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GHARRI
REGION News Update Tuesday November 30, 2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG
News Contributor
The
delegation of high-ranking Oromo and Somali states officials, had arrived
in Moyale on November 28,2004. The Minister of federal affairs headed the
delegates. They have met with the Somali and Oromo states local leaders
and various committees. Also, they are expected to meet with community
elders on December 01, 2004. According to our informant, the Oromo state
representatives have not presented their report in regard to the locations
that they do not have inhabit in or have any supporters in.
The Oromo local
officials are still clinging on the same argument that the land belongs to
them and its inhabitants are Somali immigrants, therefore, they have the
absolute right to the land. But our reporter stated that they are not
surprised by what the oromos are saying or why they said it. Because, the
Oromos are claiming the entire Ethiopian land as theirs, so, claiming the
Gharri land is something the Gharri people are already use to it by now
so, it is not new.
Our informant stated that the Oromo local
officials claimed that the Gharri people have abducted their people and
they are still held some where in the Ethiopia and Somali boarder areas by
the Gharri people. So, the Gharri officials were asked to release those
abducted people and to explain why? However, the Gharri officials denied
the allegation of abduction and brought those people in questions to the
meeting. The people were asked by the delegates if they were abducted and
by whom? They replied that no one abducted them and they simply went to
participate in the Gharri meeting, and they are fine. So, it was fired
back at the Oromo officials, and the issues of Oromo abductions was put to
rest.
Also, the two Gharri victims who were injured by
the Oromo thugs have been
taken to Addis Abeba for treatment.
GHARRI REGION News Update Friday November 26, 2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG
News Contributor
The delegation of high-ranking Oromo and Somali states officials, headed
by two presidents is expected to arrive in Moyale on Tuesday November 30,
2004. They are expected to
visit all nine disputed locations in Moyale district.
On November 24, 2004, Oromo rebels ambushed
several unarmed Gharri citizens injuring two and abducting one. But he has
since escaped and has been reunited with his family. In addition, the
Oromo rebels planted landmines on the road between Dhokisu and Beddee to
terrorize the Gharri people, but the landmine was detected and removed
before any one got hurt.
According to
information received from Moyale Kenya, two Oromo factions have fought
among themselves and killing one and injuring two. The tensions are very
high between the twin cities boarder line between the Kenya and Ethiopian
counterparts, each accusing
the others for the disturbances.
The Oromo Liberation Front has declared war
against the Gharri people stating that the Gharri are their number one
enemy and obstacles to their struggle therefore, said they have declared
an all out war against the Gharri people to liberate the oppressed Oromos
in Southern Ethiopia.
The Oromo Liberation has been lying to the Oromo
masses regarding their struggle against the Ethiopians just to maintain
soliciting funds from them, but, there is not one single evidence to show
that they ever fought against the Ethiopian arm forces in southern
Ethiopia, but there is ample evidences to show that the Oromo Liberation
Front fought and is still fighting against the unsuspecting Gharri herders
and looting thousands of Gharri owned herds. Therefore, our reporter said
that “the So called the Oromo
Liberation Front is nothing more than organized criminals whose main
objectives are to cleanse certain ethnic group and loot their properties
in order to achieve fame in their nomad communities.”
GHARRI REGION News Update Sunday
November
21, 2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG News Contributor
The Oromo malefactor’s attempt to ambush and rob a Burji
owned vehicle has failed. However, they indiscriminately shot at the
vehicle and killed one Borana passenger and wounded one Burji female on
board at Bakul- Boma, which is about 7 kilometers Northwest of the Moyale
City.
Also, according to the information received from Moyale, the Oromo
region administrators, community leaders and elders are meeting in Yavelo,
to discuss which one of the nine locations in Moyale district that they
will agree
not to participate in the upcoming Moyale referendum, and they have asked
for an extension until November 28, 2004
GHARRI
REGION News Update Saturday
November
06, 2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG News Contributor
Persistence and determination pays
off at last.
Prime Minster Melees Zenawi has ordered new delegates to visit
five locations in Moyale District. They are expected to arrive within the
next three days. The new delegates are from the neutral regions, and
clans. The Somali, Oromos, Amharas, and the Debub Izbotch have been
excluded. So, the new delegates will visit Bulladi, Goff, Beede, Chamuq,
and Mallab and determine the population make up and report it no later
than the November 20, 2004.
Our reporter said, the locations that are populated by Somali or Oromo
majority will not participate in the referendum election. The majority of
its residents will resume its administration. Also, our correspondent
stated that the Oromo region has agreed to let the Somali region take
control of five locations near Miyeso, but Babille and other disputed
locations are to be decided by concerned bodies soon.
The Oromo has lost hope of grabbing the Gharri region. They spent hundreds
of millions of dollars and food rations to bribe minority clans and the
poor.
However, our people’s perseverance and determination paid off and it
appears that the majority of the disputed cities will not be contested at
all, and the Gharri people become the Sole owners of their ancestral
lands. Victory to the Gharri people.
GHARRI REGION News Update Friday November 05, 2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG
News Contributor
The Somali state and the Oromo state representatives were not able to
agree on the issues of the last referendum election fraud, which was
claimed by the Somali state during the conflict resolution conference that
was held in Addis Abeba. So, the two regions presidents have met with
Prime Minister Melese Zenawi.
