Castro

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Posts posted by Castro

  2. Posted

    Somali battles kill 38 since Djibouti "peace pact"

     

    Fri 20 Jun 2008, 7:27 GMT

     

    MOGADISHU, June 20 (Reuters) - Overnight violence in Somalia pushed the death toll on Friday to 38 in the days since a peace deal was signed in Djibouti last week.

     

    The June 10 agreement between Somalia's interim government and some opposition figures was rejected outright by hardline Islamists in exile and the insurgents on the ground, and experts had warned it was likely to have little impact on the violence.

     

    Overnight in northern Somalia, police said a roadside bomb killed a hotel owner in Galkayo town. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack.

     

    Most deaths have been the result of clashes between Islamist rebels and allied Somali-Ethiopian forces.

     

    Residents in Mogadishu said the heaviest fighting this week broke out on Thursday along Industrial Road in the north of the capital, where both sides traded artillery barrages and machine-gun fire.

     

    At least 10 people were killed, they said, including five children. Dozens more civilians were wounded.

     

    "A mortar shell dropped right in front of our house and tore a child to pieces," witness Suado Farah told Reuters.

     

    "He was burnt and could only be recognised by his hat."

     

    Locals said four other children died when an artillery strike hit a home in the Gubta neighbourhood. Elsewhere, they said the bodies of three unidentified men lay in the road.

     

    A rebel spokesman, Sheikh Abdirahim Isse Adow, said two of their fighters had been killed and three wounded.

     

    "We launched a heavy attack on the Ethiopians and so-called government troops and we killed many of them," he told Reuters. "Two died and three of ours were wounded, but we are happy."

     

    Government officials could not be reached for comment.

     

    Islamist hardliners who opposed the U.N.-led Djibouti talks have refused to meet the Western-backed government face-to-face until Ethiopian troops leave Somalia. The country has been in near-perpetual conflict since the 1991 toppling of a dictator. (Reporting by Abdi Sheikh, Ibrahim Mohamed and Abdi Mohamed; Writing by Abdi Sheikh; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Matthew Jones) (For Full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com/)

     

    Reuters

  3. Posted

    Originally posted by -Serenity-:

    Hello Somali Expert[...]

    Hello.

     

    I need you to help me understand a Somali proverb - 'Isqor bilaa liis'

    He (or she) who is uninvited yet sticks their nose into others' business/conversation/gathering, etc..

     

    I was under the impression, it means qof isku qora liis (i.e. list - after all, alot of northerm Somali words have their origin in english) oo loogu tala galin.

    Close but not quite. Bilaa liis means "without a list" so there's no list to write on. Literally. This person is signing up when there's no sign up sheet. ;)

     

    Laakin a couple of people were trying to tell me about it referring to milking cows/sheep and the various nomadic statuses in nomadic society.

    Stop hanging out with perverts.

  4. Posted

    ^^^^ Yes to the cimri dheer, not quite to the khalaas. You see, good Xiin, this agreement as I've been saying all along is hardly worth the paper it's written on. 1) the (God damn?) International community will not do anything to make it work 2) much of the opposition didn't (couldn't or wouldn't) attend.

     

    I'm not sure if you've been hearing the news but there's been fierce fighting in Muqdisho these past few days. Fighting so fierce that you could swear there was no agreement signed. An assassination attempt on Yey, Ethiopians attacked, the usual retaliation and the inevitable outcome: dead and displaced civilians. In other words, business as usual.

     

    Tell me atheer, if this agreement is the panacea you so desperately make it out to be, why has nothing changed on the ground.

     

    Even the bloody Israelis and Hamas are able to calm things down in Gaza. Why is Muqdisho still on fire? (Hint: the agreement was signed between two supporting actors. The lead actors didn't show.)

  5. Posted

    Originally posted by Baashi:

    Castro has tried to answer it. But unfortunately he went off on tangent. The fact of the matter is that Ethiopian withdrawal has been addressed and surprisingly enough addressed to the ASR’s satisfaction. Tigre mercenaries will exit in due time. Just as they demanded, a specific date, time table has been marked on the calendar.

    My older brother Baashi, to whom I also owe an apology, won't you englighten us if you know what it takes to bring all the opposition groups to the table, dirrin or bloody geed hoostiisa?

     

    And I'm not being facetious walaahi.

     

    Also, here's a real tangent ( :D ): Did anyone else notice that some of us look down on the Shabaab because of their religious angle? It's as if the Shabaab are Muslim and we're Methodists. Never been one to claim utmost piety but when did being a Muslim become a slur? The Shabaab are Somalis (ergo, they all come from one clan or the other) but they also profess Islam to be their guiding principle in this conflict. What if they'd been purely nationalistic and secular? What horrid names would we be calling them then?

