APPEAL BY HAWIYE COUNCIL IN LODON AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS

TO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL           – NEW YORK TO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL                - NEW YORK TO: THE US GOVERNMENT                             -WASHINGTON TO: THE EUROPEAN UNION                            -BRUSSELS TO :THE EUROPEAN UNION PARLIAMENT                 -STRASBURG      TO: THE ARAB LEAGUE                               -CAIRO    TO: THE INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS  –THEIR SEATS To: THE INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS        -THEIR SEATS TO: THE AFRICAN UNION                             -ADDIS ABABA TO: ALL SOMALI TRADITIONAL LEADERS (SULTANS, IMAMS, BOGOR, UGASES,       GARADS, MALAQS, WABERIS, BEEDAAJIAS, ETC.)                       –THEIR SEATS TO: ALL SOMALI CIVIL SOCIETY LEADERS             -THEIR SEATS OG: HAWIYE TRADITIONAL AND UNITY COUNCIL         -MOGADISHU                                               London : 12 December 2007 WAR CRIMES AND GRAVE VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS We draw the attention of and remind the international community and the responsible Somali traditional and civil society leaders the following mass genocide, destruction homes, properties and businesses, displacement, clan-cleansing and collective punishment of starvation and other grave violations of human rights such as rampant rape, looting, extortion, ransom, shoot-at-sight, throat slitting, unlawful mass arrests and dentations, countless kidnappings, deportations and  disappearances of innocent civilian people, etc. committed by the Ethiopian occupation troops and client clannish TFG militias in Mogadishu and elsewhere in Somalia. Having seen the intentional and indiscriminate artillery bombardments targeted on certain districts of Mogadishu inhabited civilian population which caused mass genocide and displacement of vulnerable people mostly of women, children, elderly, sick, injured, estimated one million by the UN but estimated one and half million by well informed sources in Mogadishu.   Having seen the massive destruction of the homes and businesses and lootings of their entire properties;   Having seen the obstruction of internal and external humanitarian and relief aid from the displaced vulnerable by the Ethiopian troops and the TFG militias in defiance of the UN and other international actors calls to stop such obstruction and collective punishment on the needy population;   Appalled by the irresponsible and ill-will of the TFL leaders and commanders labeling the displaced vulnerable women, children, sick, frail, wounded, poor people as ‘al-qaeda supporters’ or ‘terrorists’ which is extremely malicious intention unprecedented in Somalia and the whole world.   Aggrieved by the premeditated and intentional clan-cleansing carried  and still being carried out in Mogadishu which is reminiscent of the Holocaust and Rwandan genocide;   Mindful of the planned murders, kidnappings, unlawful arrests and detentions of the bir-mageydo (those respected and spared from the sword) traditional and religious leaders, elders and attacks on,  closing down and muzzling of the Somali local free media (radios, TVs, News agencies) and killing and arbitrary arrests of journalists simply for speaking out or reporting the above described war crimes to the world.   Having in mind these gravest crimes and human rights abuses on the people of Mogadishu and nearby areas which if not quickly stopped and addressed could further poison the situation and jeopardize any reconciliation between the opposing sides and the Somali nation as whole, we appeal:   APPEAL That the international community and responsible Somali leaders (politicians, professional, traditional and religious leaders, women groups, etc.) take urgent steps to intervene in ongoing crimes described above by urging and bearing pressure on the Ethiopian Government and leaders of the Somali transitional entity to stop these crimes forthwith.   That the international community takes urgent and pro-active measures to reach out and provide humanitarian aid to starving displaced people and those equally starving population remaining inside Mogadishu and adjacent regions which emanates from the clan-cleansing and extermination war waged by Ethiopian occupation troops and TFG militias.   That the Ethiopian illegal occupation be put to end and with its troops withdrawn from Somalia immediately to stop the ongoing genocide, destruction and human rights violations.    That the many hundreds if not thousands of innocent civilians illegally detained and languishing in dirty and deadly jails be freed without further delay to save their lives.   