Ethiopia Our Number One Enemy (in Reply to Mr. Samatar)
11-07-2007
Originally
posted on 12 January 07
In response to
Mr.
Ali Osman Samatar article Ethiopians are our natural neighbour but not our
natural enemy, it is hard for me to answer all the
questions that arise from such an article, but I will try to answer as many as I
can and to the best of my knowledge.
It is true that the Somalis have gone through painful agony and suffered enough
in the hands of warlords supported and funded by the Ethiopians for the past 16
years. After defeating the warlords, which angered the Ethiopian leadership, Mr.
Samatar confessed this period was miraculously terminated by the UIC and with it
a remarkable peace was brought back to the people of Mogadishu, the capital of
Somalia (Not the ex-capital).
For Mr. Samatar’s information, the UIC did not make any administration for
Mogadishu; Firstly, they had hoped that this Ethiopian selected government may
agree to come to the capital after its stabilization not knowing that they work
under Zenawi’s command. Secondly, they did not want to be perceived as a power
thirsty people, not because of incompetence - as many of them were more educated
than these Ethiopian puppets.
Mr. Samatar agrees that the UIC opened the airport and the seaport but considers
this action a means to generate revenue. Is it not fair to say that this is a
job that no-one had managed to do for the past 16 years? Regardless of any
financial benefits, after this many years, is it not the nation’s benefit to
arrive at Mogadishu’s international airport and the ships to dock at the
international seaport? Is this called a cynic operation or an unforgettable
opportunity for our people’s interest?
Mr. Samatar says that the only propaganda of the UIC was Ethiopia and not our
national problems. Do people like Mr. Samatar know that the UIC invited this
shambolic government to come and operate from Mogadishu? Does he know that they
have been to Khartoum several times for negotiations and dialogue? Was it not
these traitors that always rejected their invitation and demanded their
disarmament even though they had no control of anything?
Unless I am mistaken, bearing in mind that Mr. Samatar is himself a Somali-born
Muslim, he repeatedly mentions the word Islamist in his article; who or what
does he mean by Islamist? How does he feel when he hears things like ‘The Bush
administration is widely thought to have given neighboring Christian-led
Ethiopia the green light to expel Islamists’ or ‘The Christian-led Ethiopian
army invaded Somalia’? To whom does he side with? Does he believe that Islam
puts our nation back into the road of the prehistoric era of mankind, implying
that Islam has no place in today’s world? It is not wise to think before you say
anything.
He also accuses the UIC of revitalizing the tribalism in Somalia. Maybe Mr.
Samatar and his narrow-minded compatriots have not heard the speeches of
Abdullaahi Yuusuf, Cadde Muuse or those of the warlords such as Qanyare and
Maxamed-Dheere being broadcast around the world? Is there anything else that can
revitalize tribalism in Somalia better than these individuals mentioned? Do you
see similarities? The real people of Somalia would be very grateful if you could
give us one example of similar words to those of Abdullaahi Yuusuf, Cadde Muuse,
or Maxamed-dheere from the leaders of the UIC.
Mr. Samatar says it is irresponsible to say that the Ethiopians are our enemies
and that whoever says this is either an ‘intellectual and a frustrated
opportunist’ or ‘brutally illiterate’. He also claims that the vast majority of
the Somali people don’t see any difference between the Islamists, warlords and
Ethiopians.
If the Ethiopian regimes are not our enemy then we don’t have enemies. In
response to the ill-judged remarks - ‘whoever says Ethiopians are our enemy is
irresponsible’; who do you consider to be responsible? Is it the people like the
so-called interior minister who (prematurely) calls for the elimination of
Somalia and claims that Somalia will be part of Ethiopia? Or maybe the defense
minister, the foreign minister, the vice defense minister or even the so-called
Prime Minister whom all had similar things to say. For me, I have no doubt that
this is the hidden agenda of this Ethiopian-led government and the coming days
will testify to this.
On the other hand, I don’t understand where all these words are stemming from at
a time when many Somalis don’t sleep, eat or work in regard to Ethiopian
annexation of their country. Maybe you are the opportunist that you are claming
the others to be, Mr. Samatar, retaliating to some people over others or trying
to please the Ethiopians. To say the vast majority of Somali people don’t see
any difference between Islamist, warlords and Ethiopians is a baseless and
falsified claim that has no evidence, because this needs to be studied before
claiming it. Tell me who carried out this survey and came up such conclusions?
Rather, the vast majorities of Somali people considers the Ethiopians to be
their number one enemy and are willing to strive against them however long it
takes.
To give Hargiesa and Bosaaso as an example of having a good relationship with
Ethiopia is also unfounded and weak, because this is a part of Ethiopian
despotism over our land and I can assure you that the people of these two cities
would have cut their links with Ethiopians if they could, it is their puppet
regimes that are loyal to the Ethiopians not the public.
Finally, people like Mr. Samatar are either misguided or trying to misguide
others. Our nation will never be reborn through invasion and colonism. The
annexation of Somalia by the Ethiopian forces is unacceptable to all Somali
people across the world and it is also an abuse to our dignity and sovereignty.
This government you claim will reorganize the country; does it have power to do
anything? Does it have the trust of the people they want to rule - in any part
of the country? Does it have a strategy to pull the Ethiopian army out of our
soul? Is it not this so-called government that made all our brothers and
sisters, our wealth and national resources available to Ethiopians without any
costs?
We hope for the best and wait for the worst. I will leave the answers of these
questions for the people of Somalia who are asking Allah to raise the Ethiopian
humiliation against them.
By: A M Nur (Dhaashane)