Latest
News Update From Central Gharri Region
June 10,
2005 by Gur Gharri GSG
News Contributor
According
to an eyewitness report from EL Waq, the Gharri Defense Force (GDF) are holding 15
Marehan prisoners of war in Boru Hache that were captured on June 09,
2005. Also, two armored trucks were captured along with its armories.
Our reporter said that most of the enemy combatants were killed or
wounded and the rest escaped in disarray. The Tyrant Farah Bulle Abdi, Iftiin Mohamud Umar
aka
iftiin-dheere, and Hire Sh. Hassan Iftiin were amongst the dead.
BORU-HACHE
HAS BEEN LIBERATED June
09, 2005 byGur
Gharri GSG
News Contributor
According to a report received from Bore 11 Gharri
District, Kenya, the tyrant
Yusuf Kanttee and his ill trained street thugs were
removed from EL Waq town on June 09, 2005 at 8:00 am local time. Also,
intercepted fleeing Marehan radio communiqué confirmed that they have
bailed out of the city without shoes running for their lives.
However, there are no numbers of casualties available at this
time.
June 03,
2005 by Gur Gharri GSG
News Contributor
According
to information received from moyale on May 31 2005, five-gabra manatta
were raided by borana mobs. It is believed that thousands of
cattle were taken and several hundred people were killed
including 2 Kenyan police officers. Mr. Mohamed Rago Ursa and Mr.
Mohamed Hapicha’s cattle were among the looted herds.
The Gharri
Support Group conference was held in Atlanta GA on May 28-29. It was
very successful. It was agreed that we continue meeting once a year at
different locations or states. Also, a national committee of eleven
members was created. This committee is responsible to come up with or to
create a common theme that will enable each GSG community in every state
represented at the conference. Those committee members are expected to
come up with their own community financial planning that will benefit
Gharri citizens in all 3 regions.
The self declared SNF (Somali National Front) Marehan street
thugs have stolen about 40 Gharri camel and 30 cattle, which belonged to
the Borre 11Gharri residents. Animal stealing has risen to the highest
level it ever has been. The thieves are not the Somali National Front (SNF),
but the Marehan street hasstlers and known thugs headed by Yusuf Kantee.
According to our correspondent, the frequency of animal robberies in the
past two months has been unprecedented and surpassed all the animals
stolen in 2001, 2002and 2003 combined. Yusuf Kantee had tried to use
those looted animals as a negotiating tools to legitimize himself as a
man to be reckoned with. However, his days are numbered and he will pay
dearly for his crime against the EL Waq and Boru-Hache residents.
April 18,
2005 by Gur Gharri GSG
News Contributor
LATEST NEWS
UPDATE FROM GHARRI DISTRICT
Gharri soldiers have
defended their motherland successfully once again. The enemy militias
have been crushed. The latest information received from EL Waq indicates
that 20 enemy forces were killed, or captured and many more were
wounded. The rest of the so-called "SADE MILITIAS" escaped in
disarray. Victory to the Gharri people.
April 18,
2005 by Gur Gharri GSG
News Contributor
Breaking
news from EL Wake April 18, 2005, By
Gur Gharri GSG news
contributor According
to eyewitness reports
from EL Waq
The Sade militias headed by Col.Yusuf Mohamed Abdiqadir
assistant minister of Garsor, Abdiyare Duqoow and
Jamal Xasan Sareey raided
EL Waq from
five corners at 7am local time.
The
initial report states that nineteen
enemy militias were killed and two technical armored vehicles were
destroyed. However,
fighting is on going at this time and we
will inform you as soon as further information is available.
April 08,
2005 by Gur Gharri GSG
News Contributor
New fire has erupted
in Mandera front line: According to information
received from Gharri District, on April 07, 2005, the Marehan
hoodlums’ ambushed two young Gharri entrepreneurs in Bul-Hawo,
Somalia. One man died instantly in the hail of bullets, and the second
one in near death fighting for his life, as he is not expected to live.