Now, the decision is in
hands of Melese Zenawi. Our reporter said what ever the prime minister
decides it will become the law. Therefore, the Somali states citizens are
so nervous because they believe that melese will decide in favor of the
Oromo state.
GHARRI REGION News Update Wednesday November 03, 2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG
News Contributor
The Gharri delegates headed by Mr. Ali Dheree at conflict resolution
hearing held at the Addis Abeba have scored remarkably well. They
presented their case to the representative of the federal government, and
the election commissioners, that the Oromo officials have violated every
agreement the two states made in the past, by the two states president.
The Gharri representatives presented supporting evidences and showed case
by case were the Oromo region representatives involved in an ethnic
cleansing campaign against the Gharri people, such as the Arero massacre
of 2000 and Maddar mass killing of o6 September, 2004. The perpetrators have not been punished or brought to justice
yet. The Oromo president admitted to it and stated that the election must
go on in Moyale district, and he is willing to remove Mr. Tadessa who is
the head of the election commission in Moyale district.
It has been agreed upon by both states that there will be
no creation of new locations or sub locations for the purpose of
participating in this referendum election. Also, the two states presidents
and head of the security personnel as well as local leaders agreed to send
back all non-residents that were brought in by both sides, but the Oromo
officials are still clinging on to the same issues, which has become a
headache for the Oromo region president.
Also, it has been agreed to apprehend those Oromo militias who are
responsible for the killing of 9 and the wounding of 6 Gharri citizens and
also to return all looted properties. So far, they have not done it.
Therefore, on November 02, 2004, the Oromo president took the blame and
faulted the Oromo region officials, for their failure to fulfill what they
have agreed upon and signed on in good faith.
The conference is expected to conclude later today, and we will let you
know as soon as the end result or outcome is known to us.
LATEST
MOYALE News Update Thursday October 28,
2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG News Contributor
Moyale
Kenya: On October 27, 2004 one
Burji owned home was bombed, one person was killed and four were injured.
They blamed the Gharri people for the incident.
Ethiopia:
The battle has just begun: the Oromo and
its Amhara masters have invaded The Ethiopian Somali State.
As
most of you already heard, it has been reported that the Oromo region has
won all-important key cities and villages even in the areas where there
are no Oromo citizens. Example, hawiya and issa areas all allegedly were
won by the Oromos, how can that happen? Who cast their ballot there? Our
correspondent stated that the reason why the Oromos were declared the
winner was not because they won the popular vote, but because they
received fraudulent ballot boxes full of voting cards.
The
Somali state has already filed a complaint with the government and
election commissioners. So, it is not a done deal yet.
In
the1993 referendum, Moyale was declared as being won by the Oromo region,
but our Gharri brave brothers and sisters’ relentlessly fight to make it
impossible for the Oromos to function in Moyale. As a result, the
Ethiopian government withdraws its decision and declared that referendum
null and void. One of our local leaders said today in 2004, the Gharri
people are more than ready to face the so-called mighty Oromos as long as
one Gharri man and woman stand alive in Moyale. They are ready to defend
what is naturally theirs.
The
Oromos have been given five days to expel all those street thugs and
Konssos or face the consequences.
LATEST
MOYALE News Update Monday October 25,
2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG News Contributor
The
Gharri people have lost both Maddar and Wachile administratorship.
Therefore, both cities will be under the Arero district (Woreda). Now,
there is lot of disappointed and shocked people everywhere in the Gharri
region. Because, it has been said as if the Maddar was a done deal, that
the majority of the ballots went to the Gharri people, therefore, no body
expect to lose Maddar.
LATEST
MOYALE News Update Saturday October 23,
2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG News Contributor
The
Moyale saga continues to be a circus like event every day.
The
Moyale district has been excluded from this upcoming Sunday’s nation
wide referendum elections.
Our
correspondent stated that the main reason for indefinite postponement of
referendum in Moyale District was due to the OPDO’s officials refusal to
pull out 15,000 people they smuggled in to Moyale, until they got their
way, which is to take over the Bulladi and Goff. Also, the Ethiopian
federal arm forces stationed in Moyale failed to enforce the laws that
they came to enforce.
About
two weeks ago, the two states presidents and minister of states
representing the Ethiopian federal government signed an agreement that all
smuggled Oromo people must be sent back. However, the local Oromo (OPDO)
leaders refused to send them back. Again, the Ethiopian federal security
forces that are in charge failed to do anything about it.
So
far the Oromo’s claims have been proven to be nothing more than fiction.
There’s
not a single Oromo person who ever lived in Goff and Bulladi and none been
found there either by any of the committees who visited both towns and
interviewed its residents, but they are still claiming to have displaced
people from those two towns.
Maddar
and Wachile residents will cast their ballots on Sunday October 24, 2004.
LATEST MOYALE News Update
Monday October 18,
2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG News Contributor
The Oromo state representatives have filed a motion and a complaint to the
federal government and the Ethiopian election commissioners, claiming that
their people from Bulladi, EL Goff, and Beede were displaced during the
2000 war. Therefore, they are demanding for their return before this
referendum begins. Based on that
complaint, the committee was created to look into the Oromos complaint.
The newly created committee has conducted their investigation and visited
EL Goff, Beede and Bulladi. They could not find any lead or witness to
substantiate the Oromo’s claims.
