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| East/Subsaharan Africa |
| Somalia: It's all the Aethiopians' fault... |
| 2003-01-17 |
| A former chairman of the Disarmament Commission of Somaliaâs Transitional National Government (TNG), Gen. Muhammad Nur Galal, said yesterday that the availability of arms in Somalia was the major impediment to the countryâs reconciliation. That's because the national passtime is taking pot shots at each other... During a recent visit to the Kingdom, he told Arab News: âTwo years ago, the TNG established the Disarmament Commission stipulated by the interim charter. The commission planned to invite the former Somali armed forces. The army can enforce security and disarm the militias. The lack of funds, however, precluded even the beginning of the commissionâs work.â The former Somali armed forces? They're still around? What have they been doing for the past dozen years? He said since the beginning of a civil war in 1991, the former armed forces had not participated in the clan wars or had the capabilities to enforce security and stability throughout the country. But they've been collecting pay checks? The TNG refused to supply the resources needed to empower the commission. Arab countries granted adequate financial assistance to the TNG. Unfortunately, the aid was mismanaged. The commission has finally been dissolved, said Gen. Galal. "The aid was mismanaged" means they put the money in their pockets... He said 3,000 well-equipped military personnel could control the capital, Mogadishu, and the entire southern region. International financial aid is needed. Why? Is there still room in their pockets? This assistance could be in the form of military logistics and training. Better idea than giving them cash, isn't it? He said the arms in the hands of the civilian population are two types: heavy and light. Some people bought weapons in order to safeguard their property. Heavy weapons can be bought from their owners while the light ones can be taken by force. You know that saying about prying from cold, dead fingers? That's it. âWarlords can never agree on a genuine pact. Every warlord wants to be a Somali leader. They have a good relationship with Ethiopia. Addis Ababa supplies them arms. In fact, Ethiopia has been engaging in destabilizing Somalia by supporting the warmongers. Landlocked Ethiopia seeks Somali mini-states in order to use its seaports and exert great influence in the Red Sea region. The warlords and their arms suppliers are the main obstructions to peace,â Gen. Galal added. Oh, damn those Aethiopians! We should just put all of East Africa under Soddy administration. That'd fix everything... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #1 Every time I hear a Somalian sob story I put my Blackhawk Down DVD on, chew a little qhat, and forget about em. Let em eat stones |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-01-17 16:58:57 |