By Saafi Labafidhin

We have, on several occasions, stated how it is becoming increasingly difficult for international aid organizations to work in the Ogaden, and as a result they are opting to create partnerships with grass-roots, local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who have long and better experience in reaching out the intended beneficiaries. On the other hand, we noted how the TPLF led regime has been busy in implementing policies hostile to NGOs in the past years. As, similar to other nationalities, Ogaden people continue to suffer at the hands of brutal Woyyane oppression, TPLF and its stooges are committed to harass NGOs operating in this part of the world. On August 07, 2008 the so called Regional President Abdullahi Hassan better known as Lugbuur has through a letter commanded the suspension of two local NGOs´ licenses.

The two NGOs, Alnejah Relief, Rehabilitation and Development Organization (ARRDO) and Hope for the Horn (HFH) are among the first and few in the region with some community projects in various areas in the Ogaden. I am not writing this article to defend any wrong-doing by these NGOs like the claimed corruption, unethical conduct, attitudinal problems, mismanagement etc. They can commit errors but it is outrageous and shameful the way their license is suspended.

First of all, according to current constitution, it is the mandate of Ministry of Justice to grant NGOs with licenses and only this ministry can revoke or suspend these licenses. As a matter of decentralization, the ministry also gives directives to the Disaster Preparedness, and Prevention Agency (DPPA) on how to deal with some issues regarding local organizations. Apparently, the action of Lugbuur is violating the current regime´s own constitution and instead of warning Lugbuur, Deputy Prime Minister, Addisu Leggese who was touring Jigjiga last week with other ministers has applauded for criminals like Lugbuur for massacring the Ogaden people.

Before suspending any NGOs license there must be a clear legal procedure beginning with investigation of allegations. Only with solid evidence can action be taken by either the DPPA, the Ministry, or generally by the Federal Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission all of which are Institutions used by TPLF as they wish. Even after this investigation it does not imply NGO´s license is automatically suspended if found guilty or culpable. Rather their Code of Conduct states other options such as issuing a warning, or targeting the person responsible for the wrong-doing depending on the scale of the breach.

Lugbuur´s move is not the first of its kind. He is just doing the dirty job of TPLF. Whenever they want to play such games they order him to pretend as if he is the ruler of the region while he is not more than a puppet. Otherwise it is not he; rather it is the TPLF cadre sitting next to him that dictates the daily affairs. It is the same history when he ordered several International NGOs like ICRC and MSF-Swiss to cease operations in the Ogaden. At that time, in an interview with the media, he denied any federal interference, while he later confessed to one of his relatives that he was given orders to expel the ICRC and he did so without knowing the reason behind.

Sarcastically, one wonders how Lugbuur and his fellow stooges can accuse others of corruption while they have stolen hundreds of millions of public money during their three and half years in the puppet administration. Where did really all these money go? Where did all those ambitious projects designed over qat-chewing cessions end up? We –the people- do not know, far worse we cannot seek answers. Right now the people bother neither about transparency nor accountability, checks and controls. Only if we were left alone for our lives!!!

This latest development comes as the people are in one of their most critical time to survive. The two affected NGOs have been working in partnership with many international donor organizations such as United Nations (UNICEF, WFP, WHO), OXFAM, ICCO, Muslim Aid, Christian Aid, MSF, Save the Children, Muslim Hands etc and with this threat of terminating ongoing projects as well as future ones, many beneficiaries whose only hope of survival was these NGOs will definitely be left out to a grim fate, not to mention the hundreds of employees and their families who suddenly face income insecurity.

Our people are made powerless and voiceless and it is not ironic to turn to the international community for help for they can influence TPLF´s policies when they if they really want to. Nevertheless, it only makes us more heartbroken to see the international community´s response to this crisis not being on par with the gravity of the problem.