However, the un
named general who is the head of the federal security force was not
satisfied with the committee's findings. So, the committee was given
different sets of questions, and was ordered to go back to EL Goff and
Bulladi, and conduct more interviews with the locals or investigate the
alleged Oromo refugees from those two places. They are expected to
complete their investigation or interviews today October 08, 2004 and
present their findings to the full committees some time late today or not
later than October 19, 2004
Our reporter said that based on the recommendation of the 150 Community
elders and federal security personnel that are in charge of Moyale area,
the Oromo and Somali states local officials have been arrested, and Mr.
Ibrahim Bitati is among the officials now in jail.
Also,
Wachile and Maddar
residents have completed distributing voting cards, and they will cast
their ballots within next five days.
LATEST
MOYALE News Update saturday October 16,
2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG News Contributor
The
Somali and Oromo states presidents along with other high-ranking officials
have left Moyale on October 15, 2004. Our correspondent stated that before
departing from Moyale, they met with security officials, and 150 community
elders consisting of 50, from the Gharri community, 50 from the Oromo
community, and 50 from other small minority groups to determine the causes
of last week turmoil. So, the head of federal security personal and 150
community elders all agreed that the local officials from both sides are
the cause of the problems.
They added that they are the ones who smuggled non-residents in to the
city that resulted in the major disturbances. Our reporter added that the
officers in charge implicated eight local officials, four from each
political party, and gave the recommendation that 6 out of 8 officials be
removed from the election committee membership, and the remaining two to
be fired from their job. Therefore, the Oromo and the Somali elders and
other officials agreed to accept the recommendation and implemented it
right away. The Gharri people had already replaced 3 of their officials
including the Moyale mayor and fired “Malin Speed.” He was charged
with inciting the public to resist against any attempt to bring in other
nonresidents from the Oromo community. Also, the Oromo officials were
charged with smuggling non-residents from all over their administrative
regions and puts peoples live in danger.
Also, the two presidents and other government officials along with the
locals agreed that there would be no creation of new locations or villages
allowed
After 4 days of intense debates, charges and counter charges, they were
able to narrowed down their differences to two locations, Bulladi, and
Chamuq. The Oromo region claimed that they have unspecified numbers of
people whom were forced to flee from Bulladi in 2000. They now are living
in refugee camps, therefore, those refugees must be returned to their
original residences. However, the Gharri people disputed the Oromo’s
claim as untrue and false, that there’s no single Oromo person who ever
lived in Bulladi therefore, no such refugees existed. However, the two
states officials and federal government representatives all agreed the
need to create a three-person committee consisting of one from Gharri, one
from Oromo and one from federal government to study and determine the
validity of the Oromo’s claim. The committee has been created. They are
expected to visit Bulladi and interview the residents there regarding the
alleged Oromo refugees today on October 16, 2004.
Also, the Officials have ordered all smuggled people to be returned to
where they came from and ordered to have another general public gathering
and head count afterward. So, the general public gathering and head counts
have been scheduled for October 21, 2004 at all 9 disputed locations
simultaneously.
LATEST
MOYALE News Update Wednesday October 13,
2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG News Contributor
The Kenyan and Ethiopian boarder has been
reopened. Also, the Somali and Oromo states high ranking officials have
arrived in Moyale. Now, they are conducting a meeting with local leaders
and the community elders to resolve last week's dispute over who should be
able to participate in this referendum at Bulladi, EL Goff, Mallab, and
Beede locations.
According to eyewitness reports, it has been
agreed that only the residents of the above mentioned towns are eligible
to participate in this referendum to decide which political party should
take over its administration. Therefore, the Gharri people are very happy
about it. Now, at least 3 out
of 9 disputed locations have already agreed to be under the control of the
Gharri people. Also, the
Gharri people are very hopeful to win at least 3 out 6 remaining disputed
locations. .
Our reporter said about 600 smuggled
Konso Oromos from Yavelo have been returned back to their home town, and
the remaining other non residents who were smuggled in by both side have
been asked to leave or to be sent back to where ever they came from.
However, the meeting is still ongoing, and we will let you know the final
out come as it developed or as story is unfolded.
Western
Gharri Region News Update Tuesday October 12,
2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG News Contributor
The Moyale City is still under military Occupation. The Kenya and
Ethiopian boarder has been closed since last Friday night As a result all
children attending schools on the Kenyan side of Gharri District have not
been able to go school.
Our reported said there are about 2000 heavily armed solders
patrolling or controlling the Bulladi and they had cut off any movement
between Bulladi, and the District 02 and vise-versa. However, our reporter
stated that the reason for military presence and boarder closure was to
safeguard the City and its inhabitants (population) from possible attack
by the Oromo armed gangs, and not as to oppress the Moyale citizens.
Also, the Somali state president Jibril and the Oromo state president
Sado are expected to arrive in Moyale today. They are expected to tour the
Bulladi to determine the population make up and also, discuss with the
local leaders the cause of the disturbances and eventually decide how it
can be prevented in the near future from happening.
Western
Gharri Region is under seized Sunday October 10,
2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG News Contributor
According to reports received from Moyale, the scheduled referendum for
Moyale District has been canceled until further notice. Also, Moyale and
all adjacent cities are under occupation of the Ethiopian army, and no
body knows how long this occupation will last.
The excitement and anticipation of finishing a much-awaited
referendum that was thought to be within an arm’s reach, now appears to
be a thing of the past. Our reporter said that the government’s
inability to take action against the perpetrators regardless of their
party line has been blamed for what has happened on October 09, 2004 and
thereafter.
