Ogaden rebels slam Puntland for surrendering leaders to Ethiopia

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

April 26, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopia’s Ogaden rebels, the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), on Thursday condemned the arrest of two of its top leaders by the authorities of Somalia’s northern breakaway Puntland region.

According to a statement the group released, the two ONLF Central Committee members were removed by force from their hotel in Garowe in central Somalia by security forces of the Puntland administration on April 22, 2008.

After intense interrogation, they were then driven in the personal vehicle of the Puntland Minister of Finance Mohamed Ali Yusuf “Ga Gaab” to Ethiopian security forces waiting for them on the Ogaden side of the border with Somalia, it added

The group has reacted strongly to Punt land’s action.

“This act constitutes a clear violation of the United Nations Convention Against Torture and other Forms of Cruel, Inhumane, or Degrading Treatment as the two officials have a clear and well founded fear of persecution including torture in Ethiopia”. The rebel statement said

The ONLF underlined their presence in Puntland had no hostile character. It said that one of them was known from the local authorities and the other was visiting his wife and children.

“One of the ONLF officials was in Puntland to protest the deliberate killing of a citizen of Ogden by Punt land security forces in a jail in the northern city of Bosaaso and to assist his family members. He was in regular contact with Punt land officials who never objected to his presence. The other ONLF official was in Punt land visiting his spouse and children. Both were unarmed political figures and posed no threat to the security of Puntland.”

The ONLF warned that the extradition of these officials “constitute a clear hostile intent on the part of the semi-autonomous Puntland region administration.

“The consequences of this action shall be the sole responsibility of the Puntland regional administration.” The group said.

Ethiopia in past had accused the government of Puntland headed by Adde Muse, of law security that allows the ONLF to use Puntland ports and coastline to land weapons. Further Puntland officials were described as bribed by the Oganden rebels.

Last February, falked by his newly-appointed minister of security, Gen. Abdullahi Said Samatar, Muse visited Addis Ababa for thalks with Ethiopian officials and to meet the President of the Ethiopia’s backed Somali Transitional government and former ruler of Puntland Abdullahi Yusuf who is also considered as the region’s de facto ruler long.

Muse told reporters that he would hold extensive talks with various Ethiopian government officials regarding security issues and common trade.

(ST)