     

    The Shabaab, with all their shortcomings, are us. Let's not try to create space between "them" and "us" in the hopes that the West gives us a favorable nod. It won't.

  6. Posted

    Originally posted by Ceyrow jr.:

    Only the reasonable understand, the unreasobles don't.

     

    Baashi, Xiin faniin would like to see TFG led by their uncle stay. That is the truth unfortunately.

    lol @ "the truth"

     

    Did I ever tell you that the president of Somaliland is "my" uncle and he's also a bona fide dabodhilif?

     

    So, what has "your" uncle been up to lately? :D

     

    P.S. I hope you see my point. There's a dabodhilif in every branch so I'm starting with myself to not use "uncle" with anyone, going forward. I hope you and others do the same.

  7. Posted

    Originally posted by Baashi:

    Name one reasonable and practical
    thing
    that should be done in order to bring them to the peace process
    dirrin
    ?

     

    Sophist awoowe think through on this one.

    Pardon the interception. Don't make this seem like mission impossible. Public pronouncements of "we will not negotiate until..." are made all the time by different parties. Yet, backdoor, unofficial, secret and informal meetings occur all the time.

     

    To have no backdoor talks with the Shabaab is disastrous. The Shabaab are not interested in grandstand conferences in 5 star hotels. They have one request, namely the Ethiopians exiting the country. Meet them half way. Order the Ethiopians out of major population centers and force the Shabaab to make the next move.

     

    This stalemate is killing us awoowe.

  9. Posted

    Originally posted by Sophist:

    Mine I had hoped will let the Genie out of the bottle. I simply told him that it was
    easy to make peace with friends, but the challenge is making peace with your enemies as such it seems what has happened was simply the former rather than the later.
    I followed with,
    “What will become of the ‘real’ opposition, those whom large numbers of Somalis believe to be the real insurgency? Is your office going to reach out those influential actors within the Somalia or will it implement what many think to be Bush’s policy and that is to isolate the military wing of the opposition?

    Xiin, what say you to this? :D

  12. Posted

    I acknowledge Mr. Ahmedou Ould Abdallahis courageous and tireless under these difficult times. I encourage the UN Representative for Somalia to carry-on his efforts of finding lasting solution for Somalia.
    We remind his Excellency for this to transpire, the peace process must be inclusive. By that we mean, all the influential actors within ARS must be included. Their absence will only continue to exacerbate the situation. Furthermore, it will reinforce the notion that this process was the West’s grand plan to derail the insurgency and divide the opposition groups between “modern v hardliners”.

     

    Recommendations

     

    A year and half has elapsed since the invasion by Ethiopian forces. The situation in Somalia went from bad to worst. Moreover, it seems things are going back to the dark years of the early1990’s - the worst periods of Somali civil war. The international community, particularly those who have participated directly or indirectly to the present day conflict in Somalia, should share the responsibility for this tragic state of affairs, namely the United States, who had not only given political and economical support to the Ethiopian government but has bombed as recently as March 2008; the southern Somali towns Dobley and Dhuusamareeb, where many innocent women and children lost their lives.

     

    Therefore, in order to make the efforts of UN and UN Special Envoy for Somalia more effective and bring lasting peace; I make the following recommendations:

     

    1. To address Somali concerns and to make the peace process more effective and inclusive I urge;

     

    a. That UN Representative for Somalia to help
    lift ‘terror labels’ imposed upon the groups and individuals, who can play a crucial role in the peace making in Somalia.

     

    b. To speed-up replacement of Ethiopian troops with multinational peacekeeping forces, led by United Nations troops that are culturally acceptable to Somalis - preferably from Arab, Islamic and African states.

     

    c.
    The United Nations must be seen as an impartial mediator, for it to play a trusted role between the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the opposition.

     

    d.
    UN member states must stop counter productive activities such as; dumping waste in Somali territory, illegal fishing off Somalia shores, and failed simplistic U.S.A. policies towards “war on terror”.

     

    2. When Ethiopian troops vacate Somalia;

     

    a.
    The United Nations must set up a war crimes tribunal/investigating panel, to look into allegations of war crimes committed by warring parties in the conflict.

     

    b. Cognizant to the fact that people of Somalia have, in no so many ways suffered for the past 18 years, therefore the UN should help civil societies to heal and put an end to the painful psychological sufferings.

     

    c. United Nations must urge the International community to provide all the necessary economic and developmental assistance needed in order to re-establish a progressive and prosperous state based upon the principles of good governance.

