GoobJoog

Subject: Barbaric Shelling of Residential and Business Areas in Mogadishu

Today, 8 June 2008, is a black Sunday for Somalia. Today, the Ethiopian occupation forces and TFG militias attacked the commercial district of Bakarah and surrounding areas in Mogadishu without provocation. The attack, which took place in early morning hours, was intended to loot the market for food items and other essentials which the occupation forces badly need to survive and sustain their illegal occupation. Since Ethiopia is facing severe famine and 4.5 million people are at risk of starvation, the Ethiopian government and its puppet TFG have adopted a parasitic policy of looting and robbing the people’s belongings and businesses in order to survive and sustain the occupation.

The Ethiopian troops used heavy artillery and multiple rocket launchers and relentlessly bombarded the busy streets of the Bakarah market and surrounding residential areas. Initial estimates put the number of civilians killed over 20 people while the number of people wounded is believed to be twice as high. New influxes of displaced people have joined the already swelling and destitute camping in the sun baked desert between Mogadishu and Afgoi.

Somali Concern Group (SCG) is horrified by the unlawful killing of civilians and strongly condemns this brutal and barbaric massacre of innocent civilians and deliberate targeting of commercial district of Mogadishu to inflict maximum death and destruction.  SCG believes that the timing of the renewed fighting and premeditated bombardment of the Bakarah market is intended to derail the ongoing peace talks in the city of Djibouti, which the international community is trying to break a peace deal between the warring parties in Somalia. The Ethiopian dictator Meles Zenawi understands the success of the Djibouti talks mean the end of his illegal occupation in Somalia. Therefore, this latest malicious attack is engineered to provoke the delegation of the ARS to withdraw or suspend the talks so that his forces could remain in Somalia.

SCG is saddened by the lack of response on part of the international community and regional organizations such as IGAD, African Union, Arab League, EU and United Nations on the massacre and daily killings of civilians by Ethiopian and TFG militias in Mogadishu and elsewhere. We urge the international community to intervene and stop this bloodshed before it gets out of hand.

Somali Concern Group urges the international community, the United Nations, Arab League and African Union:

• To end the bloodshed and illegal Ethiopian occupation of Somalia, a member state of United Nations, Arab League and African Union. The Ethiopian occupation is the main source of insecurity in Somalia and their withdrawal would certainly improve the security situation in that country.
• To send humanitarian assistance to the 1.5 million displaced people in and around Mogadishu and those affected by the famine in other parts of the country. The severe food shortage in the country is threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands of children in Somalia. It is extremely important to bail out the lives of those affected by the fighting and famine.
• To bring the perpetrators of war crimes to justice so that the victims of the Ethiopian genocide can rest in people. The international tribunal court which deals on genocide in Somalia must be set up and immediately starts its activities so as to halt the abuses and atrocities daily committed by the Ethiopian troops and TFG militias.
• To continue and promote peace and reconciliation between warring Somali parties.     

Mohamud Gure

Chairperson

London, UK

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Somali Concern Groups is non-governmental organization committed to promoting peace, bridging differences and helping Somali people rebuild their lives by starting with the reconciliation of the Somali communities and reinstitution of the Somali state.

 TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)