Also, GSG has learned that massive Marehan militias have been seen
gathering at Dhamassa preparing to invade EL Waq
April 04,
2005 by Gur Gharri GSG
News Contributor
On
April 2, 2005, the Oromo region administrator ordered the torturing of
forty Gharri inmates. According to an eyewitness report, the inmates
were severely beaten with the bottom of an AK47 and were locked up in
ten by ten room, without windows, or ventilation. Twenty-two of the
inmates suffocated and collapsed. However, the Ethiopian arm forces
rescued them. The perpetrators were not punished and the reasons why
those imamates were tortured are unknown. However, there are
speculations that the inmates were tortured in order to break the Gharri
people’s spirits and intimidate other non-Gharri citizens so that if
they lined with and voted for the Gharri people, they too will be
tortured accordingly.
Thus
far the Moyale referendum elections were scheduled over a dozen time in
which each stated election had failed to complete due to fraud and
collaborative effort of Oromo leadership and Ethiopian election boards
members to change the election outcome when expected election result
will show that Gharri people will be victorious. Again, for the third
times in a week, the Ethiopian election board members upon realizing
that the Gharri population out
numbered
the Oromos had changed the Moyale referendum election date. So, it has
been rescheduled for Thursday April 07, 2005. Therefore, they have began
engaging in an smear campaign against the Gharri people by engaging in
an unauthorized and illegal investigation by going house to house,
confiscating over two hundred voting cards from Gharri citizens. They
accused the Gharri people for being a majority in location 02 and they
are determined to cancel the Gharri voting cards in order to help the
Oromos win the Moyale referendum.
Also,
GSG has learned that the Murale and Gharri conference in Mandera is on
its second day, according to conference participants, they are
discussing about peaceful coexistence not the return of the Murales to
the Gharri land. The Corner tribes, Degody and Marehan elders were
excluded from this Gharri and Murale peace conferences alleging that
they are perceived to be part of the problem between these two
communities.
March 23, 2005 by Gur Gharri GSG
News Contributor
According to information received from Gharri District, on March 21,
2005 the Kenyan arm forces went to Wargadud and take over the
water posts, confiscated the key from the Gharri citizen, and demanded
that the Gharri citizens trade in guns with the key to the water wells.
However, they let the locals have access to the water, but sill are
putting too much pressuring the locals hoping that the wargadud
residents will turn in illegal fire arms.
Adan Mohamed Noor and Diqaya Dido have been released on bail.
However, 35 Ires Teno residents are still in Wajir jail. Their next
hearing has been scheduled for April 10, 2005. Also, Sheikh Hassan Adan
Khalif has been re-arrested.
Gharri people have turned in 1 million shillings in blood money in
lieu of the 100 camels they were imposed to pay earlier during the peace
accord. Also, Murales have been instructed to bring in 24 million
shillings or 2,400 camels, but their elders requested to be given four
days extension so that they could go to their countrymen for
consultation or discussion.
The
Moyale referendum process is going smoothly, our reporter said it’s
going better than expected
Western and
Central Gharri regions news update March
21, 2005 by Gur Gharri GSG
News Contributor
A
Much awaited Moyale referendum process has began today. It was agreed on
to start the referendum process through in an unconventional way. The
authorities agreed to house count and distribute voting ballots to its
inhabitants. So, the local authorities were given nine days to complete
the referendum and determine which region would take over the Moyale
district administration.
Northeastern
Province Kenyan government officials headed by internal
security minister Mr. John Michuki and NEP PC Mr. A. Mwassera, have
met with the Gharri district officials and local leaders to discuss the
EL Golicha Massacre. They were not able to finish their discussion, and
the meeting ended without any results. GSG
has learned that, over a dozen people were injured and a dozen more were
jailed. Our reporter stated that the trouble started when a booing mob
interrupted Mr. Shaban’s speech, and the Murale thugs started throwing
objects into crowd. Subsequently, the mutiny of women and children took
the street and went berserk thereafter.