    Someone who speaks like this is called a warmonger in this wretched forum. Yet those who cheer pie-in-the-sky agreements are called peacemakers.

     

    Aduunyooy xaalkaa ba'.

     

    I salute Shirwa Jama.

  13. Posted

    Originally posted by xiinfaniin:

    Let us examine, instead,
    if
    a
    heshiis
    between Courts and TFG can come to a fruition absent of Alshabaabs cooperation. I believe it can
    if
    the terms of this agreement are adhered to
    and
    Ethiopia’s withdrawal is realized in a timely fashion.

    If only .....

     

    What would the reasons for continuing the violence be if Ethiopians are withdrawn, yaa Castro?

    I can't think of any unless someone decides to undertake Operation Dabodhilif Cleanup.

  14. Posted

    Keywords: occupation, resistance, terror, truce, cease fire, agreed, etc...

     

    Xiin, atheer try to spot the above keywords in the article below. Imagine also, if you will, that you were to replace the names of Fatah, Hamas, Israel and the US with the corresponding (similar) actors in the current Somali conflict.

     

    Do you recall how long Israel has been saying it does not negotiate with terrorists?

     

    Ninkuu warankaa galo ayay weedhaa gashaa. Alshabaab are a formidable foe saaxib. Their tactics may be unpolished but their hearts are in the right place. Don't dismiss them like the rest of the world has with this wretched caravan analogy of yours.

     

    Enjoy the read. :D

     

    Israel agrees to Gaza ceasefire

     

    Israel has approved a ceasefire to end months of bitter clashes with the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza, Israeli officials have confirmed.

     

    Under the terms of the truce, which is set to begin on Thursday, Israel will ease its blockade on the Gaza Strip.

     

    At the same time, talks to release an Israeli soldier held by Hamas would intensify, an Israeli official said.

     

    Later, Israel said it was also interested in direct, bilateral talks with Lebanon.

     

    Rocket attacks

     

    Hamas, which controls Gaza, says it is confident that all militants will abide by the truce.

     

     

    The agreement is due to begin at 0600 (0300 GMT) on Thursday and is supposed to last six months.

     

    Hamas seized control of Gaza in June 2007, driving out forces loyal to Fatah, the political faction led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

     

    Since then, Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the international community have sought to isolate Hamas.

     

    For Hamas, the ceasefire agreement is an acknowledgement that Israel's economic blockade of Gaza is hurting its administration and is having a hugely detrimental impact on Gaza's population, says the BBC's Wyre Davies in Jerusalem.

     

    The decision to approve the ceasefire was made by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defence Minister Ehud Barak. It followed the return of a defence official from Cairo, where talks were held with Egyptian mediators.

     

    Making his first public comment about the truce, Mr Olmert expressed his hope that it would succeed.

     

    But, he added: "We should not have illusions. The terror organisations, and Hamas among them, have not changed their goals."

     

    The White House gave the truce a cautious welcome, saying it hoped Hamas would "give up terrorism".

     

    Earlier, Israeli Radio said eight rockets had been fired from Gaza towards Israel on Wednesday.

     

    Meanwhile, Israel said it was ready for talks with Lebanon and would consider all issues of dispute, including the Shebaa Farms, currently occupied by Israel.

     

    Separately, Israel and Syria have been holding indirect peace talks, mediated by Turkey.

     

    A breakthrough in those discussions could bolster Mr Olmert at home, where he faces a corruption scandal, correspondents say.

     

    According to a breakdown of the truce released by Hamas, Israel will ease its restrictions for the trade of certain goods between Gaza and Israel on Friday morning, and open up the crossings for all commercial goods next week.

     

    After two weeks, talks will start involving Israel, Hamas, the Palestinian Authority and the EU on reopening the Rafah crossing into Egypt.

     

    An Israeli security source told Israel Radio that negotiations on the return of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit were expected to resume within a few days.

     

    Confirmation of the truce coincided with the publication of a new UN report on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

     

    The UN said power cuts and fuel shortages meant that more than half of Gaza's population had access to water only every other day, while a quarter received it only every four days.

    BBC

  15. Posted

    Originally posted by xiinfaniin:

    Edit: Castro, that would have been an ideal situation. But alshabaab has no interest to talking to dabodhilifs, and you know it. If you are suggesting such agreement should be put off till alshabaabsI do not agree. To include alshabaab has been Sharif's prefered approach as well. But alshabaab has been quite inflexible in thier stance. And the caravan must move forward adeer, and we shall support it.

