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Somali Regional State: The Tower of Anarchy and Grievances Introduction The Somali Regional State, former Ogaden Region, is one of the nine Regional States forming together the federal democratic republic of Ethiopia. The region is in the periphery of Ethiopia. It is populated by Somalis, who are one of the most homogeneous societies in the world sharing the same language, religion, culture and ethnic. However, they are sharply divided into lineage groups/clans and sub-clans, which provide the key to understand their political life. Their own traditional systems known as xeer (treaty) governs them (Touval, 1963). Almost more than 85% of the population is pastoral in arid and semi-arid lands. Most of the region in which pastoralists pursue their livelihoods is characteristically remote, fragile and lacking the most basic physical and social structure. Ethiopia is found among the bottom 35 in terms of Human Development Index, by far the worst health and education statistics relate to pastoralists, in particular those in the Somali Region (African Development Bank, 2002). Despite its various resources the region is the least developed in Ethiopia. This is because of a complex web of political, economic, social and security problems most of which, if not all, are fabricated and not inherent to the nature. If one goes to the region his/her naked eye, with out assessment, will witness unleashed anarchy and grievances with out remedy. On the other hand, if one observes from distance, it will be difficult for him to believe the accuracy of what he hears. This is why the paper argues that the region can be characterized as a tower of anarchy and grievances. Governance in the Region Prosperity, peace, justice, democracy, rights of nation, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia, decentralization, good governance etc. are very beautiful words we found in the Ethiopian Constitution and almost all government policies. We hear also the same from EPRDF cadres and officials in their public speeches. How ever, in the Somali Regional State we have been facing the extreme opposite of these beautiful words. To begin with, democratic government is nothing else but representative government "in which those who serve in government are placed in their positions on the basis of citizen selection". In Somali Region the case is totally different. Almost all the officials came to power on the wishes of EPRDF. The relation of a person with the security forces is the best advantage for one to be appointed in a top public position. Even the out come of the elections are based on the loyalty of every candidate to the security forces. Apart from election irregularities we share with other Ethiopians here are more election irregularities in Somali region. First, in the region the number of the representatives to be elected is manipulated by the federal government. Since there are no clear and objective rules on the number of representatives in the region and for each constituency, the National Election Board and EPRDF officials in the Ministry of Federal Affairs (MoFA) decide according to their wishes. In the history of the region the number of representatives of every term was reversed in the next term without any legal basis. As we ointed out earlier Somalis are sharply divided into clans. The EPRDF taking this into its advantage tries to marginalize one clan, in every election, for the benefit of other clans. Trying to divide and rule, it establishes close contact with some clans and incite it against others. For instance, the regional election in 1992 the Ogaden clan commanded an absolute majority in the regional assembly, as they were the majority clan in the region. But, when the Ogadeni led ONLF-party exchanged politics for the barrel of the gun, the EPRDF did serious steps to disadvantage the Ogaden People. Among the steps it has taken is the establishment of Ethiopian Somali Democratic League (ESDL) with the help of its Somali puppets. The party was formed within three days, in military training camp called Hurso near to Dire Dawa and in the presence of the prime minister, all of which shows its emanation not from the citizens. The power of the region was transferred to the newly formed party, which was the composition of Non-ogaden. Immediately, Meles Zenawi, with the help of this new party has canceled the result of 1994 regional population and house census, since it has shown that Ogadens are the majority. During 1995 election the number of the representatives in general and that of each constituency in particular was changed to the disadvantage of Ogaden clan. Some of their constituencies were cancelled others were merge red. During 2000 election the number was reversed again, without any legal basis. Even in the coming 2005 election the number of representatives is different form all the former elections. Second, in the Somali Region except 1992 regional elections all the elections are not held simultaneously with other parts of the country under the pretext of living conditions of the region, lack of enough infrastructure and shortage of manpower in the region which itself raise why all this marginalization?. But most of the citizens in the region believe it is because EPRDF wants to have more chance for a more misuse and to avert the world attention from this region. Thirdly, the candidates of the ruling party is selected by a committee composed of EPRDF officials in theMoFA, military officials and the party officers, even though its role is more passive. Other candidates face serious problems. Any one who does not enjoy the confidence of the security forces in his constituency might be refused to go there for campaigning and his supporters arrested by the security forces or they may arrest him, while others are killed in a secret detention or in a plot. Typical examples are Mustafe Cagjar and Abdi-fatah Shil Kabade, the former being refused to go his constituency and his supporters were arrested in Degah-bur Zone, while the latter has been assassinated by the security forces in Korahai zone during 2000 election. Another problem is that even the representatives selected in this way can not function effectively because of the federal EPRDF led government interference. Members of the parliament are always in humiliation. They cannot elect the spokesman they wish nor can they give confidence or loss of confidence the government as per their wishes. The MoFA censors and controls all the agendas in the state council. More over, the MPs who deviate from the wishes of the