According to meeting participants in Madera town, the NEP PC
was confronted with an erroneous report that he made regarding EL
Golicha Massacre in regard to who the perpetrators were. Therefore, he
acknowledged that he made a bad judgment and apologized for it. Mr.
Mwassera said that the people who orchestrated these problems misinformed
him and that the killers did not came from Somalia, but from Kenyan, and
he promised to take action against those who are behind these heinous
crimes.
March 15, 2005 by Gur Gharri GSG
News Contributor
Breaking News from central
Gharri region
On March 14, 2005, at 5: 30
am, Murale thugs raided Gharri village between EL Golicha and EL
Qalla. They slaughtered twenty-two defenseless women, children, and
wounded three.
March 10, 2005 by Gur Gharri GSG
News Contributor
The
Wajir DC and his team met with the Western Gharri region administrators,
the Ethiopian government and security force’s representatives in
Moyale on March 09, 2005. During the meeting, they discussed recent
Qaddaduma incidents, but they failed to reach an agreement. The Kenyan
delegates want to retrieve a seized vehicle and deceased soldier's gun.
However, they failed to sign documents saying Kenyan police forces were
at fault about what has happened on March 5, 2005 in Qaddaduma. It was
the Kenyan police force who caused the incident by disturbing the peace
in and around the common border area. They crossed over to the Ethiopian
a sovereign nation and raided Qaddaduma, which led to the seizure of
their vehicle and the soldier's death at first place. Our reporter
said, that the Kenyan authorities agreed that they were at fault but
said they did not have the authority to sign such documents. Therefore,
the meeting was postponed until later date in the near future.
EL Wake: The fighting is still on going between the Gharri and
the Murales in EL Wake. According to a report received from EL Wake one
Gharri Kenyan soldier escorting the Kaa beer vehicles was ambushed and
injured at Babbo near Rhamo when Murale thugs opened fire
indiscriminately on moving vehicles. Also, one Gharri militia was
wounded near Qorrobo Shannani and 9 enemy militias were killed.
About 20 Marehan elders came to EL Wake, Kenya to discuss friction
between the Gharri and the Murales, but the Gharri elders did not
welcome them, because the Marehan clan was perceived to be siding
with the Murales.
Breaking news from
central Gharri region March 08, 2005 by Gur Gharri
GSG
News Contributor
The Murale-Marehan bandits
have raided Wargadud town March 07, 2005, at 5:00pm local time just after the Assir prayer was
completed.
According to eyewitness
reports, if they had not been detected by one of the Gharri home guards
and alerted the small but determined Gharri warriors, they would have
slaughtered hundreds of civilians committing an unthinkable genocide.
The shooting ensued thereafter, and our brave men were able to repulse
them out from the center of town, but the fighting was reported to be on
going.
There was no report of any
fatalities, but two wounded Gharri citizens Mr. Allow Abdulahi Dherra
and Maalin Edin Dubbe’s adult daughter were brought to EL Wake. So, we
will inform you, as the latest details of events are available.
March 06, 2005 by Gur Gharri GSG
News Contributor
The Gharri
warriors have recaptured wantee, and Alango from the Murale and Marehan
invaders. A week ago, the Murale and Marehan alliance captured the
Alango, and Wante Gharri locations. On March 05, 2005 the gallant Gharri
warriors fought back and recaptured the two locations. Our reporter said
that during this incident, 30 enemies were killed and many more were
wounded. Also, two enemy’s supply vehicles were destroyed.
Also, the Kenyan army, police, and ajuran militias
raided Ires Theno, and Qaddaduma Gharri towns on 03-05, and the Gharri
warriors fought back at Qaddaduma, killing one Kenyan soldier, wounding
four, capturing 1 vehicle and destroying two other vehicles. The fleeing
Kenyan police rounded up 40 unarmed Gharri citizens, tortured them, and
the tortured victims were taken to Wajir and they are now in Wajir jail.
