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| How Free Is Freedom? " the relevance of defining the internal and external values, and the importance of harmonizing them through..." More Horn of Africa Quagmire Continues " The main actors of the killing and destruction field in the region are all locals, " More Somalia: the Bakaara Stories A Glimpse of Mystic Ethiopia Clashes of What? Professor Mesfin: A Statesman he is Sick & Tired of the Somali Peace Process? ( 7 ) Sick & Tired of the Somali Peace Process? ( 6 ) Sick & Tired of the Somali Peace Process? ( 5 ) Sick & Tired of the Somali Peace Process? ( 4 ) Sick & Tired of the Somali Peace Process? ( 3 ) Sick & Tired of the Somali Peace Process? ( 2 ) Sick & Tired of the Somali Peace Process? ( 1 ) Coffee Ruining a Nation |
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"Unnecessary" Question of Ethiopians
By Dereje Hailu Kassa | 24, March 2009
" This writing is neither about the war in
Afghanistan, nor about the Canadian soldiers who
died there. It's rather about transparency and
accountability, above all a respect for human being.
Why these things are eroded in my beloved country,
where an opponent's life is dispensable?.... Home
By Dereje Hailu Kassa | 24, March 2009
" This writing is neither about the war in
Afghanistan, nor about the Canadian soldiers who
died there. It's rather about transparency and
accountability, above all a respect for human being.
Why these things are eroded in my beloved country,
where an opponent's life is dispensable?.... Home
| Editor's blog |
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Somalia: Arms race Vs Arms embargo
By Dereje Hailu Kassa | November 19,2008
" ...The first U.N. Security Council Resolution 733
which was adopted on January 23, 1992 a year after
President Siad Barre was toppled supposed to do
just that. For anyone who closely follow the
situation in Somalia, it is clearly understandable that
what is lacking is not a new resolution, More
By Dereje Hailu Kassa | November 19,2008
" ...The first U.N. Security Council Resolution 733
which was adopted on January 23, 1992 a year after
President Siad Barre was toppled supposed to do
just that. For anyone who closely follow the
situation in Somalia, it is clearly understandable that
what is lacking is not a new resolution, More
Just Another Episode?
By Dereje Hailu Kassa | 11 January, 2008
Selam!
What else is new? Just another episode from the much bigger tragic
story, unfolding right in our eyes and yet, passes as if it was no big deal.
Every one of us, whether we accept it or not are in the middle of it. Such
is how this rapidly changing world turned out to be.
Toronto Star, who spoke to Nemia Temporal, head of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees camp in Dadaab, Kenya and she was
quoted as saying: " It's a sad day for us, We can't believe this is
happening after all the years that the, Kenyan government has been very
generous in providing international protection to asylum seekers."
(Toronto Star January 4, 2007)
She was talking about a Kenyan border town Liboi, located 90 kms from
Dadaab refugee camp (established in 1991 following the collapse of
central government in Somalia that caused mass displacement ) now
home for 168,000 refugees.
As one of the hundreds, who made it first alive at that remotest part of
Kenya, Liboi 17 years ago, I couldn't help it but wonder, when it's going
to end, if at all?.
" THEY came on foot or by truck, bus and private car. Whether former
ministers, tycoons, middle-class folk or poor refugees, they all faced the
same trials as they made the hazardous 500-plus-kilometre journey from
Kismayu, Somalia, to Liboi, Kenya." wrote Makena Aritho in a front page
story published on Kenya Times, Friday February 8,1991 issue. "The
most pitiful of the flood of humanity now swamping the remote North-
Eastern Province are Ethiopian refugees fleeing strife for the second time
in their lives." I was one of the two she spoke to, I said to her, " We had
to beg for money from Somali people to hire a military escort to Kisimayu
and then here. Some of my people (Ethiopian refugees) who were unable
to contribute cash for the escorts walked all the way to Kenya. They
were ambushed many times by bandits and their food, little water and
clothing taken away. But we thank God to be here. At least there is no
sound of gunfire, no flames,.."
It was the first such report, regarding the refugee influx into Kenya at the
time. In the past seventeen years, no less than 14 attempts to restore
central authority in Somalia failed to produce any result instead, each time
one group unseats the other, thousands more become homeless, helpless,
multiplying the mass suffering and misery.
Today, Kenyans suddenly find themselves mourning, the loss of 500
innocent lives and an estimated 250,000 displaced people of their own. It
didn't even take that long. Probably, the politicians will end up making a
deal on how to share the 'spoils'. “It is the Kenyan people who have lost
in these elections,” wrote Firoze Manji, a Kenyan and editor of the
London-based Pambazuka e-mail newsletter on African politics. (as he
was quoted by counter currents.org) “It boils down to a fight over who
has access to the honey pot that is the state...So the battle lines are
reduced to which group of people are going to be chosen to fill their
pockets-and citizens are left to decide perhaps that a few crumbs might
fall off the table in their direction.”
What makes one sad is the fact that, at a time the most neglected Somali
humanitarian crisis getting no adequate response, (except the abundant
leap service) the UN has to divert the non existing aid for Somali
refugees to Kenyans. What a hypocrite world we live in? Had the same
crisis occur in the other continents, no doubt humanity would be at its
best.
Obviously, those who elected themselves as our leaders, and enjoying the
spotlight care less about their subjects. You remember Siad Barre and
Mengistu signing a peace deal and shaking hands in late 1980's. They
couldn't do it a decade earlier, before tens of thousands of Ethiopians and
Somalis lose their lives. What about Isayas and Meles, bringing us peace
in early 1990's, Oh! Another one in year 2000, only after 70,000 of our
flesh and blood were slain senselessly, and yet, we still have to find a
way to stop the next one from happening.