That independent international panel constituted and be sent to Mogadishu to investigate the war crimes and gross human rights violations committed by the Ethiopian government. its troops and the TFG entity leaders and militias.   We also call upon the international community and the responsible Somali leaders that the traditional leaders respected and entrusted by the people be given due respect and the freedom they deserve such as freeing from the incommunicado jails Haji Ahmed Dirie Ali, the Spokesman of the Hawiye Traditional and Unity Council, Sheik Ahmed Ali Gees and Hassan Raage Hiraabe – members of the Council and Abdinur Haji Ahmed Diirie Ali son of the Spokesman who assisted the Council, and to stop the hunt of the Council Chairman Haji Xasan Mohamed Haad and other members.   We warn that the hunt of the Bir-mageydo (those respected and spared from the sword) be stopped, not killed or harmed, and their freedom of movement and speech be respected, otherwise that can bring revenge on their counterparts and renew civil war between the Somali society.   That the attacks, killings, injuries, arrests, intimidation of journalists and muzzling, crackdown and closing down of the media be stopped.   That displaced people be allowed and assisted to return to their homes and those lost their and properties be especially assisted.   We appeal to the all the Somali people to unite and defend the destiny of their nationhood, religion, independence and sovereignty.   We call upon the international community and responsible Somali leaders to put serious consultations and agreements between Somalis opposing sides brokered by honest and impartial international actors before any more peace-keeping troops (UN, AU or otherwise) be deployed into Somalia otherwise the opposition will see that the same mistaken policy of favouring and supporting one side of the conflict is still going on.   Lastly, but not the least, we call upon the Somali people wherever they are to refrain from words and deeds that can trigger hostility and another violence or civil war among them.   NAMES AND SIGNATURES OF THE HAWIYE COUNCIL IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND OTHER RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS: Ali Shiikh Maxamed (Ali Shiino)     Gudoomiyaha Gudiga hawiye C/llahi Sahal (C/llaahi Cirro)            Xog’hayaha Gud. Dh. Bel. Hawiye Mohamed Hussein Wardhere                                          Ali Ga’al Mohamed (Wardhigley)                          Abduqadir Arab Uleh                                     Ahmed Salad Kulmiye                                Abdullahi Ali Osman                                     Mohamed Xasan Maxamed                                Omar Haji Xasan                                      Cabdi Xashi Aakhiro                 Gud. Somali National Democratic Party. Imam Sh. Bashir Salad (Dholayare)   W/ Kulanka Culmada Som. ee Yurub Mohamed Abdulla Furre                                Ahmed Xaaji Mohamed (Sandheere)                            Axmed Hussein Ali                                    Hassan Elmi Karshe                                         Abdulkadir Ahmed Mumin                                           Ahmed Ali Baalle                                     Ali Sheikh Don                                       Khalif Hersi Ali                                     Abdifitah Sahal Farah                                      Omar Salad Elmi                                      Ahmed Jamac KUlmiye                                  Aweys Mohamed Omar                                   Mohamed Omar Jim’ale                                 Dahabo Esse Mohammud (Dowlo)                         Hawo Sayid-Ahmed Haji Yusuf                          Asli Muse Barale Sirad Omar Dhoof Shukri Cilmi Farey Fadumo Cabdi Weheliye Said Ahmed Halane                                    Esse Ahmed Dirie                                      Abdi Salad Dhuxul                                    Abdirashid Ahmed Aynab                               Mohamed Ali Dini                                     Alinur Mohamed Ahmed                                 Abdi Farah Jamac (Abdi Dhere)                               Caydurus Ali Dhof                                           Said Ahmed Kadiye                                    Sheikh Daahir Idle                                          Liban Ali Sheikh Don                                  Hassan Haji Hassan                                         Sheikh Ali Araye                                      Abdiqafar Mohamed Hassan                                   Hussein Salad Dhuhul                                  Abuukar Maxamed Dhoore