VICTORY
TO THE GHARRI PEOPLE
March 02, 2005 by Gur Gharri GSG
News Contributor
According
to reliable information received from Gharri region, the Murale and the
Marehan Alliance are ready to strike EL Waq, Wargadud, and other nearby
villages at any moments. It has been reported that the NEP commissioner
and local government officials have given the Murales
seven days per their request to capture those above mentioned Gharri
land. Our informant said two days have passed since, and that the Murale
and Marehan Alliance has five more days left out of the seven days to
clean out the Gharri citizens.
In
addition, they have received 260 AK 47 from Mandera DC and are expecting
more to come via Mandera. So, the Murale and Marehan Alliance militias
are gathering at four locations, including Alango, two locations in
Wanttee, and Sukeela as their bases to strike Boru Hache, Wargadud, and
other surrounding locations.
Also GSG has learned that one Gharri militiaman was killed in Uddatt
district by Guji thugs. Furthermore, a large Guji militia movements has
been seen around Malka Allu area and it is believe that they are about
to strike the Uddatt town at the time where all the Oromo and the Somali
regions Officials are in Moyale discussing peaceful coexistence in the
region as well as ways to conduct upcoming Moyale referendum election.
Feb. 27, 2005 by Gur Gharri GSG
News Contributor
GSG has learned that a
war between the Gharri and Murale has erupted. According to an
eyewitness reported from El Waq, the trouble started after the Murale
took over Alango locations a week ago. Subsequently, the Gharri appealed
to Mandera DC, in which he put together a peace conference in order to
solve the problem. However, while area elders were conducting a peace
conference in Mandera, the Murales thugs started causing problems by
blocking the Gharri herders’ access to water and took control of
Wanttee location and began pushing westward to capture more land. As a
result of Murale’s aggression, the Mandera peace conference failed to
achieve a meaningful solution. So, on February 25, 2005, fighting
started in Alango, and Wanttee areas. Our reported said, the enemy
forces were evicted from Alango, but the fighting is still going on
around Wanttee. However,
there are no reports of casualties at this time because the shotony is
still going on
Feb. 15, 2005 by Gur Gharri GSG
News Contributor
According
to information received from Moyale, the Gharri and Guji peace
conference has concluded on Feb. 14, 2005.
They agreed to a ceasefire, but the Gharri has received credible
information that the Gujis are mobilizing an all out war against the
Gharri people, and a huge militia movement has been seen west of Arero
hills.
Also, two
Oromo rebels were captured at Godd Adhessa, near Moyale Kenya, after
they shot a Borana female at close range. Our informant stated that the
two captured Oromo rebels were asked why they tried to kill the Oromo
woman, but they replied that “because
she is working with the deserted rebels who are collaborating with the
Ethiopian soldiers.”
Furthermore,
GSG has learned that the Gharri people have received information that
the Oromo rebels are working with the Ajurana’s militias in and around
Butte and Gurar and are planning to attack the Gharri people from
Qaddaduma, Godoma, and Dhokissu areas, at the same time that the Gujis
attacks from Uddatt.
Also, the
Somali transitional government cabinets have requested foreign soldiers
to take over EL Waq, until it establishes it’s own militias. However,
our informant said the Gharri people are not willing to accept this
proposal and they are ready to defend the Gharri territories by any
means necessary at any cost.
The Moyale
referendum is still on hold, but it has been agreed to continue. In
addition, the house of federation has rejected the Oromos requests to
held referendum by way of house count and its inhabitants. Therefore, a
referendum will be held sometimes after the federal election ends this
spring or early summer.
Feb. 09, 2005 by Gur Gharri GSG
News Contributor
The Gharri
and Murale peace conference was held in Mandera on Feb. 07, 2005.
according to information received from EL Wake, the conference was ended
without reaching an agreement. The Gharri participants reaffirmed their
position, that they will agree to the proposed peace treaty and are
willing to pay blood camels, but they will not allow the Murales to come
back to resettle on Gharri land.
