UN urged to protect Oromo refugees in Somalia

‘- Open Letter to UNHCR

– Antonio Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Case Postale 2500
CH-1211 Genève 2 Dépôt
Switzerland

Dear Commissioner Guterres,

I am writing you this letter to express our deep concern and dismay
regarding the inhuman massacre of around 100 Oromo Refugees and wounding of
more than 65 in Bosaso, breakaway region of Somalia, on February 5, 2008.
The basic reason Oromos flee and take refuge in neighboring countries is
protection from persecution due to their national identity and their
political belief in Ethiopia. Unfortunately, this is not being so for these
refugees. The harassment, suffering, persecution and ill treatment of Oromos
perpetrated by the Ethiopian regime is crossing international boundaries.
Oromo refugees are constantly being harassed, forcefully deported by would
be host governments and murdered by assassin squads of TPLF/EPRDF government
or by paid agents of Ethiopian government in Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia,
Sudan, and even Yemen, where they arrive after risking their lives on the
high seas where about half of those who attempt to cross perish on a regular
basis.

The current regime has made its policy clear from the very beginning when it
assassinated Major Jatani Ali, an Oromo refugee, a former officer in the
deposed Derg regime, in Nairobi in 1991. This was followed by assassination
of Mr. Adam Tukale (Mullis Abbaa Gadaa), an OLF high-ranking official in
Mogadishu, in 2000. They have acquired forceful repatriation of many
prominent refugees who fled to the neighboring countries, whose destinies
have never been known. Last year they assassinated many Oromo former
journalists in Nairobi. The current mass massacre is a culmination of this
policy of physically liquidating opposition individuals wherever they go.

The universal declaration of human rights signed in 1948 and 1951, have
articles that recognize the right for refugees. Any country that has signed
these declarations is obliged to respect them. These neighboring countries,
except those entities that were part of Somalia, are members of the United
Nations, and are signatories to the universal declaration of human rights of
both 1948 and 1951. When these countries are violating every letter of
these declarations member countries of the UN and humanitarian organizations
should not keep silent.

Dear Mr. Commissioner,

The continuation of human rights violation in Ethiopia and the generation of
many refugees have been perpetrated partly because the international
community had chosen to turn a blind eye. We are convinced that at this
crucial moment, your leadership, and the active engagement of the
International Community, could mean the difference between life and death
for many Oromo Refugees as well as the troubled Horn of Africa region. We
strongly believe that this horrendous and inhuman act is an augmentation of
permanent policy of the Meles Zenawi regime since 1991. Several hundreds of
Oromos have been killed or disappeared in neighboring countries or forced to
return to Ethiopia to face injustice between 1991 and 2007.
We, therefore, appeal to the UNHCR, all UN member nations and humanitarian
organizations to put necessary pressure on the governments and groups to
refrain from violating the rights of refugees in their respective countries
and territories under their control. We also we call upon human right
activists, peace and freedom -loving individuals and organizations to
condemn these cowardly act and render their much needed assistance to
refugees suffering without any treatment. We request urgent medical care for
those wounded, since they are not getting proper treatment, provide proper
burial to the dead and investigate to bring the perpetrators to justice. We
specifically request the UNHCR and member nations to find a way to protect
these refugees from such carnage and the unbearable death toll on the seas
as they attempt to escape such fates and help those still suffering without
proper medical attention. Oromos as any other peoples in the world are
entitled to get refugee protection and assistance from governments and UNHCR
offices.

The followings are some of the current victims on (February 5, 2008 at
2:30PM local time) massacre by two simultaneous Hand Grenade attacks in two
Bosaso restaurants each owned by Oromo immigrants. There are as many wounded
ones being recklessly amputated for simple treatable wounds while the others
who happened not to be at the targeted places that night are being made
shelter-less by burning down their houses and forcing the landlords to expel
tenants lest their own houses are also burned.

1. Abdallaa Siraaj Abraahim (28) from Roobee town, Arsi Zone.
2. Adusalaam Mustafa (20) from Baroda town, Harare Zone
3. Mohamed Email Passim (18) from Machala town of Harare Zone
4. Abdujabaar Mohamed Abdo (24) from Jajuu town of Arsi Zone
5. Mohamed Said (19) from Martu Abomsa, Arsi Zone
6. Aliyyi Mohamed Aliyyii (20) from Wallo Zone
7. Abdallaa Kamala Tusee (20) from Sude, Arsi Zone
8. Ziyaad Ibraahim Hassan (30) from Galamso town of Harargee Zone
9. Abdilgafaar Abdulahi Jabran (18) from Burqaa, Walqixee Zone
10. Abdilxaaif Shubbee Mohamed (42) from Bale Zone
11. Musxafaa Saalii Abdallaa (22) from Baddano town of Harargee Zone
12. Abdullee Biluu Ahmed (19) from Shirkaa town of Arsi Zone
13. Mohamed Amiin Kadir (22) from Robe town of Arsi Zone
14. Abdulmajiid Abitii Mohamed (22) from Jajuu town of Arsi Zone
15. Daud Kadir Hussen (20) from Jaju town of Arsi Zone
16. Xaahir Husseen Abdilkariim (25) from Baale Zone
17. Umar Aadam Umar (23) from Raya town of Wallo Zone
18. Nagahuu Abdi Ali (38) from Robee town of Arsi Zone
19. Qaasim Kadir (22) from Lole town of Arsi Zone
20. Ridwaan Kadir (23) from Jaju town of Arsi Zone
21. Hassan Umar Duqaa (20) from Wallo Zone
22. Usmaail Hasso sh Aadam (47) from Machitu town of Arsi Zone
23. Abdul Fataah Sh. Abubakar (18) from Arsi Zone
24. Mohamed Hassan Alilu (20) from Wallo Zone
25. Fadluu Haajii Abdoo (20) from Arsi Zone
26. Jamaal Mohamed Ululaa (53)
27 .siraaj kadir mahamed (20) from Arsi Zone
28. Abdallaa Ahmed Maluu from Shambale Town of Wallo Zone
29. Umar Ahmed Carafaa. From Wallo Zone
30. Ahmed Mohamed Kali Wallo
31. Sulaymaan Ahmed
32. Jamaal Mohamed Saali
33. Amiin Husseen Abdulqaadir
34. Mohamed Aloo Tufaa
35. Nagayoo Abdoo Alliyyii
36. Turee Amaan Abdoo
37. Mohamed Yaasiin Ibroo
38. Ali Mohamed Bashiir
39. Amina Umar Takaa
40. Aliyyii Ahmed Musa
41. Gidanaa Muusee Daadee
42. Ahmed Bakar Birkaa
43. Obsaa Amaan Sheekoo
44. Abdoo Kaliifaa
45. Nagaash Mohamed Idris
46. Mohamed Gazaalii sh. Amaan
47. Arabuu Hussen Abdurahmaan
48. Nuuraa Abdurahmaan Sheekaa
49. MUhyadiin Kamaal Amaan
50. Mohamed Aamadee Ulumee
51. Umar Mahamud Umaree
52. Husseen Jaaraa Sulxee
53. Abama Nyalata Abit
54. Mohamed dheeree
55. Almuu Bayanaa
56. Mohamed Bile Ahmed Yuusuf
57. Wandasan Baqalaa
58. Sulaymaan Ma’alim Warsame

Sincerely,
Qotto Gufuu

CC: H. E. Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General
The United Nations
New York. NY 10017

• The writer can be reached at [email protected]