SHASNA MediaWatch

Nairobi, Kenya

[June 4, 2002]

The Demise of Ismael Omer Ghelle's Arta Sub-clan
What the BBC Somali Section and the UN's IRIN will not Report!

Dear readers, on June 30, 2000, we have warned against renewed civil war in Somalia; we have warned against "Risks Posed" by the Arta sub-clan and Siyad Barre's cronies. However, neither did the UN's Messrs. David Stephen and Randolph Kent nor did the Djibouti despot, Mr. Ismail Omer Ghelle, heed our cries for justice in Somalia, or for that matter that of the leaders of Somalia's autonomous regions.

Now after two years and endless UN and Arab financial and material support for the sub-clan; endless propaganda support by the UN's IRIN information agency and Her Majesty's BBC Somali Section, we ask you: are we better off now than two years ago? Of course the answer is an absolutely resounding no!

Therefore, after two bloody years since the mad dash to manufacture the Arta; since the creation of the SRRC; after much sweat and blood; after much UN supported destabilization against stable regions; after endless IRIN and BBC promoted nonsense reconciliations; after all, it is now crystal clear to all concerned that the SRRC forces, led by freedom fighter numero uno, His Excellency, al-Haji Muse Sudi Yalahow, have shattered the Djibouti made, UN-sponsored, radical Arab states financed Arta sub-clan. Today, we are pleased to inform you that 'Ina Salad Boy' and 'Ina Abshir Waraabe' are homeless and on the run! But you will never hear this from the sub-clan controlled media outlets, from Her Majesty's BBC Somali Section, headed by Yusuf-Garaad, Mr. Abdiqassim Salad Hassan's close cousin, and from the UN's Information Agency, IRIN, also edited by Abdi Salad Hassan, another sub-clan member and Mr. Abdiqassim Salad Hassan's brother. These two men will do whatever it takes to cover up for the sub-clan.

But let us get to more important staff and update you with what the BBC and IRIN have not reported lately (please exercise extreme caution and fasten your seat belts - very bad news for the sub-clan is being reported):

Mogadishu - May 28, 2002: On midnight May 1, 2002, by decrees and orders issued by certain foreign countries and supported by large shipments of armaments and funds from the Djibouti despot, Egypt and Libya, the Arta sub-clan, on the morning of May 28th, continued its invasion of Mogadishu and engaged in what they called as a 'grand plan' to wipe out 'warlords' and reopen Mogadishu's airport and seaport. But unsurprisingly, invading forces supported by badly informed foreign meddlers never have the element of surprise in their favor, and the Arta sub-clan and associates were completely wiped out from northern Mogadishu, and Mogadishu's famed 'Green Line' was reincarnated!

Mogadishu - May 31, 2002: By the end of the month, with Hotel Ramadan completely surrounded, almost all the remaining Ismael Omer Ghelle's so-called parliamentarians were either missing, kidnapped, in Nairobi and in Dubai or begging for amnesty from the Recovery Zone leaders. Some have totally surrendered and some others are still arriving in Addis Ababa apologizing for their crimes against their own!

Mogadishu - June 1, 2002: By early this June morning, about seven technicals mounted with Libya donated firepower, including one of Mr. Salad Hassan's own 'technicals' and hundreds of well armed men were defecting to al-Haji Muse's forces.

Kismayo - June 1, 2002: With the sub-clan forces demoralized, stretched thin and shattered, some of their southern Somalia invading forces have returned home to Mogadishu for their own survival. For the remaining invaders in Kismayo, matters were not getting any better!

On this early June morning, arguments about how to share certain loot and war spoils have broken out between what the Head of the BBC Somali Section, Yusuf-Garaad, has termed as the JVA (Jubba Valley Alliance). The heated battle, with huge casualties to both combatants and civilians, continued through sunset and concluded with the Ayr invading forces being chased out of town. Of course Mr. Hassan Barrise, Yusuf-Garaad's sidekick in Mogadishu and also a member of the sub-clan didn't report the bad news!

Kismayo - June 2, 2002 through today: The standoff continues and yet no word from IRIN or the BBC Somali Section.

Mogadishu - June 4, 2002: This morning, a Press Release was issued by al-Haji Muse Sudi and leaders of the Muddullood people. In that Press Release, the leaders noted the invasion of Arta group of May 28, 2002, and its deliberate invasion plans as supported by Libya and other radical Arab states. Appealing to their Muslim brothers, the leaders have warned Arab states to refrain from arming or financing one Somali tribe against the other.

On that PR, they have also noted the unbelievable heretical utterances of Mr. Abdiqassinm Salad Hassan in calling the Recovery Zone Somali leaders as pagans and unbelievers. On his June 2, 2002, meeting with Mogadishu's al-Itihad and al-Islah members, Mr. Abdiqassim Salad, the Arta sub-clan leader, advocated for Jihad against "the infidels and supporters of Mr. Meles Zenawi and of Christianity." On media, Mr. Abdiqassim Salad also touched on what he claimed as unfairness and arrogance of American media: "...take a look at this so-called free American media and CNN, and tell me if their is one single individual allowed to represent bin Laden [Osama bin Laden], they, these American media companies, can't distinguish between God's commands; between what is right and what is wrong."

After advising Mr. Abdiqassim Salad Hassan to refrain from his religious heresies and from creating instability in Somalia's stable regions and enmity among the people of Somalia, the Muddullood leaders among many issues have stated the following:

1) To protect the Muddullod people from invaders and from foreign agents, Mogadishu's Green line will stay as is
2) To protect our people, develop politically and economically, an immediate conference has to be organized in order to create a unified leadership for the people

Of course, don't expect the BBC or IRIN to report any of these conclusions, or to truthfully report about Somalia's crystal clear daily events! But don't despair, SHASNA is always here and there for you and for all the freedom fighters everywhere in Somalia. This is our promise to you: we will not relent, and we will stay on course!

And the liberation war continues...
Stay tuned for more!

SHASNA* Editorial Board
cc: SHASNA Members

*SHASNAis a worldwide advocacy group. It stands for the unity and peaceful coexistence of Somali people. It supports the creation of a federal system of governance to safeguard the emerging free markets of the Recovery Zones and all other safe zones. SHASNA encourages corporate and individual investments in the Recovery Zones. It has presences in both Puntland (Boosaaso, Garoowe, Buurtinle, Bacaadweyn and Galkayo) and Somaliland (Hargeysa, Berberaand Burco).