Also the Murales stated that
if they are not allowed to go back to their previous grazing land, they
do not want the Gharri people to remain living in Mandera and Kutulo
areas, east of the Mandera-EL Wake road.
Furthermore, the Murales demanded that the Gharri militias be
removed from EL Waq the Eastern Gharri region. However, our reporter
said that the Gharri people did not take the Murale’s demand
seriously, because he said it is nothing more than preposterous
statement from desperate theifs crying for mercy
Feb. 05, 2005 by Gur Gharri GSG
News Contributor
Breaking
News From Western Gharri Region.
On
Feb. 04, 2005, the Oromo militias waged a full-fledged war on the Uddatt
district from three fronts. Madder, on the northwest, Hobblo Chafa on
the North, and Dire Dimtu on the Northeast.
According to information received from Uddatt, 8 enemies were
killed, many were wounded and the rest escaped in disarray. However,
there is no detailed information available from two of the other
frontlines at this time, because the fighting is still going on.
According
to information received from, the area, the Oromo region administrators
tried to fool the Gharri people by installing the Oromo militias at Maddar
post as Police forces keeping peace and order.
Based on past experiences, the Gharri people did not believe its
motives and began monitoring the rebel’s activities. So, within days,
the Gharri people witnessed the rebels numbers growing. Also, they have
been seen engaging in war simulations and training carrying heavy
machineries.
The Gharri militia’s
persistence, persevere and patients, paid off on Feb. 04, 2005, when the
Oromos made a bold move to invade Uddatt, the Gharri militias was
already waiting for them and intercepted the first rebel group at Dire
Dimtu, before they reach uddatt, and killed 8 enemies and wounding over
a dozen, before the rest escaped in disarray into mountain and bushes.
We will let you know as the stories unfold.
January 31, 2005 by Gur Gharri GSG
News Contributor
According
to information received from Uddatt district Gharri western Gharri
region, on January 27, 2005, Gharri militia intercepted Guji rebels
before they raided EL Tokee and Bolantee villages killing three and
injuring dozens. The rest escaped in disarray.
The central Gharri elders have concluded their
reconciliation conference in EL Wake, Kenya, and they have reached an
agreement to allow Murales to be resettled in EL Wake. Also, the NEP
Somali MPs and the Kibaki government met in secret and agreed to move
four hundred Ajuran households to settle in the Ires Tino area, and let
the Butte Occupation permanent. Our informant stated that the reason the
government and Somali MPs agreed to these terms was to break up the
Ethiopian and Kenya Gharri border connection.
January 24, 2005 by Gur Gharri GSG
News Contributor
On
January 22, 2005, Guji Oromo thugs ambushed two Gharri citizens at Koob
Addi in the Uddatt District Western Gharri Region. According to
eyewitness reports, fifteen-year-old Hassan Adan Hussein was killed and
Mr. Hassan Mannur Kussow was wounded.
Also,
massive Murale and Marehan militia’s movement has been seen near
Dhamassa and Wargadud areas. The Kenyan authorities at EL Wake have been
informed that a massive heavily armed militia movement around the Kenya
Somali border planning to cross over to Somalia and wage war against the
Gharri of EL Waaq Somalia. According to our informants, a full-fledged
war is imminent in EL Waaq. So,
the EL Waaq residents are very fearful of a Murale-Marehan attack in an
attempt to take over the EL Waaq.
January 20, 2005 by Gur Gharri GSG
News Contributor
According
to information received, a Gharri magnatta at Galgalo Diimtu in Moyale
Kenya was bombed on January 18, 2005. One of the bombs was thrown at the
animal’s barns and killing ten cows, wounding two people and nine
cattle. The perpetrators are believed to be from Gabra clan.
Also, three Gharri men were ambushed and killed by Guji
Oromos in Uddatt the District.
