Hiiraan Online

by Farah Aw-Osman
2^nd December, 2008

Your Excellency, the Canadian Friends of Somalia (CFS) and the Somali Diaspora Communities around the world are concerned with what is happening in Somalia. We are horrified by the continued wanton destruction of human life, Piracy activities, Human Smuggling and other crimes that are taking place in our motherland.

Somalis need to learn that any violent action they take against each other or towards their neighbors and humanitarian personnel are against the tenet of our faith and the principles of the international human rights and treaties.  Thus, we implored upon our follow Somalis to uphold the principles of peace and justice.

Your Excellency, as you may recall we wrote you a letter dated July 16^th, 2008.  In that letter we wholeheartedly welcomed Djibouti peace initiative and we identified key points that we felt was crucial for the peace initiative, such as:

• occupied minority lands
• repatriation of refugees (IDP/EDP) who are living in inhumane conditions
• land and property issues
• unity and federalism
• cycle of impunity
• power and resource sharing
• the role of Islam in government
• the role of diasporas, women and youth

 In that note, we cannot be blind to what is happening to our country and its citizens. CFS and other Diasporas realized that all the above mentioned underlying causes of the current conflict have been present since long before the creation of TFG and the intervention/invasion of Ethiopian forces.

Your Excellency, we believe the outcome of Djibouti peace initiative can not be translated into real substantive change on the ground in Somalia as quick as possible.  Rather we feel that it will be the latest in a long line of political theatre that we have seen over the past 18 years in Somalia.

It is our deep conviction that the end of the crisis and the building of peace must be done by the people of Somalia themselves.  Outsiders were incapable of bringing peace to Somalia, hence the Ethiopian government and IGAD must stop bullying and intimidation behaviors.  They should also realize that they can not impose their views and hidden agendas on the government and people of Somalia.

Your Excellency, we would like to draw to your attention to the following pressing issues that need to be addressed urgently:

• A need to reconciliation within TFG leadership
• A need to convene another inclusive peace conference where all key and influential stakeholders are invited (this time it should be held inside Somalia if it is possible)
• Underlying points as mentioned above must be the basis on any future peace meetings in order to achieve lasting peace in Somalia
• Since Ethiopian troop’s presence is fueling insurgency they should withdraw, but before they do, more African and UN forces must be on the ground so that there could be no security vacuum
• A call for piracy/human smuggling conference (All stakeholders must be invited including local and federal Somali governments, civil societies, key religious scholars and Diaspora leaders.)
• International Donor Conference must be convened in order for the international community to rescue the current Somali government and to support efforts aimed at reconciliation, reconstruction and development.

Sincerely,

Farah Aw-Osman

President                     

Canadian Friends of Somalia
E-mail: [email protected]