Jan 11, (2013 (QOL) Qorahay Media Journalist Group urges the UK government reconsider its decision to aid and train paramilitary forces in the Ogaden

Press Release:

According to a recent report published by the Guardian the United Kingdom government intends to offer millions of pounds to aid and train a paramilitary force in the Ogaden known as the “Liyu Police”.

The Ogaden has quite some time being off limits to the international community as the Ethiopian government imposed a trade embargo and unleashed a scorched earth campaign of collective punishment against the civilians causing the deaths of thousands and displacement of millions.

In order to divert the attention from its own military’s crimes against the civilians, the Ethiopian government founded and funds the Liyu Police to carry its activities. Together these two forces have committed a well documented human rights abuses and summary executions against the innocent civilians in the Ogaden.

Therefore, Qorahay Media Journalist Group urges the UK government to halt any aid or training to these forces, as it will only exacerbate the already dire situation and could further cause the lives of more innocent people.

Moreover, we believe that the UK government could instead play an active role in achieving peace and stability in the Ogaden by pressuring the Ethiopian government stop its crimes against the civilians in the Ogaden. Furthermore, we recommend the UK government play a leading role in resuming the stalled peace negotiations between the ONLF and the Ethiopian government. After all, it was the British government that handed over the Ogaden to then Abyssinia during the colonialism without the consent and knowledge of the Ogaden people.

Thus, we understand that a genuine comprehensive peace agreement between the aforementioned parties could bring an ever-lasting peace to not only the Ogaden but the entire horn of Africa.

Lastly, we call upon the international community and donor nations particularly the United States to encourage the UK government reconsider its decision to aid and train Ethiopian paramilitary forces, who continue to commit crimes in the Ogaden without been held accountable.

Qorahay Media Journalist Group
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Head-quartered in Nairobi Kenya Qorahay Media Journalist Group is a national non-profit organization dedicated to report from the Ogaden and in the horn of Africa in general. Qolmedia@hotmail.com