Fairfax, Virginia, USA, 13 December 2008: The Somali Diaspora Network (SDN) commends Human Rights Watch (HRW) for an objective and comprehensive report that documents the atrocities suffered by the people of Somalia, the internal and external factors that contribute to the suffering, and offers essential recommendations.

The report, "So Much to Fear, War Crimes and the Devastation of Somalia", released on December 8, 2008, offers a compelling account of human rights abuses and war crimes committed by all violently engaged actors. The worst of these violations are attributed to the Ethiopian occupation and the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) security forces.

With 3.25 million people on the verge of starvation and more than a million having been internally displaced, by far Somalia is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today. However, in a painful irony, that fact is being overshadowed by the sensationalized news of piracy off the coast of Somalia.

"This report puts a mirror in front of the U.S. and the international community. Washington, for its role in exacerbating the situation by supporting the Ethiopian occupation and warlord-infested TFG, and the international community for turning a blind eye to the plight of the Somali people," said Sadia Ali Aden, president of SDN.

Cognizant of the multi-faceted nature of the conflict, the HRW report provides a set of viable recommendations to each of the actors involved in order to formulate the changes necessary to stop the bleeding, ensure a safe passage for the delivery of food, water, and medicine, and to restore the dignity of the innocent Somali civilians.

The report urges all actors to reconsider their current approach, more specifically, the West. "…the United States and European states should fundamentally rethink their flawed policy approaches to the Horn of Africa as a whole," warned the report. Their actions, and specifically those of the U.S. are fueling the violence and extremism in Somalia which is the exact opposite of what they were purportedly intended.

The report also urges the most influential actor, the U.S., to "…investigate reports of abuses by Ethiopian forces, identify the specific units involved, and ensure that they receive no assistance or training from the United States until the Ethiopian government takes effective measures to bring those responsible to justice, as required under the „Leahy law,‟ which prohibits US military assistance to foreign military units that violate human rights with impunity." Both the Ethiopian 2 occupation forces and the TFG security forces are accused of "extrajudicial killings, rapes, mistreatment of civilians, and pillaging and looting of civilian property."

In order to end the prevalent culture of impunity and promote accountability, the report urges the UN Security Council to "establish an independent and impartial commission of inquiry to investigate and map serious crimes and recommend further measures to improve accountability." Moreover, the report urges the soon-to-take-office President-elect Barack Obama to reconsider the current failed policy of the United States toward Somalia and The Horn in general, and to appoint a credible high profile envoy who can restore hope. This envoy, contrary to the present one, would have direct access to the new president.

ABOUT SOMALI DIASPORA NETWORK (SDN) – SDN is a grass-roots organization committed to advocate on critical policy matters pertaining to Somali-American interest and issues of concern through communication and information sharing, raising public awareness, and educating the public and government officials.

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