Somalia: Response to Statement By Assistant Secretary of State Department for African Affairs - UN

Shabait.com (Asmara)
DOCUMENT
11 September 2007
Posted to the web 11 September 2007

Asmara
To: The State Department

To: The Security Council

To: The Arab League

To: The European Union

To: African Union

Date: 08th September 2007

SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO STATEMENT
BY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE DEPARTMENT FOR AFRICAN AFFAIRS

We, the representatives of the Somali Diaspora, the Civil Society, the Union of Islamic Courts and the members of the Transitional Federal Parliament currently participating in the Congress for the Liberation and Reconstitution of Somalia in Asmara (Eritrea), strongly denounce the groundless allegations made by the US Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Jandye Freizer.

It is regrettable that Ms Freizer has unfairly accused the Government of Eritrea of harbouring what she calls a terrorist group. We are not terrorists nor do we support one, but we are victims of unlawful Ethiopian occupation. The Ethiopian regime has deliberately breached the Security Council resolution 1725 by forcefully occupying Somalia and committing atrocities against innocent Somali civilians. The brotherly Government of Eritrea has kindly offered a refuge to the Somali nationalist leaders who had opposed to the unlawful invasion of the murderous, oppressive regime in Addis-Ababa.

We condemn the biased US policy on the Horn of Africa which incriminates those Somalis fighting for the liberation of their own country. It is the prerogative of the Eritrean Government to support the struggle of the Somali people to liberate their country from the American-backed Ethiopian Regime.

The Eritrean Government can not be blamed for welcoming Somali people to its country. Eritrea and Somalia have had strong political, cultural and historical relations for centuries which grew stronger during the decades in which t he Eritrean people were struggling for their own independence. Therefore, it is not accidental that the Eritrean Government is offering support to the Somali people in their neediest hour purely on humanitarian ground. We believe that Eritrean Government, unlike the Ethiopian Regime, does not have any secret agenda or ambitions to meddle with internal affairs of Somalia.

We are deeply disappointed by Jandye Freizer's unsubstantiated accusation of Mr Aweys having links with international terror group. We categorically deny that any member of the above mentioned groups or other Somali citizens have any links whatsoever with international terrorism. Unfortunately, this is not the first time that Ms Freizer has falsely accused some prominent Somali citizen of being extremists, but has never produced any concrete evidence to back her rootless claims.

We urge the American Administration to review its policy towards the oppressed people of Somalia and to dispose its moral, political and humanitarian responsibilities as the world's most powerful government. It is time that the American Administration had ceased fanning further hostilities in the Horn of Africa. Somali people have endured atrocities and abuses from within as well as foreign interventions for decades. We hope that the international community of nations will support Somali people to form a central, inclusive authority which can unify the Somali people and restore law and order in Somalia. These efforts should be appreciated and supported instead of criticising those friendly governments who expressed desire to assist the Somali delegates currently attending the on-going congress in Asmara.

The Congress for the Liberation and Reconstitution of Somalia

Asmara

Source: Shabait