federal government and the security forces are arrested, dismissed or intimidated. As a matter of fact in March 2002 around 19 MPs has been jailed with out due process of law or court warrant and with out any flagrant offence. In 20 May 2003 more than 30 MPs are told not to be members of the state council any more, 'according to the decision of the ruling party', they said. This happened a week after discussion between the regional officers and officers from the MoFA in Addis Ababa. The other government organs have the same or more difficulties. For instance the judiciary which has to be independence is interfered by the federal security forces and their agents in the regional executive officers. They have arrested number of judges as a result of their legitimate work in dispensing justice. Even though there is no exhaustive list about the arrested judges only early 2002 different judges have been arrested in Warder, Imey and Mustahil districts by the security forces after the judges refused to decide cases according to the military wishes. The executive organ of the regional government is the largest subject of the federal misuse. "Under the EPRDF-Regime regional presidents become perishable commodities". No former presidents lasted more then three years, and half of this period they were subject to federal investigation. With the exception of one all the seven presidents of the history of the region were arrested under different pretexts mostly corruption, abuse of power or giving hand to insurgents. The same is true with the cabinet members. The budget of the region is usually returned unspent or it is misused. The civil servants are also abused. The recruitment is not based on meritocracy; promotion and dismissal are not based on the performance and the achievement of the civil servants. They are arbitrarily dismissed. Some times the EPRDF do not overtly dictate the dismissal of civil servants, but they influence the regional government to behave so in a number of ways. In the first place it is the EPRDF that brings into power the unelected and week regional government and ousts all those who are loyal to their citizens. Secondly, many regional officers understood that they will stay in a short period, so they behave irresponsibly and uses the public power to their benefits. Thirdly, it is famous believe among the population in the region that EPRDF, 'the big brother', will not tolerate the proper way of governance, so any one willing to remain in position has to deteriorate things. If one attends public meetings in the region addressed by officers from the federal government, s/he will see them praising the corrupt, less achieving and citizen harassing officers in the regional administration. All this put the civil servants, officers and the larger population in a stage of helplessness. Having seen the mode of governance in the region, now we can think of the fate of democracy when elections are managed in this way, all the government organs are week and humiliated in this way and citizens are left with out just and peaceful remedy. Can a government formed and behaving this way be democratic? Does EPRDF understand democracy in this way? Or is democracy relevant only to some regions and not others like Somali Region? Or do the beautiful EPRDF words mean whatever they want? Human Rights Human rights are those people have simply being a human, without discrimination as to sex, religion, ethnic, nation or any other social origin. Having in mind the grave and negative social impacts of human rights violations during the two world wars, the independent states have established the United Nations (UN) immediately after World War II. It is also worth mentioning that both of the wars were caused, partially, by human rights issues, in particular ethnic and nation rights of self determination. Vital amongst the objectives of the UN is to respect fundamental human rights and freedoms. Ethiopia was among the signatories of the UN Charter and many subsequent binding international human rights conventions. Similarly, the 1995 FDRE constitution has also incorporated almost all the fundamental human rights and freedoms. So, Ethiopia has both national and international obligations to preserve fundamental human rights and freedoms. How ever, this is missing in the Somali Regional state of Ethiopia. Very extremely harsh and merciless violations of human rights have become essential daily component of the life in Somali Region. From the region there are countless cases of extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances against the innocent citizens by the Ethiopian Security Forces for the last 15 years. This may happen in either of several ways. When the military is engaged fighting with the anti-government movements and they encounter loses, they revenge the civilians, since they see both the rebels and the civilians to be the same Somali Ethnic, which are considerably missing in the military. They also extra judicially executed many persons claiming they are sympathy to or relatives of anti-government forces. Among the most famous persons executed under this slogan are Mirad Layli, Sigale of Godey Zone Sheik Abdi-Wali of Fik Zone Dirir sirad Mealin and Ahmed-nur Sheik Mumin both in Degah-bur. All these were religious and traditional leaders and they are just the same examples of thousands of the some case. More terrifying is the mode of execution they employ some times. Normally they kill with pullet. But we witnessed cases in which they have burned some persons a life, while others are killed with axe. One famous case of burning human being a life has happened mid March 2005, when the security forces at Korille village of Warder Zone have burned three youth men. Two of them were brothers and the other relative. The same happens to the rebel forces if captured. The more severing and horrible practice with the case of rebels is that when the military kills one rebel they bring died body of that person in the market places and tell the citizens not to bury until they order so. We have seen many times died body in the market places for several days. This has happened in almost all Ogaden populated towns. Mass arrests without court warrant, collective punishment and torture have been legalized by the security forces in the region. All these sorts of violations are executed against those security forces claim to be sympathy to or the relatives of rebel members. The security forces' humiliation and interferences of the judicial system has thwarted the majority of the people from their right of access to justice. Socio-economic