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Ogaden Conflict: A Top Priority for
Condoleezza Rice |
By: Saafi Labafidhin
Dec 02, 2007
It was stated in a recent press release from
State Department of the United States that
the Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice
will visit Addis Ababa on December 5 to
tackle conflicts in the region. She will
attend a meeting with the leaders of the
Great Lakes countries. According to the
press statement “… also will engage in
consultations on current developments in
Somalia and on implementation of Sudan’s
Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) with
cabinet ministers from east African
countries as well as senior representatives
of the African Union and United Nations.”
Ironically, the statement did not mention if
she will raise the deteriorating situation
in Ogaden, not to mention the
totalitarianism rule exercised by minority
TPLF on Ethiopias diverse nations; and Ethio-Eritrea
conflict.
This visit comes at a time when the world is
alarmed by what has been unfolding in the
Ogaden; a moment when international aid and
human rights organisations witnessed the
brutality of the TPLF regime; when the
international media has been reporting the
atrocities ordered by the bloodthirsty
dictator Zenawi, by a time when for the
first time the dystopia of Ogaden has been
brought to the attention of peace loving
Congressmen in the United States who have
lately increased their lobby, individually
and collectively, for peace and democracy in
Ogaden, and Ethiopia in general; a time when
the UN’s Head of Humanitarian Affairs has
seen the problem by his very eyes.
The Bush administration has many times
expressed sympathy to oppressed nations in
some parts of the world, whatever the reason
may be. They insistently clamored over
Darfur; expressed their concern over Tibet
and supported the independence of Kosovo to
mention a few. Nevertheless, it is a pity to
see the double-standardness of this
administration as they support some of the
worst oppressors on earth who know they are
deliberately obliterating entire innocent
ethnic group and yet claim they are pushing
for counterinsurgency to eradicate a
notorious rebel. Double-standardness is
hypocrisy, pretence, and insincerity.
It is an open secret that the regime in
power in Ethiopia is one of the most brutal
administrations Africa has ever seen. Yet it
appreciates the support of the world supper
powers. According to statistics, Ethiopia
receives the largest aid money from the
United States not to mention the huge
military support it receives in the name of
the so called War on Terror. This regime has
many times violated its own constitution
which promises for citizens the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights.
If Secretary Rice and her administration are
really committed to promote the values and
principles of democracy, she has to act
against the dictatorial regime that
massacred innocent civilians in the streets
of Addis Ababa, and arrested many thousands
who demanded a fair election. A regime that
massacres its own people by claiming they
are rebel sympathisers, a regime that
creates a man made famine to the same people
it should have protected. Moreover, it is
quite contemptuous for the white house
officials to back a dictator who has many
times acted against their own interest in
Africa. Look at his strategic ties with
China which is more than the Ogaden gas
exploration.
Probably, one good way to understand the
deep rooted problem of Ogaden is to visit
the area independently and read the faces of
the victims directly! I say independently
because I remember what happened to Jendayi
Fraser when her visit was arranged by the
oppressors. The US marines, for example have
been to Ogaden independently to monitor what
is going on in Ogaden. Their interest in the
region grew after September 11. They have
independently met with ONLF army on the
ground and received their cooperation. The
marines confirmed what they have seen was
not a terrorist organisation as claimed by
desperate TPLF; instead the marines
described to their seniors the nature of
ONLF as a liberation movement. Two US
soldiers and their Ogadeni-American
interpreter Mohamed Abdi have been arrested
by TPLF army in a remote village in Ogaden.
The marines were promptly released and
transferred to United States embassy in
Addis Ababa. However, the interpreter
remained in custody and was later released
on july 29 after spending more than two
months in a military camp without being
charged. More than once, the marines
cooperated aid delivery to the Ogaden,
particularly Godey zone. They
philanthropically rehabilitated some schools
in Jigjiga including the only high school in
the region. The marines also offered some
medical assistance to Karamara hospital. All
this helped to revive the bad Image
associated with the USA after 9/11.
Although the Ogaden people were hurt by
Jenday Frazer’s comments that followed her
visit to Godey when she said that there was
merely allegations that are
'unsubstantiated' and there was no genocide
that has and was taking place in Ogaden.
People are now welcoming, though sceptical,
the increased aid by USA (I doubt, if this
aid will end up in the right hands –the
intended beneficiaries) which came after the
visit of U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID) Administrator Henrietta
Fore to Addis Ababa. We also hope that Dr
Rice will be able to see which way the wind
is blowing and will not be disillusioned by
the so called War on Terror over basic human
rights.
The most effective message, whether
political, religious, or ethical or service
– oriented is the one propagated by our
life, otherwise every effort or resources
injected into communicating the gospel and
soul-winning will end up a wasteful venture.
If Dr Rice is really coming to solve
conflicts as stated in the press release,
she should not simply ignore the Ogaden
conlict and must not avoid telling her ally
to live with the truth.
Eventually, while we feel sympathy to all
the oppressed people be it Darfur or
Palastine, it is a pity that the attention
received by Ogaden now is not enough and
much is expected by not only USA but also
the United Nations, EU and the wider
international community.
By: Saafi Labafidhin
Dec 02, 2007
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