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Galkaio Under New Incursion
Galkaio, the capital city of Mudug region (Central Somalia),
one among five regions that comprise the autonomous state of
Puntland is under new incursions waged by the Southern militia,
this time under the tutelage of Mr. Abdikassim and his minions.The
city had previously suffered devastating terror attacks waged
by the same militia groups then under the leadership of the
most notorious, brutal, and infamous perpetrator of Somalia's
civil war and its concomitant crimes - General Mohamed F. Aideed.
Zealots following Aideed's cue and his policy of "ethnic
cleansing" invaded Galkaio in 1991, severely pillaged,
killed, and maimed its population in the most cruel act of terror
perpetrated on civilians.
In these cruel and barbaric atrocities, the perpetrators killed
indiscriminately close to a thousand (1000) civilians of every
age and gender.
To avoid mentioning all the depressing details, suffice it to
say that they slaughtered kids and elders and used their blood
as the color-paint for the
loathsome slogans they painted on the walls of the city.A good
percentage of the civilians massacred in Galkaio were victims
and survivors of the carnage in Mogadishu where the psychopath
(general Aideed) had given the orders to rob, rape, torture,
and kill these civilians not because of threat they had imposed
or crime they committed, but just for their clan identity.After
gruesome struggle of close to two months with tremendous loss
of lives, Galkaio was finally extricated from the hands of the
brutal murderers. The 15% civilian population (of Habar-gidir)
in the southern part of the city who to some extent were supportive
of the genocide done by their clan militia deserted the city
in fear of retribution after their
militiamen were over powered and ousted from the city.
Despite all these perpetual cruelty and hatred from the southern
citizens of Galkaio, not only forgiveness was proffered to the
minority civilians to return to their homes peacefully, but
as well, the red handed criminals caught in the act of terror
were set free. This positive gesture of showing clemency was
meant to breed serenity, harmony, and peaceful coexistence.Unfortunately,
the forgiveness and tolerance was not
appreciated nor it did promote peaceful coexistence but further
violence and perpetual intimidations aimed to legitimize demarcation
line that divides the city into two warring zones. Galkaio never
slept since a night without the fear of raids from the clan
militia in the southern part of the city. Puntland
Administration did not reinforce strict measures to secure peace
and stability, but embarked on too much leniency in dealing
with the crisis that emboldened the perpetrators to take advantage
of it and continue their act of terror with more rogue and intransigent
attitude.
As a result, the southern part of Galkaio has become the "Bermuda
Triangle" where neither civilians nor government personnel
dare to put foot there without the anticipation of calamity.
No Municipal rules or regulations function in that part of the
city. No taxes are collected from its businesses. The typical
green line between North and South of Mogadishu has been established
there. Even the Puntland Law Enforcement has no the temerity
to pursue criminals who wreck havoc in the city and then cross
to the south of the enforced demarcation line.The anxiety and
fear caused by this perpetual terror has reached to unprecedented
climax where the ensuing fatality could be very disastrous as
far as the stability of the region is concerned unless something
urgent is acted upon. People (men, women, and children) had
deserted their homes and properties for the sake of fear. How
long will people yield to this trepidation? How long will the
Puntland Administration entertain and convince people to respect
the law and order, and restrain from defending themselves while
the law and order is not defending them? How long will this
barbaric crusade all the way from Southern Jubba to Mudug region
continue before people would say enough is enough?
This should not be interpreted as a gloomy prognostication
or persuasion to do act of evil (revenge). But it is stark reality
that this madness
is out of control, and it has to be reined in before it turns
into a major catastrophe. All empirical evidences are there,
it's just a matter of time before
the situation explodes. It is egregious stupidity, or I should
say total negligence to habituate on resorting to fruitless
and ruse negotiations. More
than ten years of negotiations ended into dismal failure. The
Puntland Administration has to do its responsibility. All law
enforcement rules and civic
policies must functions in that part of the city as well. Taxpayers
must get full security for their lives and properties. Police
stations have to be
established in the southern part of the city. People must feel
secure so they can return to homes and properties.
In the name of the hoax TNG, With the advent of the Nairobi
Peace Talks, Abdikassim is trying to rob and subjugate as many
lands as he could, Bay and Puntland being his main targets.
Its not enough to blame him (Abdikassim) and his minions for
atrocities that have been ravaging Somali people for more than
a decade now. Something has to be done that spares the lives
and properties of these innocent people. It is
Islamic duty that people defend their blood and properties.
Burhan Alas
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