and cultural rights have even been deleted from the memory of the citizens as they are deprived even the most fundamental civilian rights. This was clearly demonstrated by the words of Sheik Ahmed Gadhwayne, former Ogaden member of Ethiopian House of People's Representative, responding to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in the Federal House of People's representatives. The prime minister rhetorically discussed about development, democracy and good-governance. Then the sheik angrily said would you place stop your forces from killing, raping, torturing and abusing our people, let alone development, democracy and good governance. On human rights issue we are not surprised with the behavior of the government, because human rights abuse is the behavior of any government with out the confidence of its citizens, even though the gravity is different, but we are surprised and highly disappointed with the international community who collectively pledged themselves to endeavor respect of human rights all over the world. In particular we are discouraged by the silence of many countries and organizations we believed to be peace loving and more lenient to human rights agendas. Economic Situation Economic development needs stable and peaceful environment. Justice and observation of human rights also play essential role in the economic growth. If there is no peace and justice one can hardly think of economic development. The preceding analysis of human rights and governance gives a clue on the economic situation of the region. How ever, this is not the entire history. Despite its potential resources Somali region remains economically backward in all levels of socio-economic. More over, economic infrastructure is either weak or inexistence (IDS, 200). Education, health, water, roads, electricity and telecommunication facilities are very poor. Examples include throughout the region, which comprises around 52 districts only Jijiga Hospital, which is inaccessible to the majority, is capable of rendering x-ray service, let alone a more sophisticated services. The some is true with high school education, whereas grades 11th and 12th (preparatory classes) are touch only in Jijiga high school. The 24 hours service of electricity is found only in Jijiga town whereas most of other districts get only few hours or nothing at all. Throughout the region there is no single all-weather road. Having seen these examples one can imagine the possibility of economic development in a region with such poor infrastructure. With all these obstacles the main income source of the region is raising live-stock, which does not enjoy any facility from the state. There is no veterinary service, nor is there any plan for marketing. Petty trade activities, crop production and remittance from relatives abroad (Western Europe & North America) are also important sources of income. The Ethiopian Government instead of subsidizing or thinking of a way to improve the poor economic conditions takes all the necessary steps to its declination. For the last several years it has taken many steps most of which has not taken place in other parts of the country and all of which have chilling-effect on the region's economic condition. One among these steps had been taken early 2002 when a team from the federal government has ordered the arrest of the most brilliant and hard-working members of the business community under the pretext of corruption, while the officers they have been interacting with are not arrested. The arrestees were well-known in the region for their economic success and business minded. It was incredible to many citizens when they heard they did corruption. However, the assumption of their political incrimination has augmented after the public prosecutors failed to prove the guilty of these members in the lapse of two years. The question that revolves in the mind of many citizens is why they are not released yet if there is no clear case. Critics contend that the intention was from the very beginning to maim the economic achievements these members have been proving. Another step toward maiming the regional economic was the simultaneous dismissal of more 1000 civil servants, who have been working for the last 14 years. The only justification the government has given was their documents was suspectable as they were educated in Somali. The agents of the federal government have raised many times this issue before and the regional government with the help of the Federal Minister of Education ultimately decided mid 1997 to hold an examination for the validation of the documents from Somalia. The examination was held and only those who passed were accredited as legitimate civil servants, while others have been dismissed. Now the federal government with the help of its puppets in the region has assured its dream to dismiss even whose documents were certified. This arbitrary mass dismissal has put a large number of citizens unemployed. Needles to explain the impact it can have the economy. In march.. and April the government troops forcefully entered the business houses at the hearth markets of Dagahle and Jijiga towns and looted all the property in. Till now the government has not given any explanation or apology to the victims, let alone to bring before the justice those who looted the civilians. It goes with out saying all the above steps contribute to the declination of the economy of the region. It will put the society in a very extreme situation of dependency. However, even dependency is among the opportunities missing in the region, because of at least two reasons. First the government is the one challenging all the possible economic growth, so there seems no local remedy. Only the option that is left is to depend on foreign aid. Second, to add the injury salt, normal citizens are not allowed to receive even the foreign aid as all the humanitarian aid is misused in a various ways. The humanitarian aid is used for political ends. It is given only those who serve for the interest of the security forces. Several times members of the security forces have raped shepherd girls, consequently the relatives have annoyed, and then the DPBB was ordered to pay from the food aid a sum as remedy to the transgression. Some times the food aid is employed for the military campaigns against the insurgents. After all these deductions the remaining is likely to be embezzled by those in charge whom security forces keep them in their positions. Now a days another problem has come-up, when a Tigre ethnic contractor was assigned to transport the food aid from