Galkaio Under New Incursion
-abdirahman alas <bnalas@yahoo.com>
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
|