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Headlines : "War on Terror"All sides guilty of war crimes in Somalia
Human Rights Watch yesterday published a report accusing all sides in the Somalia conflict of committing war crimes.
Ethiopian forces are criticized for indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas. As the report was being distributed 16 people were dying at the hands of the Ethiopian army.
Many believe that the Ethiopians are operating primarily as a U.S. proxy in the so called “War on Terror”. As one aid worker put it:
America’s security agenda has planted its feet firmly in the region and has really distorted multilateral efforts of engagement.
[Posted By Watson]Republished from The Independent
War crimes have been committed by all sides in the conflict in Somalia – Ethiopian troops, Somali government forces and the insurgents they are fighting – according to a new report from Human Rights Watch.
Researchers say Ethiopian forces indiscriminately bombarded highly populated areas of Mogadishu with rockets, mortars and artillery during two periods of intense fighting in March and April. Hospitals were targeted and some civilians were executed.
Insurgents loyal to the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) were also criticised for deploying in densely populated neighbourhoods and carrying out targeted killings of civilian officials in the Somali government.
Ethiopian forces entered Somalia last year in a successful attempt to oust the UIC. Hundreds of people were killed and more than 400,000 fled their homes during the fighting.
Posted by Watson
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Posted by cirus1 on Wednesday, May 10th 2006
Comb through that report and see if you see any mention of Ethiopia’s use of phosphoros on Somalian civilians – yes, HRW, tell us who’s paying your bills — as if it hasn’t become suddenly QUITE clear.
The Islamic Courts had stabilized the country when the US shoved Ethiopia into town and now the Warlords are back and “someone” is arming them.
Who could that be?
“The US and the EU need to start taking the situation in Somalia seriously and stop turning a blind eye to it,” he said. Quothe the Independent (as if they weren’t behind Ethiopia’s invasion of Somalia in the first place).
Whatever could the “solution” be? Why, a UN Peacekeeping force, of course, since Sudan is being so difficult about accepting one.
Why is it that every time we have a war, we also have to atrocity the shit out of each other at the same time?