By Abdirahma I. Mohamed-Takhal
In
this writing, I will highlight some, not all, of the shocking and
inhumane acts by ONLF (the terrorist group who cowardly operate in the
Somali region in Ethiopia) against the very people whose independence
they claim are fighting for. The ONLF’s
aims have varied
over time, fighting against uniformed troops, to killing members of
their own community as well as other inhabitants of the region.
Recently,
ONLF raided a small town of Gole in Wardheer region. In testimony of
their lack of morality, they (ONLF; a terrorist group) not only
terrorized residents of Gole, but indiscriminately murdered seven
people and wounded two, while kidnapping two others.
On
May 28, 2007, a grenade attack by ONLF, claimed the lives of eleven
Somalis during a national holiday ceremony held in Jijiga, the capital
of the Somali region.
In
a separate attack, the regional president Abdullahi Hassan was injured
with fifty innocent civilians. Among those who lost their lives as
result of ONLF attack were three local artists and other civilians as
well.
It’s worth mentioning, the horrific attack by ONLF on the town of
Dobawayn
in Korahey region which also left ten civilians dead, including two
schoolteachers and a pregnant woman. Unfortunately, that’s not all; on
another attack on the town of Shilabo left five people dead. Meanwhile,
a landmine planted by ONLF near Aware in Dagahbour region exploded,
killing three civilians traveling in automobile.
Yet,
on another act against humanity, ONLF massacred twelve people in the
district of Lahelow near by the Ethiopia-Somali border.
ONLF
has carried out horrendous human rights violations, including the
execution style killings of innocent civilians. Through such acts, it
has also gravely violated the principal of Islam which vehemently
rejects the killing, robbing, raping and any thing inflicts harm
against innocent human being. Little was known about ONLF in the past,
but they are being exposed to the international community’s eyes, by
not other than their own ugly and merciless actions against the men,
women and children in the region who simply want to live in a peaceful
environment.
ONLF
is enemy to the region and therefore, the international community
should give the local people the capability to defend themselves from
the enemy amongst them. Their mind is filled with hatred and ignorance.
Killing, rapping and robbing of innocent people is not an act of
bravery, rather, is an act of inhumane, reckless and most of all, is
one of the greatest sins that is committed by any individual. No cause
justifies the massacres of Gole, Lahelow, Shilabo, Dhobawayn, Jijiga
and many other areas in the region as well. Therefore, the world should
condemn ONLF and its actions to the fullest term. Particularly the
West, must prohibit the ONLF leaders and agents to operate and plan
attacks against the people of the Somalia in region, from their
respective countries.
Refences:
Waikipia
Abdirahma I. Mohamed-Takhal
E-mail:
atakhal@aol.com
Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Garowe Online