The Oromo region has made it clear during the Gumi Gayu meeting
to let the government and others know their intention or position and that
if they realize that they will lose the occupation of the Gharri land
through the referendum. They will fight to take it back by force and or do
every thing possible to disrupt and stop the process from going through.
So, our reporter said they just did that yesterday, and the much-awaited
referendum has been canceled indefinitely.
Western
Gharri Region is under seized Saturday October 09,
2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG News Contributor
0n Saturday, October 09, 2004, early in the morning local time, the Oromo
region administrators brought thousands of its peasants from abroad to
force themselves into the Gharri Bulladi in Moyale district and to claim
that they are residents of the Bulladi too. Upon receiving the information
and witnessing the first 10 buses full of Oromo peasants’ and street
thugs from Hagger Mariam, Yavelo, and Mega areas, the Bulladi residents
began forming human shields at the main entrance to block them.
However, the Oromo drivers’ decided to run them over.
Most of the peasants and hoodlums whom were armed with machetes,
knives, and sticks, got off from the vehicles and began fighting with the
Gharri Bulladi residents in order to clear the way for the rest of the
buses and trucks to enter the Bulladi. The Gharri people responded with
stones and sticks. So, full-fledged fighting erupted thereafter. As a
result of that, handreds of people were injured from both sides and it
took army helicopters and massive ground troops over two hours to separate
them. However, all three kebeles in Moyale are now under seized by
Ethiopian army personal who are trying to curtail the situation and stone
throwers from both sides.
In addition, according to report received from EL Goff,
thousand of armed Oromo militias were seen at Didd Guchi heading toward EL
Goff. Our reporter stated that a general public gatherings and an official
counts was completed at Beede and EL Goff on October 8, 2004. Not one
single Oromo person or supporter was found at either location. So, all
these disturbances and fighting were intended to stop the referendum
process to take place.
Also,
Bulladi was scheduled to have a general public gathering and head counts
“mololongo” today, but now it is unclear if the process will continue
or will be extended indefinitely because of what has happened today.
Furthermore, our reporter said EL Goff residents have already started
distributing voting cards, but now that too has been disrupted by the
Oromo thugs surrounding EL Goff.
Latest Gharri News Update: Friday
October 08, 2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG
News Contributor
A general public gathering and head counts at six locations in Moyale
district was successfully completed on October 7, 2004. However,
accusations and counter accusations continues between the Gharri and
Oromos each accusing the other of smuggling people from other parts of the
country and from Kenya.
According to eyewitness reports, four
community leaders consisting of two from each political party (the Somali
and Oromo) has been picked without any official headcounts to assist the
election boards at Wachile.
The Ethiopian election board
commissions and judicial representatives have reviewed the Oromo's request
to create nine new sub locations in the Gharri region. subsequently, the
Gharri region administrators filed a complaint. After five days of careful
reviewing of the preceding decisions that were signed by both states
presidents (the Oromo and Somali) and listening to both sides’
arguments, they have upheld the previous decision that there will be no
creation of a new location over or near the existing locations. Therefore,
the Bulladi, Beede, and EL Goff locations will participate in the upcoming
referendum. So, the general public gathering is expected to begin today
Friday October 08, 2004 at the above-mentioned three locations in order to
pick their representatives
Latest
Gharri News Update: Wednesday October 06,
2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG News Contributor
According to eyewitness reports from Moyale, a team of the Ethiopian
election boards has arrived on October 03, 2004. They have met with all
district administrators and community elders and informed them to have
three knowledgeable residents of those communities to join them to help
determine the true residents from a newly arrived people whom were
smuggled in by both side of the political parties (Oromo and Somali
states.)
Also, they said the only effective way to pick those community leaders who
will work with them through out this very important election is to call
for a general public gathering and let the public chose by a majority of
votes. Therefore, massive public gatherings have been scheduled for
October 07, 2004 to take place simultaneously at all six locations at
8:00am in the morning.
However, our correspondent stated that Bulladi, Beede and EL Goff
locations are not going to participates in this important public
gatherings to pick their community representatives because of on
going litigations for time beings.
Latest
Gharri News Update: Tuesday September 28,
2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG News Contributor
According to eyewitness reports, the Moyale and Uddatt districts areas in
the Western Gharri Region have received much needed rain.
On September 26, 2004, a
passenger vehicle owned by Mr. Rasheed Mamo has over turned at Kotich
Harrelle which is located about 16 kilometers from Moyale city. One female
passenger has died and 6 others were injured, but the extents of their
injuries are unknown at this time.
The Oromos attempt to
take over Galgalu Dimtu and Arda Olla sub locations in Moyale District
have failed. Now they are behaving like rabid animals or going to extreme
lengths playing war drums in order to scare the Gharri people, so that
they could ran away
from their motherland. But our correspondent said that although the Oromos
are acting like a rabies -infected run away dogs that tries to bite
everything’s that comes in its way, the
Gharri people are not inclined to run from it, and are ready to face what
ever the Oromos have to bring it to them.
Latest Gharri News Update: Monday
September 27, 2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG
News Contributor
Mr. Adan Edin Abdi and Mr. Gurach A.
