[Mr. Yungnfresh]

@ Yungfresh.

The Canadians really dropped the ball on this.

I was a little unsettled by the name of the group organizing it....the "Canadian Somali Congress". Anything with "Somali Congress" in the name automatically draws my suspicion...no offense to ur murderous uncles

[zidane88]

I was there...it was refreshing to see that showing of solidarity by Somalis from all different qabiils and cities in North America, lakiin at the same time, waan ceeboobnay. You have the Federal Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and the Federal Minister of Transport there who took time out of their Sunday afternoon with their family to help a bunch of Africans trying to help another African against other Africans, and the whole time, Somaalida there were rudely having their own conversations with each other while the ministers were giving their speeches about lending their support and promising to work tirelessly to bring Bashir Makhtal back on Canadian soil. Cellphones kept going off and instead of turning them off or walking away to take the call, they were picking the phone up and talking right there.

Also, during the Q&A period, one Somali man goes up to the mic and says "I appreciate you guys being here, but Ethiopia doesn't respond to low-level diplomatic pressure. We wanna talk to the Prime Minister."...and this is being said to 2 Federal Ministers who are being called "low level representatives", even tho they report directly to the Prime Minister himself

"low level"

With somalis the shame never ends. Something like this happens in every gathering.

ceebey tacaal.