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Hiiraan Online
July 11, 2008
Washington (HOL) – Hundreds of protesters and activists of Somali-descent across the nation had flocked Thursday to Washington for a hot and high temperature day of rally and lobbying to push their representatives in the Senate and Congress of more than three dozens for an action, aiming an ends for the 18-months long Ethiopian occupation in their country as that sits the center of their campaign throughout the year.
The Somali activists had been staging similar protests about the occupation, but this time, with grassroots supporters and potential voters, Washington is their focus as the U.S. election season is to run in full swing.
The protestors came from Minnesota, which houses the largest Somali community in the U.S. and from Ohio State a second in population of nearly 30 thousands. With other protestors from distant places included Michigan, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Caroline, Tennessee, Maine and Northern Virginia which hosted the event.
Ethiopia presence in Somalia
After
Ethiopia’s invasion in
Somalia on December 2006, organizations like Somali Diaspora Network, United Somali Daispora and dozens of like-minded others which are now united under the umbrella of Somali Cause were nonexistent. Today, they seem committed and more organized than they were nearly a year ago, as similar politically-driven organizations spring up everyday across Europe and
North America.
When asked in an email about Diaspora’s increased activeness in the issues, Mr. Abdirazak Omar of Canada, an expert of Somalia’s 3 million Diaspora communities, called this “an evolving trend of Somalis political maturity” for they see things from different lenses than their counterparts in the country. However, there are others in the Diaspora who espouse different views, but they seem less focal and unconcerned about Ethiopia’s military occupation in Somalia.
Mohamed Osman of Baltimore, Maryland called Ethiopia factor ‘the heart of the issue’. “They killed, displaced and raped our people to create the worst humanitarian crisis in the world” said Mr. Osman with anger seeping from his voice. Osman is a long time resident in Maryland but a native of Hargeysa, Somalia’s second capital city before the unrest of early ‘90’s. “We demand quick departure of all Ethiopian troops out of our country” he added, describing the situation in Somalia one that touches him with pain everyday.
Protestors’ message
The protestors who averaged young with few elders were all carrying placards written on anti-occupation slogans at the grassy front of U.S. Capitol, with relentless energy as they were all singing with patriotic Somali songs and chants. Among them was Vanda Versiglia, a white woman with an Italian father and Somali mother, but she considers herself Somali. “The occupation is unacceptable. We need peace for Somalia” said Vanda with fluent Somali, who has drawn laughter from the crowd every time she spoke.
Hawa Bashir is four and half years old. Sitting on the grass with her older sister Fatima as most protestors were circling on the garden, she said she supports everything here today. When asked why, her response was, “I want to protect Somalia” hanging a poster with a rope on her neck that read “Diplamacy is the answer” with misspelling in diplomacy.
Out of state protesters
Some of the protestors had never embarked on long trips like this, but Mohamed Ahmed of Minnesota knows the ordeal of traveling to Washington D.C., marking this the fourth, as his commitment for Somalia remains unwavering. “It touches us in so many ways and that is why we’re here to let our representatives in Washington know the misery that much of Somalia is suffering under the Ethiopian occupation,” said Mr. Ahmed who emphasized the seriousness of the rally by leaving his work, wife and two children back in Minnesota. “The U.S. role in Somalia isn’t on the right track”, he added, “but it can never be too late to change course.”
Mohamed Haji Ingiriis, a prolific commentator and former freelancer journalist, was also there, traveled to the rally from Minnesota by 18 hours on bus, condemning the Ethiopia’s regime for the atrocities in Somalia. “Ethiopia involves militarily in Somalia’s affairs. It also supports the warlords who have wrecked havoc on Somalis, with the help of the West,” addressed Mr. Ingiriis to the crowd.
Among the travelers to the rally was Mr. Kaafi Haji of Massachusetts, who started the rally after an 11:30 appointment with his representatives in the U.S. Capitol. “We spoke to them about our concerns in Somalia, especially the human rights abuses and the rampant killings that were induced by the Ethiopian occupation in Somalia”, said Haji who expressed an excitement for joining the first time rally.
Vowing more protests
As the rally closed to the 3 o’clock, organizers promised more rallies to come in an effort to pressure their representatives and the U.S. government to cease its support of Ethiopia’s occupation in Somalia. The Bush administration considers Ethiopia a key ally in its campaign to fight terrorism across the Horn of Africa, a region marred by conflicts rooted in historic animosities that surpass contemporary issues.
Abdulkadir Abdirahman, who is known Utah, is chairman of Somali Cause. He called the rally a success, but pointed the need for more concerted efforts until the occupation is halted. “I urge everyone to press the issue of occupation and use our citizenry rights to bring it to an end. We need a proactive approach for solving issues and that can only happen if we engage with our elected representatives in here as Somali-Americans for not only this election and but beyond,” said Abdirahman who has met several lawmakers and key Senate and Congress representatives in Africa Subcommittee members.
Faduma Awow of Toronto, Canada has wrapped the rally with a message from her organization and community in Canada. “The Somali-Canadians are in support of this rally today and will continue the cause for free and just Somalia until Ethiopia draws out its last soldier on our soil,” said Ms. Awow whose speech has electrified the crowd with more chants.
For the organizers, the rally was a tough task to undertake, but Farhia Nur, a key organizer of the event, has felt relieved at the end. “We accomplish a lot today”, she said, glancing at the people to pack their flags and posters. “Every time we do something about the suffering of our people, we feel not only encouraged but hopeful for the future of Somalia.”
Ibrahim Abdulkadir, HOL
[email protected]
Washington, D.C.