Karrolle were presumed dead after they were missing for over a week. The
two men left Nagale heading to the Uddatt District, and they never reached
their destination Therefore; the Gharri people are blaming the Oromo Guji
thugs as the killers of the two men. Furthermore, up to 100 Gharri gold
miners are missing since September o6, 2004, from the Burchichi Gold mine.
Therefore, their fates are unknown at this time, and the Gharri
leaders have hired and sent a third party investigator to gold mine to
find out the status of those men.
Also, 300 Gharri herds that were looted by Oromo hoodlums on Sept. 06,
2004 from the Maddar area have been recovered; and the authorities are
still searching for more herds.
According to news received from Moyale, the Oromo region administrators
have managed to smuggle over 10, 000 of their supporters to Moyale from
Agermariam, Yavelo, Mega, and Borbor area and more people are coming in
daily. Our reporter said that the reason why that many Oromo people being
smuggled is to participate in the
upcoming referendum and win the Moyale District as part of the Oromo
region.
The Gharri people have complained to the Ethiopian authorities in the
area, but they were told that nothing could be done about smuggled people,
and told to do the same.
Latest Gharri News Update: Monday
September 20, 2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG
News Contributor
Massive public gatherings are taking place in 9 locations in Moyale
District. According to our correspondent, the public gatherings were
called for by the Oromo region four to determine the population make up in
the disputed areas as a form of sample polling. So, our reporter stated
that the Kenya/Ethiopian border has been closed to curbs voter fraud, Or
curb people from crossing over and casting votes. However, already
accusation of human trafficking has become the talks of the day, that the
Oromos have smuggled the Borana and Gabras from Tuqa, Sogda, and Malbbee
areas to show up for today’s public gathering mainly in Moyale.
Similar public gatherings were called and took place at the same 9
locations on September 01, 2004, and only a handful of Oromos and their
supporters showed up, while over 10,000 Gharri supporters took almost the
entire field. Therefore, upon realizing that if a referendum was held in
Moyale and Malab, then, they had no chance to win or gain any of the
disputed lands. Soon after, the Oromo politicians protested and complained
that their supporters were intimidated and blocked from coming through,
and they also accused the Gharri people of bringing people from Somalia
and Kenya. However, they failed to produce any evidence of wrongdoing or
human trafficking by the Gharri people.
But they requested for a second public gathering, and that was why
today’s gathering was scheduled at first place. So, we will inform you
as soon as the final results become available
Latest Gharri News Update: Thursday September 09,
2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG News Contributor
According to reports received from Moyale, the
death toll has reached 9. Eight of the 9 killed are Hussein
Girro Durro, Ali Malin Abdow, Mallaya Edin Guracha, Abdow Ibrahim Hamaroy,
Dhakelow Isaap Imid, Issaqow Gedo, Edin Abdi Mohamed, Aliyow Malin Hassan.
Also, Abdiya Mohamed Qalla, Hassanow Hassan
Aliyo, Malin Mohamed Hassanow, Eimoy Hassan Kulla, Mohamed Umar Dagle, and
Isaaq Imid are among the injured victims
of the Oromo terrorist. In addition, our correspondent confirmed that some
of the ringleaders and the financiers of the terrorist organization have
been arrested including the Arero Woreda Administrator.
Furthermore,
there is meeting going on in Madder between government officials and
madder residents and the authorities are trying to calm the people and
helping to return to their respected former residences.
A
season Of Ethnic cleansing has began against the Gharri people by Oromo
terrorist: Wednesday
September
08, 2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG News Contributor
On September 6, 2004, Oromo terrorist raided Madar. According to
eyewitness accounts, six people were killed, six wounded and two are
missing. Three of the wounded are not expected to survive. Furthermore,
they raided over 12 nearby villages and got away with an unspecified
numbers of herds ("DANAB"), however, the numbers of casualties
are not known there at this time due to lack of accessibility as there are
no roads connecting to many of those villages.
Rescue and recovery teams have been sent to the area and we will
report it as soon as we receive new developments
News
Brief From the Gharri Region: Tuesday August 31, 2004,
by Gur Gharri, GSG News Contributor
According to reports received from Moyale, the head of the Moyale
area Ethiopian security enforcement, Mr. Abera
Ayela has been implicated in the bombing incident. One of the Oromo
rebels who was captured at the scene on August 22,2004 allegedly confessed
that he was one of the internal Oromo conspirators and Mr. Aberra Ayela is
their leader. He was in charge of the campaign to disrupt any attempt to
determine the land ownership.
Our correspondent stated that the Oromo politicians knew that if
the process went through, they would have no chance of gaining any
disputed land or towns. So, this is the only way they thought they would
have a chance to prolong the control of Gharri’s natural resources.
In addition,the perpetrator said Mr. Ayela is the rebel’s main
contributor and one of the main planners who decides, who is the target,
when to carry out a crime, and the escape route. He added that Mr. Aberra
Ayela was involved in all the criminal activities that took place in
Moyale City and a collaborated with the Oromo rebels. Our reporter said
the man had a written statement in his pocket allegedly written
by Mr.
Aberra Ayela, instructing him when to trigger the explosives or bombs.
Furthermore, Mr. Aberra Ayela was the same
man who was believed tohave carried out the Arero Massacre of 2000, in
which 83 innocent Gharri womenand children were slaughtered.Also, one of
the threewounded men has died and he was a Guarage ethnic.
