By Mohamed Faarah | Somaliland Press
November 21, 2013
Illays Program, a London based Somali Ogaden web journalists have presented a video about human right abuses in Ogaden.
Commander Hassan Abdi Mohamud has revealed reports of arrest, rape and civilian killing in remote Somali ethnic populated region in eastern Ethiopia Ogaden Region.
Human Rights Abusers — Ethiopia’s Liyu Police
Mr. Hassan 27 old tells that he joined with the paramilitary forces in 2009 after the Ethiopian defense forces announced the regional federal troops are needed.
Many people are killed, looted their property and raped, I was a witness while dozes of women are raped somewhere minors, I have raised the issue to the regional administration and they did not take an action, even they encouraged the campaign.
Let me give you an example, Sahra was raped, she is well-known, and after she wanted a justice about her rape, she has been accused of as ONLF supporter and even she would be killed if she talks about defaming the troops, said former commander defected from the Paramilitary forces.
The major issue is when a member of Liyu Police wants to get married a woman, if she refuses she is blamed to be married a member of ONLF, and she is an anti-peace element, she is arrested and raped, 16 cases happened in Guna-Gado District
Hassas claim that he defected after he could not stop the right abuses committed his troops and the regional administration ignored the accusation.
There are injustices in Ogaden Region, and I have been waiting a long time how to escape, said Mr. Hassan. A human cannot accept just to be a witness about the crimes, added Hassan.
I have been stationed in Dhagagbour Zone, Bulale vicinity; there have been a looting and committing crimes in the area. People are killed, raped, and arrested because of their family members are ONLF fighters, Ogaden National Liberation Front, a group fighting for self-determination of Ogaden Region.
Speaking about the especial target women, Mr. Hassan said women who are married ONLF members are commonly raped. Mr. Hassan said there is no independent media presence in the region and I believe that the reason the government banned is to fear to reveal the human right abuses taking place in the region.
After years of human rights abuses in Ogaden region without international independent investigation, Ogaden region seems to finally have a good news story. Sweden will be the first European country that is investigating what Swedish Prosecutors say serious human rights abuses committed at Ogaden region.
n 2007, Ethiopia crackdown against insurgent of ONLF, Ogaden National Liberation Front, a group fighting for self-determination of Ogaden region has left thousands of Ogaden civilians who are mainly women and children.
Ethiopia government refuses the wide accusations against their mistreatment of civilians in Ogaden region.
Media and journalist are banned in the Ogaden region and that is why the conflict in Ogaden is not getting international attention.
The past few days the region has seen an increase in heavy fighting.
Since 2005, Ethiopia government isolated Ogaden region from the World, Ethiopia imposed a ban all international aid and media organizations in Ogaden despite some are operating under the permit of intelligence surveillances.
Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) fighting for the self-determination of Ogaden Region in Ethiopia since 1994.
http://www.ogadentoday.com/news.php?readmore=10981
Source: Ogadentoday Press