    You are too quick to label them inflexible when you easily ignore their designation as Persona non grata by the powers that be. Their boycott of these talks is only a response to their exclusion of the process by the organizers.

     

    Let's be real here. Let's get off this philosophical rubbish and talk about the merits of the agreement.

     

    How can you have a cease fire when one of the major parties in the conflict is not a signatory to the agreement? And why is this so different from all the others that came before it?

  16. Posted

    Originally posted by xiinfaniin:

    Castro
    ,

     

    You are vacillating between cautiously supporting the Jabbuuti agreement and rejecting it. I am having difficulty time deciphering your posts. Tell us whether you oppose it outright, and, if you will, what you think the alternative should be.

    Read a few pages earlier atheer. I already said I support it but only in so far as it is viable. Since it's viability is near zero. Then it is fair to assume, on your part, that my support is just as small.

     

    Alternative is bring the Shabaab to the table along with the ARS (whatever that is). Entice them in however way you can. Ethiopia and the West are represented by the TFG at the table. Sheikh Sharif represents a segment of Somalis. The Shabaab represent other segments.

     

    Make it all-inclusive atheer and put some realistic milestones on it.

     

    When an agreement is signed from such talks, you'll see me lead the cheers with a cartwheel.

  17. Posted

    ^^^^ Heh. Today is 6/18/2008. The agreement was struck on 6/4/2008. 120 days from this latter date is 10/2/2008.

     

    Tell me atheer, what, in your informed opinion, will be the state of Somalia on 10/2/2008?

     

    You're hoping it'll succeed, I'm telling you it has already failed, so, what are the consequences of this agreement's failure?

     

    Originally posted by xiinfaniin:

    To the contrary, this agreement is a good first step toward peaceful and stable Somalia.

    Yes, Xiin. Only we've had 15 or 16 that came before it. All hailed as the first step. And believe it or not, we weren't even under occupation when those were signed.

     

    Connect the dots, atheer. I know you can do it.

  18. Posted

    Originally posted by Hunguri:

    Conclusion:-

     

    Ninka sugi kari waayay 120 habeen, ayaa Xabashidu Somalia kaga baxaysaa. Anigu, waxaan u arkaa nin dan kale watta. Ama Al Shabaab ha taageero, ama Ereteria, ama Somali land ama ONLF. Caqliga, aan caadifadu ku jirin. Ama aan suntii Somalida kala dishay, ka guuxayn. Waxaan aaminsanahay. Inuu sabri karo 120 habeen. Isagoo, ka war sugaya. Hadba xaalku sidoo noqdo. Laakiin, ninkii fawdo iyo dan kale wadaa. Dee hayska qayliyo!

     

    Nabadaa naas la nuugo leh!

    Walee adaa cirka roob ku og. Keep waiting awoowe. I'll tell you in six words what Oodweyne would in 5000: this agreement is an aborted fetus.

     

    Saying so does not make one a warmonger. Ignoring it makes you look uninformed.

  19. Posted

    ^^^^ It's not the lack of English that they signed this agreement. Surely they would have found someone to translate it for them.

     

    The reasons why the good Sheikh may have signed this agreement are:

     

    1) he see something in it that we don't, or

    2) he was forced to sign it for whatever reason, or

    3) he was paid off, or

    4) he has been duped.

     

    I don't think there's a fifth option.

  22. Posted

    ^^^^ You must realize many of the respondents are unmarried. Habar fadhida lagdin uga fudud dhe.

     

    Originally posted by Nephthys:

    I would be very wary of a grown woman that would be in a relationship that long, and not demand to see ALL of him. I would think it should be demanded by the first or second night at the latest. Maxay inta u ag fadhiday?

    Rookies. :rolleyes:

     

    Originally posted by Abtigiis & Tolka:

    Rooble doesn’t know whether it is because of the falaadhaha or because of the lie; why she left his friend?

    She left because of the massive nipples on his man boobs.

  23. Posted

    ^^^^ Nabad iyo Nike atheer. :D Et tu?

     

    These guys want us to wear dacas or walk barefoot. Every shoe or any other piece of clothing I ever wore had a logo of some sort on it.

     

    Are these guys walking around naked or do they make their own clothes like Ghandi did?

  25. Posted

    Yes, let us give the good Sheikh a chance. But the Djibouti agreement has very little chance: it was literally back to the drawing board from the moment it was signed. I'm just a little afraid the good Sheikh is being used by those who see his value for reasons different to those that we do.

     

    Inshallah khayr.

     

    Edit: Did I mention I welcome and support this agreement? But only in so far as it is viable and feasible given the circumstances on the ground. Closer scrutiny will force you to reach the same conclusion atheer.