Somali leaders say Ethiopia opening Guantanamo Bay-like prison
April 18, 2007 ASMARA) — Somali leaders accused Ethiopia of opening a prison like the one that exists in Guantanamo Bay. They also requested the withdrawal of the Ethiopian troops before the beginning of national reconciliation process in the country.
Somali deputy prime minister, who is also the minister for public works and housing, Hussein Mohamed Aidid, the former Speaker of parliament, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan, and the executive chairman of Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) Sheikh, Sharif Sheikh Ahmad, accused Ethiopia of of opening a prison similar to the Guantanamo Bay Prison.
At a press conference held Wednesday in Asmara by the Somali leaders, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmad read a declaration of 11 provisions to the media. He spoke about the general situation in Somalia, the intervention of Ethiopian forces in Somalia and other problems in the capital.
The declaration underlined that first and foremost the Ethiopian forces should withdraw if national reconciliation is to be achieved as well as peace and stability to be ascertained in Somalia.
Sheikh Sharif said the Ugandan government is supporting the Ethiopian government in operations of disturbing the Somali people. He said “the so-called peacekeeping force is a ‘Trojan horse’” for the Ethiopian government, underscoring that its silence and failure to take any measures in the face of the war crimes perpetrated against the Somali people by the regime proves such a conspiracy.
He also asked the international community to provide humanitarian aid to Somali people who fled from the clashes in the capital. He added these people are now in the cold — due to heavy rains in Somalia — in the regions close to the capital.
Last week, Ethiopia acknowledged detaining 41 suspected terrorists from 17 countries, but defended the action as part of the war on terror and denied widespread accounts that prisoners have been held incommunicado.
Human rights groups have called the detentions and transfers a violation of international law. The International Committee of the Red Cross says it has not been granted access to the detainees, despite having tried for the last month.
Ethiopia sent troops into Somalia in December to defeat a radical Islamic movement that was threatening to overthrow the internationally backed Somali government. Extremists with ties to al-Qaeda fought on behalf of the Islamists.
(ST)