The Oromo criminals such as Aberra Ayela
are targeting the Guaragepeople, because the Guarage people in Moyale have
decided to vote for the Gharrimajority in the upcoming referendum. The
killing was politically motivated andintended to teach them a lesson. Said
the source
News
Brief From the Gharri Region: Monday August 23, 2004,
by Gur Gharri, GSG News Contributor
On
Sunday August 22, 2004 at about midnight, a bomb exploded near a popular
hotel in Moyale in the Gharri Region.
Three people were injured but they are expected to survive.
According to our correspondent, three Oromo individuals are in
custody, and one of the perpetrators has implicated the Oromo rebels as
the people behind the incident.
It is believed that the
Oromo rebels and its people are nervous that the will loose most of the
disputed lands if the upcoming referendum is held peacefully and now they
are trying to stop and or disrupt this process from going through.
News
Brief From the Gharri Region: Tuesday August 10, 2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG
News Contributor
Ethiopia: The Gharri people in Moyale district have began
distributing voting cards for the upcoming referendum. The Moyale
residents are so anxious and unhappy about the government’s strategy in
ordering the relocation of the Gharri police forces from the Disputed land
area. They believe that the government has a hidden agenda and that it may
take over the administration of the District.
According to our
correspondent from Moyale, the Gharri and the Borana police forces have
been ordered to relocate and will be replaced by neutral federal police
forces. Our reporter indicated that the Government informed the town ship
councils that it is for security reasons in order to keep peace
and tranquility in
the area during the election and to curtail unforeseen criminal elements.
Kenya:
According to the information received from Nairobi, the Mandera Gharri
city councils have endorsed to elect a Murale individual as Mayor of
Mandera city against the wishes of the Gharri people There’s no Gharri
candidate running for the Mayoral ship. However, there are two candidates
running for the mayoral ship, including one from Degody and the second one
from the Murale.
The Gharri people
want to elect the Degody candidate while Adan Mohamed Nura and his
entourages are pushing hard and perusing to elect the Muralle clan’s
man. There are rumors that the Murale clan has managed to buy their souls
through Adan Mohamed Nura and their votes will be influenced by the ransom
(bribe) money.
News Brief From the Gharri
Region July 28,
2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG News
Contributor
The Gharri people are waiting for officials
from Jigjiga and other dignitaries to arrive for official ceremonies and
the election of the Mayor, deputy Mayor, Speaker of the house, and
Secretary for the Uddatt district.
Also, all eyes are on Moyale district,
that it will be determined within the next sixty days whether the Moyale
district will fall under the Somali region or the Oromo region. According
to the current Ethiopian constitution the majority people or the clan that
holds 51% or more will administer
the disputed district. Therefore,
our informant stated that the Gharri people are the majority in Moyale,
holding 75% of the population.
In addition, the Borana leaders have
accused one of the Gharri elders, and businessman of killing one of their
community leaders earlier this month. So, they are threatening to
assassinate him.
Also, we have received sad news that
Mr. Dawit Intalo has passed away on July 27, 2004, so, we ask you to pray
and send sympathy to his wives and children.
Gharri Have
Celebrated In Huge Numbers. Monday July
19, 2004, by Gur Gharri, GSG News Contributor
On
July 18, 2004. Uddatt became a full Gharri District. The Gharri people
have celebrated in huge numbers and are still celebrating all over the
Northwestern Gharri Region in Ethiopia.
According to our correspondent, people from all walks of life, young
and old alike were chanting, dancing, and singing on the streets through
out the Gharri region in Ethiopia.
It was a joyful, and victorious day for our people. Also, it is a moral
victory that despite long struggles and stiff oppositions from the Oromos
and the Ogaden thugs, at the end they prevailed victoriously. Now all the
eyes are on the Moyale District.
Major news from Gharri District:
by Gur Gharri June 21, 2004
GSG
has learned that the Gharri victims prayers have been answered and those
refugees who have been suffering in EL Danaba concentration Camp have been
repatriated to their homes to Butte and Gurar.
According to an eyewitness report, the Ajurans attacked the area PC
upon hearing that, the Gharri victims were about to be repatriated to
their homeland. We heard that they did tested their own medicine, that the
perpetrators were apprehended and are in jail waiting sentencing for their
crimes against the PC.
Disturbing
News From the Gharri Konfur Region
According to news received from Mogadishu, Somalia, a
well-known Gharri businessman and community icon, Mr. Mohamed Rasheed was
ambushed by Somali Thugs in Mogadishu. Originally, the Somali hoodlums
plan was to abduct him and demand a ransom, but upon realizing that they
weren’t going to succeed, they shot him in cold-blood injuring him very
seriously. Now he is in intensive care and may not survive.
Also, the federation of RRA and Eelay bandits, waged war on the Gharri
people in Bulo Fulay and BisiqAdey area on June 19, 2004 in an attempt to
wipeout the Gharri people from the region. However, the Somali bandits
(Thugs) dreams were short lived. Determined Gharri warriors and gallant
young men accompanied with ululating brave Gharri women were able to
defeat them.
News Brief From Gharri Region:
by Gur Gharri June 20, 2004
The Oromo rebels attempt to
loot a Gharri village near EL Goff, has failed. On June 17, 2004, the
Gharri militia received a tip from Oromo informant, that, the fleeing
Oromo rebels are about to attack a Gharri village near EL Goff. So, upon
receiving the news, the Gharri militias were dispatched and they
intercepted it before the rebels infiltrate inside the residential area.
