Somali Canadian Diaspora Alliance

Somali Canadian Diaspora Alliance a member organization of Somali Cause Umbrella: Marking the First Anniversary of Ethiopia's Brutal Occupation in Somalia

 

Press Statement                    
Ryerson University Toronto, Ontario, Canada    
January 26, 2008

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On January 26th, 2008 the Somali Canadian Diaspora Alliance, who is a member of The Somali Cause, with the partnership of the Ryerson Somali Student Association held a forum dealing with the current crisis in Somali. This forum was aimed at both Somali and non-Somali youth to help the youth gain knowledge on the current crisis. The topics that were discussed included:

1. History of the Conflict
   
2. Humanitarian Disaster in Somalia
   
3. American policy for Africa (Somalia)
   
4. A way out of the crisis

Special thanks to the following presenters:

1. Abdulkadir Abdirahman - the president of The Somali Cause
   
2. Tallim Bacchus - Secretary of The Human Concern International
   
3. Asad Ismi - Independent Journalist
   
4. Farid Omar - Member of the SCDA

Pictures from the event

The following is the press release for the event.

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Somali Canadian Diaspora Alliance a member organization of Somali Cause Umbrella: Marking the First Anniversary of Ethiopia's Brutal Occupation in Somalia

To be precisely, it was thirteen months and two days ago when on Christmas eve December 24, 2006 the Ethiopian invading troops marched into Somalia particularly the Capital, Mogadishu, with its 2.5 million populations in state of peace, but today the population has drastically dwindled to less than one million because of the mass killing, indiscriminate bombardments, prevalent rape and the massive displacements. In that backdrop, Somali Canadian Diaspora alliance a Somali Cause member organization, the largest union of Somali organizations in North America, has called today to mark on the mourning of the first sad anniversary of Ethiopia's occupation of Somalia here at Ryerson

Welcome display

University in Canada. This Academic forum in memory of this sad anniversary include a one minute silence to honor and remember the approximately 6000 Somalis who were killed since the Ethiopian occupation and 1200 who were wounded by the direct bombardment of Ethiopian artilleries on to civilian neighborhoods and in memory peace activists imprisoned by the Ethiopians, people like Ahmed Dirie whose whereabouts is unknown since the TFG militia abducted him from his home in Mogadishu three months ago. The event also will include poems by Somali Canadian university students and lectures to put an emphasis on the occupation and the plight of the Somali people. 

According to the U.N., the number of Internally Displaced People is over 1.5 million forced from their homes as the humanitarian situation deteriorates from bad to the worst.

Ryerson Somali Student Assocation President Saadiq Malik

The acuteness of the crisis is coupled with the absence of assistance and international scrutiny as the efforts of the Humanitarian organizations on the ground to reach out to the I.D.P. are prevented by the Ethiopian troops and the forces of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). According to OCHA in a span of two days on January 17/18, 2008 citing hospital reports, over 150 people were treated for injuries and an unconfirmed number, including children, killed.

By infringing on Somalia's sovereignty, Ethiopia has taken a unilateral decision to violate the U.N. charter by invading Somalia under the false pretext of defending the TFG. It also defied the UN Resolutions that were in place to prevent the violation of the arms embargo on Somalia and the involvement of frontline states in Somali affairs. (See UN Security Council resolution 1752) .

The lack of engagement on the part of the International Community and the U.N. towards the full-scale atrocities against the civilian population in Somalia is not only seen as sign of guilt, but also an indication of the breakdown of international law. The number of cases compiled by Somali Cause

SCDA's Omar Omar greets Abdulkadir Abdirahman from Somali Cause

and other local NGOs during the ongoing, year long, occupation of Somalia is sufficient to proceed with a trial for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court.

On a December 12, 2007 letter to the U.S. Secretary of Defense, Robert M. Gates, Human Rights Watch describes the brutality of Ethiopia's war against the civilians in Mogadishu as, "indiscriminate attacks on civilians, summary executions and repeated targeting of hospitals." The invasion of Somalia has heralded predictable results. It impeded the potential of a peaceful civil progress. It violated human essence. It created criminals who know no boundaries between barbarism and civility. Literally and figuratively humanity is estranged in Somalia today.

Despite the difficult situation in Somalia, Somali Canadian Diaspora Alliance, Somali Cause and its member organizations are determined to work with the International Community in ending the Ethiopian occupation of Somalia, safeguarding the unity and territorial integrity of Somalia, facilitating an all inclusive political settlement and bringing to justice everyone who committed war crimes against the civilian population in Somalia.

Panel discussion

MC of the evening Abdilaziz Ibrahim

Call to Action
In marking the first anniversary of this brutal occupation, Somali Canadian Diaspora Alliance and its sister organization Somali Cause and all the member organizations condemns the continued UN Security Council complicity that made it possible for Ethiopia to invade in the first place and the lack of action and outrage from the larger international community that helps it continue. We call upon the international community, including the United Nations, the European Union, the Arab League, the Africa Union, the United States and Canada to:

1. Intervene immediately to stop the bloodshed, the displacement of civilians, and further destruction of Somalia
2. Put pressure on the Ethiopian government to immediately withdraw all its forces from Somalia without precondition or delay and replace them with non-frontline states preferably Muslim and Arab countries.
3. Facilitate all inclusive dialogue among all Somalis and the formation of unity government followed by free and fair elections
4. We call upon our Canadian government to investigate all Canadian citizens of Somali descent who are part of the TFG and subsequently bring to justice those who ordered or implemented the massacre and forced displacement of civilians as these actions warrant war crimes under Canadian law. 
5. Respect the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia
   
   

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Somali Canadian Diaspora Alliance: Is an independent group of like minded Somali Canadians comprised of men, women and youth, who are committed to a free and sovereign Somalia. SCDA members work on an altruistic basis and expect no personal gain from the realization of our vision. SCDA is a group that works towards the advancement of the national cause of all Somali citizenry and speaks out against tribal and regional oppression. The SCDA also works to advance individual and collective human rights and works with all other organizations and groups with a similar vision.

For further information about SCDA please email info@somalidiasporaalliance.com

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Somali Cause is the result of a Union of Somali organizations united to:  
(a) Educate the world about the plight of the Somali people,
(b) Work to end the Ethiopian occupation of Somalia and its replacement with Muslim & non-frontline troops with a clear mandate,
(c) Provide an alternative to the bankrupt tribal and regional politics,
(d) Safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia and
(e) Provide humanitarian assistance to the suffering people of Somalia.


To join Somali Cause or to get more information, please email us at info@somalicause.org or call us at (202) 285-0780 or mail us at 1425 K ST NW STE 350 Washington DC, 20005-3514.