Minneapolis: Somalis Gather to Help War Victims in Mogadishu

[Demure]

By Abdirahman Aynte
Minnesota Monitor
Sunday, April 22, 2007

Minneapolis, MN (HOL) - Nasro Tahliil donated $500 to help treat thousands of civilians injured in the recent fighting in Mogadishu, the troubled capital of Somalia. She was one of more than 700 Somalis who crammed at a Minneapolis Convention Center room Saturday to fundraise for the victims of the war.

“The world community turned its back on us,” she said. “We have to take matters into our hands.”

According to local and international relief agencies, more than 2,000 people were killed in the fiercest fighting in Mogadishu over the last three weeks. Somali government troops, who are being bolstered by the Ethiopian army, are battling resistance forces.

The Ethiopians entered Mogadishu early January after defeating the Union of Islamic Courts, which controlled much of Somalia during the second half of 2006. Most Somalis see the Ethiopians as an occupying force.

Prof Abdi I. Samatar & Abdirizak Haji Hussein

“The resistance is a patriotic, nationalistic movement,” said Abdirizak Haji Hussein, former prime minister of Somalia. “We must support it by all means.”

Organizers of the event said the best support is to send urgent financial support to hospitals that are overflowing with the injured, and to help the nearly half a million displaced people. Images taken from medical facilities show often severe wounds worsened by scarce medical equipment and medicine.

The World Food Program has accused the Ethiopians and the government of blocking the passage of food to the displaced. The government claimed that the food has expired.

But one thing that didn’t seem to expire is the energy of the hundreds of weary-looking Somalis who collected on Saturday more than $30,000 in about 30 minutes. The announcer said even a 6-year-old boy dropped his $20 allowance in the donations bucket. And one speaker, Abia Ali, a community organizer, couldn’t contain her tears as she told the stories of two women, who were recently been raped by the Ethiopian soldiers in Mogadishu.

‘The terror of war’

The acts of rape and the killing, which is being investigated by the European Union, amount to a “terror of war,” said Prof. Abdi Samatar of the University of Minnesota. And it’s facilitated by the “War on Terror,” he added. He reminded: “Even former South African President, Nelson Mandela, was labeled a ‘terrorist’ in his struggle against the apartheid government.”

Samatar said the divide and conquer plan by Ethiopia worked in many regions in Somalia, including Somaliland and Puntland. “And now Ethiopia is promoting a sectarian agenda in Mogadishu,” he said, urging participants to form a sustained “anti-colonial movement.”

[Ismahan445]

I'm proud to say my family was there and help donate. I heard people especially women were getting emotional, but at the end it was a very successful fundraiser event.

[Hyperactive]

Its about time that somalis should depend on themselves. Qof somali u maqan maleh, Muslim ama gaalaba. I was so sadned when those {insert the word of your choice} so called Arab league meeting couple weeks ago, they didn't even once mention Somalia and what is going on out there.

[Demure]

Indeed Hyper, qof Somalida u maqan ma jirto.

Ismahaan, Your family are great.

[Cilmiile]

abdirsaaq xaaji xuseen must retire from politics.

Samatar needs to stop getting carried away with irirism.

Somalia has a government. Put down the gun. PIck up the pen. In the words of the great abgaal poet Togane. No more anarchy. no more bililiqo. Geeddi has laid down the law.

[Ismahan445]

The former PM is long gone from politics my friend. He along with Prof Abdi Samatar are only being good nationalist and speaking on behalf of our people back home. We need more people like them.

As for your little quote from that drunken abgaal peot, how about he gives that advice to Mr.Gheedi and company instead of shelling innocent lives.

[Demure]

Cilimile, It's funny you say pick up the pen because those who had the pen are getting bombed by your so called government.

[Niya]

Cilmiile, that was exactly what I thought when I read about AbdiRizak H. Hussein's comment. He needs to retire from public speaking.

[Sadist]

That money will probably go to buying guns instead of helping the victims. Somalia is better off dead then wounded.

You qaxootis need to face reality, there will never be a government in Somalia. I am just surprised it took Ethiopia this long to decide to take over Somalia.

[Ismahan445]

So what if they used it to buy guns even, freedom does come with a price. Today, thanks to some selfish SOmalis, our country is under occupation by our greatest enemy. So what is picking up a pen gonna do for me or my people. Did South Africa get its freedom by pen, did the US get independance by pen...NO. Freedom has neva been achieved by peace, it was always fought for, this time around its the same, and we are fighting.

Its really unfortuate, that our generation don't have people like the former PM, Samatar or the late Abdullai Ciise. If he stops public speaking, who is gonna speak for those innocent civilians back home?...Some of you really don't know what they know about Somali and the price they paid for its Independace. So, before you make judgments and make it a light situations, educate yourself.

[Sadist]

You can be hopeful but don't be blissfully naive. For the past 16 years Somalia has been a hell-hole for those living in it and outside it. Every year millions is send back yet no results, you finance something that has a future. Ethiopia just came into the picture this year but for the past 15 years it was Somalis destorying their own country.




I am betting that you are old enough to use common sense. Alot of people fought for their freedom but Somalis just fight for it to destory it themselves. What is laughable is that it is quite ironic.

[Ismahan445]

I have never denied that we destroyed our country. Its like a horror story, where the story only gets worst. I'm not gonna repeat what happened in the last 16years, that was a different war then this. This happened as Somalia for moving into a right direction. Something like this should unite us but it only created a further division. And you know why...its the mother of all evils QABIL.

I'm quite offended that you think that this situation is laughable, yes we did the greater damage, but when you're killing your own brother and vice versa that is sad. However, when you are helping the enemy kill your brother in his home that I'm really out of words to describe it.

[Sadist]

Qabil exists everywhere, the infection is stupidity. Somalis are good at killing each other and occasionally they get creative and use others to kill each other. It way beyond sad and that is why I find amusement in it. Somalis are supposedly Muslims yet look at what they do.



Looking at Somalia's past history, it is for the best if it no longer existed. Somalia has become synonym to anarchy.

[Cilmiile]

[quote="Demure"]Cilimile, It's funny you say pick up the pen because those who had the pen are getting bombed by your so called government.[/quote]

Demure

Walaahay aqoonyahanada Hawiye were being hunted for a long time and by Hawiye. Who Killed Elman? who killed Cabdilqaadir Yaxye? Who was behind the killing of Hawiye ex-officers of the Somali army?(the ones who were neutral and didnt approve of the warlordism and Islamism)

Niya

I love Cabdirsaaq but his public utterances have been embarrassing lately.

[Ismahan445]

[quote="Sadist"]Qabil exists everywhere, the infection is stupidity. Somalis are good at killing each other and occasionally they get creative and use others to kill each other. It way beyond sad and that is why I find amusement in it. Somalis are supposedly Muslims yet look at what they do.



Looking at Somalia's past history, it is for the best if it no longer existed. Somalia has become synonym to anarchy.[/quote]

I asume you're from youth, and its unfortuate that you have already gave up on Somalia, like many others. Yes, qabil exists and will continue to exist. However, its the usage and practice of it that need to change. That will happen when we have the right leaders, leaders like Abduallai Ciise, Mr Abdirsaaq xaaji xuseen, and hopefully Mr. Abdi Samatar even though he is not a politican. Somalis need to see the bigger picture today, which is they are being occupied thanks to few opportunist who care for nothing other then themselves.