The fighting ensued, one rebel was killed and one Gharri
militia was wounded. He is expected to recover. According to eyewitness
report, the rest of the rebels fled in disarray and leaving behind the
dead rebel, guns and unspecified amount of ammunitions.
Our reporter said that, the
Oromo rebels have lost their base and safe haven in Kenya. Now they are on
the run and are “panic-stricken like a cat on a hot tin roof.” So,
they are single-mindedly targeting the Gharri herders to loot for ration.
Situational Report From The Gharri
Region: June 14, 2004 By Gur Gharri
The EL Wake (Boru Hache) situation is very calmed. As one of our elders
said, our people’s confidence has been restored and our young women are
able to do their daily chores without fear of been raped. Thanks to our
brave men who sacrificed much to safe guard our beloved land and the
Gharri’s dignity. For the first time in over forty years, the shadow
borderline that has served as a barrier between our two communities has
disappeared.
According to reliable news received from Moyale,
Kenyan and Ethiopian arm forces are conducting joint operations in the
Eastern province of Kenya to root out the criminal element that has
threaten peace and tranquility for the people living around the borderline
Our informant said, so far, 6 O.L. F rebels have been captured along with
one of the well-known supporters of the Oromo rebels by the name of Roba
Abba mal-le. So, the Oromo
rebels are on the run.
News Brief From The Gharri District:
May 9, 2004, by Gur
Gharri
Five men were arrested on Friday May 07, 2004 in EL Wake, including four
Gharri and one Murralle individual. The four Gharri men were Mr. Salad
Adan Barricha, Chief Hussein Adan Khalif, Councilor Dima, and a driver of
a vehicle where two Murralle men were allegedly taken out and murdered in
April 2004. One Murralle man was only identified as Councilor Nunow.
Furthermore, as tensions mounted between the Gharri
and Ajuran, the Kenya government ordered armed military
intervention, and now there is a massive military buildup in and around
the Ines Teno area which was intended to curtail the Gharri people from
retaliating against the Ajuran for the killing
of three of their citizens.
Also, Six people were killed in
a fight between two Marehan factions over control of Belled Hawo located
near Mandera. Our reporter said two people were injured in Mandera town by
gunshots from belled Hawo, and one of the injured is in critical
condition.
News Brief From
Gharri Region: May 03,
2004, by Gur Gharri
On April 30,
2004, Ajurana Thugs raided two Gharri herders in Dharken Torban Near
Qofolle, and murdered Mr. Abdi Usuman Aeymoy and kidnapped two young men
in their twenties.
On May 02, 2004, the torture and mutilated bodies of the two victims were
found in Qofolle area. The two victims were identified as Aliyow Malin
Hassan Isaaq and Rashid Ibrahim Ibren. Now the area PC has ordered the
Kesnyan Arm forces to safeguard the Ajuran Communities from possible
retaliation from the Gharri Communities.
Also, according to news received from Moyale Kenya, two Ires Teno Chiefs,
who were let go in March 2004, have been ordered to go back to their
previous location.
News Brief From Gharri Region: April
19, 2004, by Gur Gharri
The
Moyale District election has been ratified. The winners of the city
Mayoral seat and speaker of the house position including deputy mayor and
assistant Speaker has been filled.
Mr.
Ibrahim Bitati was elected as Mayor and Mr. Shukri Ed Dhayow as Speaker of
the house. The deputy Mayor went to the Gabra and another minority was
given the position of assistant speaker of the house.
The Uddatt District
election has not been ratified yet.
News brief from Gharri DISTRICT:by Gur Gharri Tuesday March 30, 2004
News received from Gharri District indicates that
the Kenyan government has ordered the closure of its border with Somalia.
According to our correspondent, the Mandera-Bellede Hawa, EL Wake-EL Waq
and all other points of entry to the country have been closed. One Gharri
owned vehicle was seized and its
owner who is a resident of Kutulo was arrested as well.
News brief from Gharri Region:by Gur Gharri Sunday March 28, 2004
GSG has learned that an unknown group of men terrorized school children.
The information reached us from Moyale indicates that hundreds of school
children were injected with unknown substances against their wills, while
they were going home from schools or walking to schools. Three of the
perpetrators have been captured. They clamed to be from the Sakuye
clan, and were hired by an unspecified agency to commit this heinous
crime. So, the mater is under investigation.
The Ethiopian soldiers and Oromo rebels clashed in the Moyale borderline
and have clamed one Gharri bystander at Soko Marata. On March 26, 2004
Furthermore, Ires Tino and Sakee Chiefs
have been let go and replaced by Ajuran. However, the area residents are
not willing to accept the new chiefs. So, peace and tranquility in the
area is in jeopardy
News brief from Gharri Region:by Gur Gharri Wednesday March 10, 2004
For the past 12 years, they were the only bullies in town. The Marehan
forces have been terrorizing area residents, robbing, and killing innocent
people daily. They have murdered fourteen Gharri citizens in cold blood,
without any provocation.
On October 14, 2003, a small but determined Gharri force took control of
their District and around the EL Waq oasis.
Since then, the Marehan has been trying so hard to mobilize the
other clan forces in the area through lies telling other Hawiye clans that
EL Waq has been taken over by Ethiopian forces but, was not able to
convince others. Now we have learned that they were able to fool the
Murralles and are now pressing on to take over EL Wake (Boru Hache).
