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Somali
Diaspora Network: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.
(Virginia,
June 28,
2008 Ceegaag Online)
The
Somali Diaspora Network (SDN) has always advocated for
and emphasized the critical importance of inclusive
dialogue and political reconciliation to resolve the
crisis in
Somalia.
In that spirit, SDN welcomes the peace talks held in
Djibouti
earlier this month and the agreement between the
Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and a faction of
the Alliance for Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS).
However, the agreement contains ambiguous language that
may contribute to further escalation of the conflict and
the continuation of the Ethiopian occupation of
Somalia,
as well as the continuation of the suffering of millions
of Somalis who face the worst humanitarian crisis in
Africa.
While the
agreement sets a timeline for the withdrawal of the
Ethiopian forces, it places an immeasurable and
unverifiable condition on such withdrawal. This
ambiguity in the language of the agreement has already
resulted in conflicting interpretations of when the
Ethiopian occupation will end. In public statements made
to the BBC Somali service, the leaders of the ARS
faction delegation that signed the agreement insist that
the Ethiopians will withdraw in 120 days while members
of the TFG downplayed the 120-day deadline and insisted
that the Ethiopian forces will withdraw only when
'sufficient' UN forces arrive. As Dr. Michael Weinstein
points out, the timetable for withdrawal of the
Ethiopian forces is dependent on "the unlikely
deployment of a U.N." force. (The West Wins a Pyrrhic
victory in Somalia. June 12, 2008).This condition and
the uncertainty surrounding it diminish the efficacy of
this agreement.
The
agreement also completely ignores the Human Rights
violations that are being committed while
Somalia
is under Ethiopian occupation. This critical omission
occurs at a time when Amnesty International and Human
Rights Watch have released extensive reports documenting
grave violations of Human Rights and the war crimes that
are being committed.
Viable
and lasting peace requires that those who committed war
crimes be brought to justice.
Despite
the apparent shortcomings of the agreement,
SDN strongly urges all Somalis to engage in a genuine
political settlement and to establish an inclusive power
sharing arrangement to bring about lasting peace and
stability in
Somalia.
SDN also appeals to the international community to
fulfill their promises made to the Somali people by
ending the Ethiopian occupation of Somalia and by
deploying the UN peace keeping troops without delay.
Furthermore, SDN calls on both the Somalis and the
international community to guarantee the safe delivery
of emergency assistance to the innocent civilians who
are suffering due to the severe humanitarian crisis.
ABOUT
SOMALI DISAPOR NETWORK (SDN) – SDN is a grass-roots
organization committed to advocate on critical policy
matters pertaining to Somali-American interest and
issues of concern through communication and information
sharing, raising public awareness, and educating the
public and government officials.
CONTACT:
Somali Diaspora Network (SDN)
Phone: (703) 888-5409
Fax: (703) 891-9120
contact@somalidiaspora.org
http://www.somalidiaspora.org
webmaster@ceegaag.com |