It is really depressing to know that, life can be lost unjustifiably and it
could be anyone's. Whenever I read or hear some one suggesting or
advocating violence as a means of resolving differences, I can't help it
but cry for those innocent lives, who are going to be sacrificed. And, the
thought of once it starts there is no end to it, makes me feel more
frightened. How many more confrontations and wars does it take, before
we come to our senses? Do we really care who is dying? Then again, it is
Horn of Africa, who cares about the poor people, it is always survival of
the fittest. The powerless people of Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya are
sick and tired of living under this seemingly endless episode of terror. If
the leaders don't quickly reverse the madness and seek new way, by
making humanity their primary focus in earnest, they may as well prepare
themselves, to embrace the inevitable wind of change which is on the
horizon.
Peace Be Unto You All!
By Dereje Hailu Kassa | 11 January, 2008
Selam!
What else is new? Just another episode from the much bigger tragic
story, unfolding right in our eyes and yet, passes as if it was no big deal.
Every one of us, whether we accept it or not are in the middle of it. Such
is how this rapidly changing world turned out to be.
- It was Only a year ago
that, the Kenyans
worried about the
impact of Ethiopian
interference in Somalia
to dislodge the UIC.
The UN condemned
them, when they sealed
off their border and
send thousands of
Somalis, back into their
war-torn country as
they tried to seek help.
Toronto Star, who spoke to Nemia Temporal, head of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees camp in Dadaab, Kenya and she was
quoted as saying: " It's a sad day for us, We can't believe this is
happening after all the years that the, Kenyan government has been very
generous in providing international protection to asylum seekers."
(Toronto Star January 4, 2007)
She was talking about a Kenyan border town Liboi, located 90 kms from
Dadaab refugee camp (established in 1991 following the collapse of
central government in Somalia that caused mass displacement ) now
home for 168,000 refugees.
As one of the hundreds, who made it first alive at that remotest part of
Kenya, Liboi 17 years ago, I couldn't help it but wonder, when it's going
to end, if at all?.
" THEY came on foot or by truck, bus and private car. Whether former
ministers, tycoons, middle-class folk or poor refugees, they all faced the
same trials as they made the hazardous 500-plus-kilometre journey from
Kismayu, Somalia, to Liboi, Kenya." wrote Makena Aritho in a front page
story published on Kenya Times, Friday February 8,1991 issue. "The
most pitiful of the flood of humanity now swamping the remote North-
Eastern Province are Ethiopian refugees fleeing strife for the second time
in their lives." I was one of the two she spoke to, I said to her, " We had
to beg for money from Somali people to hire a military escort to Kisimayu
and then here. Some of my people (Ethiopian refugees) who were unable
to contribute cash for the escorts walked all the way to Kenya. They
were ambushed many times by bandits and their food, little water and
clothing taken away. But we thank God to be here. At least there is no
sound of gunfire, no flames,.."
It was the first such report, regarding the refugee influx into Kenya at the
time. In the past seventeen years, no less than 14 attempts to restore
central authority in Somalia failed to produce any result instead, each time
one group unseats the other, thousands more become homeless, helpless,
multiplying the mass suffering and misery.
Today, Kenyans suddenly find themselves mourning, the loss of 500
innocent lives and an estimated 250,000 displaced people of their own. It
didn't even take that long. Probably, the politicians will end up making a
deal on how to share the 'spoils'. “It is the Kenyan people who have lost
in these elections,” wrote Firoze Manji, a Kenyan and editor of the
London-based Pambazuka e-mail newsletter on African politics. (as he
was quoted by counter currents.org) “It boils down to a fight over who
has access to the honey pot that is the state...So the battle lines are
reduced to which group of people are going to be chosen to fill their
pockets-and citizens are left to decide perhaps that a few crumbs might
fall off the table in their direction.”
What makes one sad is the fact that, at a time the most neglected Somali
humanitarian crisis getting no adequate response, (except the abundant
leap service) the UN has to divert the non existing aid for Somali
refugees to Kenyans. What a hypocrite world we live in? Had the same
crisis occur in the other continents, no doubt humanity would be at its
best.
Obviously, those who elected themselves as our leaders, and enjoying the
spotlight care less about their subjects. You remember Siad Barre and
Mengistu signing a peace deal and shaking hands in late 1980's. They
couldn't do it a decade earlier, before tens of thousands of Ethiopians and
Somalis lose their lives. What about Isayas and Meles, bringing us peace
in early 1990's, Oh! Another one in year 2000, only after 70,000 of our
flesh and blood were slain senselessly, and yet, we still have to find a
way to stop the next one from happening.
It is really depressing to know that, life can be lost unjustifiably and it
could be anyone's. Whenever I read or hear some one suggesting or
advocating violence as a means of resolving differences, I can't help it
but cry for those innocent lives, who are going to be sacrificed. And, the
thought of once it starts there is no end to it, makes me feel more
frightened. How many more confrontations and wars does it take, before
we come to our senses? Do we really care who is dying? Then again, it is
Horn of Africa, who cares about the poor people, it is always survival of
the fittest. The powerless people of Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya are
sick and tired of living under this seemingly endless episode of terror. If
the leaders don't quickly reverse the madness and seek new way, by
making humanity their primary focus in earnest, they may as well prepare
themselves, to embrace the inevitable wind of change which is on the
horizon.
Peace Be Unto You All!
Aid helped to avert disaster
By Dereje Hailu Kassa
February 19, 2002 | The Toronto Star )
world listened to Khalif's kind of advice, 1 million
Ethiopians lost their lives." More
By Dereje Hailu Kassa
February 19, 2002 | The Toronto Star )
world listened to Khalif's kind of advice, 1 million
Ethiopians lost their lives." More