However, we are confident that if they acted on their rhetoric's, at the
end, our forces will prevail. Victory
to the Gharri people.
News brief from Gharri Region:by Gur Gharri Saturday March 06, 2004
GSG has learned that in the past two weeks 8 Gharri Citizens have
died. Two men died in EL Dorete,
three people died in EL Wake including two women and three people died in
Moyale. According to our correspondent, six of the eight people were died
from various illnesses, and the other two who died in EL Dorete were
killed by a car accident.
The
dispute between the
Wargadud, Borehole 11 and the EL Wake residents over the Girls Boarding
school project has been settled, and the Girls boarding school will be
built in EL Wake.
News
brief from Gharri Region: by
Gur Gharri Sunday February 22, 2004
GSG has learned that last month’s election in Dolo district was
cancelled. Our correspondent
stated that the election was canceled due to Degodia’s misconduct in
cheating the Gharri Marro and other smaller clans in the area. They
switched ballot boxes and voting cards in order to deny others the right
to participate and have representative of their own.
Also, the Degody and some election boards were accused of
placing almost all of the polling places in the Degody clan populated
area, where is not accessible for others to go and vote. So,
new elections will be scheduled in the near future, for Dolo, Jijiga, and
Shinillee Districts.
News
brief from Gharri District: by
Gur Gharri Thursday February 12, 2004
The Mandera West constituency has received two Ambulances that will serve,
the Takaba and Banissa area residents in the Gharri district.
According to our informant, the Mandera District
Commissioner and MP visited Gharri citizens living between the
Mandera-Wajir boundary and the Somali Kenya borderline. They witnessed
large numbers of the Gharri people living in a vast land, with out
schools, Mosques, or Clinics and no any government officials or area MPs
in the previous Kenya government personnel has ever visited or even knew
they existed. As a result, the two officials, agreed to build Schools,
Mosques, and water projects for them.
In addition, the delegation headed by the above mentioned
officials verified that the alleged Shifta take over of the EL Wake area
was false and unfounded.
Moreover, the Gharri brave young men have stored peace and tranquility in
EL Waq area, and even the Marehan clan has began expressing their
appreciation for our young men's restoration of peace. There is not a
single incident reported since they took over the area patrol on October
14, 2003. Furthermore, the Gharri-Marehan peace conference is going on in
Nairobi, Kenya.
Also, about 60 Gharri people went to Hajji from the Gharri
District, and all of them have successfully completed the Hajji and more
than half had returned already. Not one single Gharri person was hurts in
last month’s incident in the stampede.
According to a report received from Nairobi Kenya,
the Wajer North MP Dr. Abdulahi Ali AKA “Kabareta” was arrested and
jailed for 3 days. However, he was released after he posted bail. He has
not been seen in public since.
Gharri
News Brief; by Gur Gharri Sunday January 25, 2004
The Somali regional state election for the region wide district
representatives has begun on Saturday night or Sunday their time,
January 25, 2004. So,
The Gharri people of Moyale and Uddatt Districts, went to the pools as
scheduled without any incidence. they turned out in record numbers to
elect 159 representatives.
Eight city
administrators will be selected from the
159 District parliaments. A
mayor, a Speaker, and two assistants will be chosen from the 159
representatives for each district. So, we will let you know as soon as the
pools close and the winners declared.
According to an eyewitness report from
Dire Dawa Ethiopian, three locations including Jijiga and two other
locations near Dire Dawa have been postponed due to a disagreement
regarding who should be nominated to run. therefore, it was not parts of
today’s election.
Gharri
District's News Brief; by Gur Gharri Tuesday January 13, 2004
According
to an eyewitness report from EL Wake, Gharri District, the Gharri people
have asked the Murrale herders to get out of the Gharri grazing area. As a
result, some Murrale herders have moved out of the area, while others
remained behind. It is rumored that some Gharri ex community leaders are
supporting those remaining Murralle migrants. Subsequently it created a
verbal feud between the two communities, as well as amongst the Gharri
themselves.
Also, the Muralle clan has agreed to pay blood money in the amount of
600,000 Shillings, in which 150, 000 shillings has been collected already.
In addition, our reporter indicated that the Gharri and the Ajuran clan's
elders have made an agreement for the Gharri clan to pay blood money for
the Ajuran victim that was allegedly killed by an unnamed Gharri person a
month ago in December 2003, near Gurar
We are saddened to report that two Gharri young
entrepreneurs and outstanding community members, Mr. Hussein Abdow and
Haji Abdula Roqa were killed on January 11 in a car accident between
Chiracho and Nakuru.
So, on behalf of the entire Gharri Support Group in North America, may
Allah bless their souls and ease and give strength to their loved one. To
all surviving loved ones, Please accept our warmest Sympathy and our
thoughts are with you and be strong.
Gharri
District's News Brief; by
Gur Gharri Sunday January 04, 2004
According to our correspondent from EL Wake, the Marehan clan has paid
$610,000 in blood money for the murdered Gharri man’s family and the
remaining $190,000 will be paid very soon. Both populations of the
twin Cities, “EL Wake” are enjoying peace and tranquility, thanks to
our brave young men. Also, an
unusually heavy rain has been reported throughout the Gharri region. So,
the farmers and the herders alike all are enjoying the blessings of Allah.
Gharri Support Group News Web Site
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