Dire Dawa to the different district of the region which are in accessible to him for security reasons. Now the contractor says I can not transport the aid unless accompanied by military convoys. The authorities decided to arrange around 500 soldiers and the expense of these soldiers should be deducted from the food aid. Usually, it takes for the military to 10 for traveling 500 km, because of the security tension. So, to transport all this aid to different parts of the region will take months, can you imagine what will be left when around 500 soldier's expense are deducted from this food aid. The decision is not motivated by lack of alternative, but just for jeopardizes more the living condition of the population in the region. On one said the government wants to prevent the opportunities of work from the locals who have all the kinds of vehicles and who can travel freely anywhere within the region without the help of any security personnel. On the other hand it is of special importance for the government not to see the population availing from the food aid easily. It wants to make all the possible deductions. Having seen all these facts, with out hesitation one can conclude that the EPRDF is trying its best to massacre the people in starvation. Clan Conflicts Apart from the gross negative impacts of the armed conflicts between the insurgents and the security forces, there is also another kind of armed conflicts which worsens the situation. Different clans in the region are engaged in armed conflicts in different times. Even though different Somalis clans used to fight each other on pastures and water points, the current conflicts seem to be politically motivated. It has also greater affect on the region. The first argument that supports the claim is that the system in place is not one reflecting the social make of the people. System of representation does not reflect the social organization. Some clans are underrepresented while others are overrepresented. Those overrepresented may try to use the public power for their own ends as against other clans. Here conflict becomes inevitable. The second argument that shows the influence of politics is the way the government addresses on clan conflicts. Even though the region has established security and coordination bureau, its contribution toward conflict resolution seems to be negative. Huge budget is every year enacted to the bureau and it functions in every zone and districts, but the role is useless. The officers see the large amount of budget as a result of the security tension, so the hold the more security tension the more budget released to the office. This is one factor instigating the officers to deteriorate the security tension instead of helping. The make of the bureau also contributes toward the deterioration. Usually, illiterate bodies are nominated to the office, because of their loyalty to the military. Example is the current head bureau and the preceded ones. More over the personnel cannot and have never tried to develop clear policies on resolving clan conflicts, not do they follow the traditional dispute settlement mechanism. All they do is that they wait until there is conflict and conflict bursts they immediately rush to the account and withdraw huge sum of money in the name emergency security relief. We have witnessed almost all the missions they went to deteriorated. Most of the clan leaders now loss their confidence on the bureau and the government in general as a result of their misconduct Another argument is that the government considering all Somalis as enemies under the same boat incites different clans each other. In many cases the security forces has given ammunition one of the parties in conflict. Examples are the Gadsan and Rer- Cabdile clans conflicts, when the military personnel have not only provide ammuntion to Gadsen clan but also participated in the battle. They have also killed around 20 Ismael Gumcadle clan men in May 2004 in Warder Zone when they were in conflict with Bicidyahan clan. The restless military technical support to Sheik-kash as against Re-Cabdille is also blunt in Salahad District of Fik Zone. It is also worth mentioning that millatry assist always the non-Ogaden clan whenever the conflict is between Ogaden sub-clan and another one. Here I wish any sane person can predict what impact such conflicts will have on the economic, human rights and governance system in the region. Conclusions The above stories are enough to show how the situation of the region is very serious. We saw that in the region the human life is very cheap, there is no even the pretension of government; economic is seen as an enemy and spread of armed conflicts become parts and parcels of the livelihood. Having seen these entire I wish we will not be surprised if one characterizes the region as the tower of anarchy and grievances. Any how accepting only the terminology is not big deal. We believe what is going in the region is just a virus that is enemy to all human kind, and we are sure it will transmit first to the greater region of the horn, then to other parts of the world. The silence approval of violation and grievances in other areas is the beginning of sacrificing the common goods of man-kind. What is going in Somali Region can be characterized in the fashion of house made of grass surrounded by others of the same make-up. Within the home there is a father and his children. The father wants to burn a live one of his children within the home. He collected the fuel wood, put around the targeted child and fired it. Immediately, the burning child started crying for help, the father adds a fuel wood to the fire, other children are afraid of their father and watching what he is doing and the neighbors do not bother about the cry, instead they prefer their sleep. But, any sane person understands that the fire will easily cover whole the house as the father fuels it, and then it will also burn other children and the father himself. There is also strong tendency that it will go further and burn the neighboring homes and their residents. In this case the father is the government and the child to be burn is the Somali Regional State, other children are other Ethiopians and the neighbors are the world community. To cut a long history in short, the degree of peace and justice enjoyed by every the world community is the aggregate of the degree enjoyed by every individual. So, let every one loving peace, justice, development and humanity consider the problem in Somali Region as his own.
sharmaarke
warsame
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