Somali Peace Rally (Galkaio City)
PRESS RELEASE
June 28, 2004
Posted to the web June 28, 2004
IGAD's foreign ministers recently issued a warning to what it called the 'spoilers' of the moribund Somali peace conference going in Nairobi. It happened that similar warnings had been meted out many times by no one but IGAD itself, and all ended up in hot air.
The Somalis have finally concluded that IGAD's warning are incredible as the Somalis themselves are. All the Somalis claim that a brutal dictator destroyed their country and most of the Somalis support a disgusting dictator, much worse than Siyad Barre by all standards, hence IGAD has become as forgetful as we Somalis have become.
To be specific, right after this talks started in Nairobi, a well-publicized agreement was signed by all the Somali warlords. It was named 'the cessation of hostilities agreement'. In no time, major conflicts, in which hundreds of people lost their lives, erupted. IGAD failed to point a finger at the war mongers then, so how can we believe them now.
Somalia is failed nation, and there is no question about it. We believe that it is about time to admit that IGAD is a failed institution. If not, it has to come up with the credibility needed by the vast majority of the Somalis.
Recent contradicting statements are not helping IGAD's tarnished record. It stated about a month ago that the Somalis will sort out their problems on tribal basis only. Now it has forgotten and said, "the parliamentarians will be selected by the elders and IGAD recognized politicians". We read that IGAD has accepted the position of those who let down Somalia to its current position criminal warlords. The international community should not agree with IGAD's attitude of cutting the corners. If the current conferences failed, it has failed like the previous 14 others or so. No more no less.
Last but not least, Somalia's problems are political. The results of a military intervention without political solution are very predictable. Remember the arguments of 1993-94, when the US cut and run. SPR warns against warlords-driven agenda that puts Somalia in another 15 years of mayhem.