January 10, 2005 by Gur Gharri GSG
News Contributor
Five
tortured and maimed Gharri women and children have arrived in Nairobi,
Kenya to for emergency surgery. Also, five other less injured are in an
EL Wake health center and are expected to be sent to Nairobi for
treatment. Also the death toll has risen to twelve, and some of the
maimed people are not expected to survive. The Kenyan arm forces have
been diploid around the EL Wake-Mandera borderline to protect the Murale
citizen from reprisal attacks. However, there is no investigation going
on to look into who is behind the killings of the innocent women and
children.
According to information received from Nairobi Kenya,
beside the two Gharri MPs, there is not a single government official who
neither visited the Gharri victims nor sent any official condolences.
The PC, the Police commissioner nor their deputies went to witness the
crime scene or visited those dead and disfigured Gharri women and
children. One of the Gharri elder stated that by ignoring these
horrendous crimes, they appear to be parts of criminal elements.
January 09, 2005 by Gur Gharri GSG
News Contributor
Full-fledged war has erupted in EL Wake. According to
information received from EL Wake, Kenya, Murale has raided unsuspecting
and unarmed Gharri herders at Wargadud,
EL Guya Maddo, Borria Thitu, and Qorrobo
Inne locations.
Seven
dead bodies and five wounded Gharri people were brought to EL Wake
hospital.
According to eyewitness report, all the deceased and wounded are women
and children. our
informant
stated that the casualties
are expected to rise to 100s. Also, our informant stated that one Gharri student was killed in
Wargadud area on Friday January 07, 2005.
January 03, 2005 by Gur Gharri GSG
News Contributor
The Gharri and Murrelle feud has
escalated to a killing spree.
According to information received from
Mandera and Nairobi, 9 Murrelles were killed on Friday December 31, 2004
at Ar Dhamasa near Mata Arba located in EL Wake Gharri District. It is
believed that since Gharri are not living in the area, the Marehan
clansmen may have committed the killings in order to cause a problem
between the Gharri and the Murrelle people. Soon after, all of the
Murrelle families and herds were evacuated to Oddo and across the river
into Degody to safety.
On January 02, 2005 five
Gharri citizens were killed, two are missing and one small child was
injured near Rhamo. The madness is continuing between the Gharri and the
Murrelle.
GHARRI
REGION NEWS UPDATE: by Gur Gharri
(GSG) News Contributor December 21, 2004
Eleven Murralle thugs were captured on December
19, 2004. They confessed killing Mr. Sahal Rashid Abdi Mursa.
According to our reporter, one of the eleven Murralle gangs
members was chief Bintow’s brother and they all were arrested at Chief
Abdullah Bintow’s village in EL Wake.
Also, our reporter stated that Mandera Central Gharri MP Mr. Below Kerow
and PC are expected to visit Mandera on Wednesday December 22, 2004.
Furthermore, unspecified numbers of the Kenyan arm forces personnel are
to be deployed to EL Wake to clean up, round up, and disarm all the
Murralle gangs.
The last phase of the dispute resolution committee meetings will begin
on Thursday December 22, 2004. They will be discussing how the stalled
Moyale referendum will begin. One GSG news contributor interviewed one
of the upcoming meeting participant
who don’t want to be identified and he said there are four
topics that they will discuss. 1. to turn over the Moyale district
administration to the Gharri majority. 2. To have referendum election
and let the winning region takes over the administration of the
district. 3. To divide the Moyale city into two section and West side of
the city section run by the Oromo stated and the other half be managed
by the Gharri people. 4. To let the fed takes over the control of the
Moyale district. However, the last two topics are not popular among the
Gharri people and will not be accepted by them or by the Somali state
administration. So, we will
let you know the out come.
GHARRI
REGION NEWS UPDATE: by Gur Gharri
(GSG) News Contributor December 16, 2004
The
Moyale referendum election is still in limbo. There is a meeting going
on in Addis Ababa between the Oromo state, the Somali state, and the
federal government representatives regarding the stalled Moyale
referendum election. We will report it to you as soon as the information
becomes available.
GSG
has learned why the Oromos wants to have separate poling places.
1)
The Burj supporters told the Oromo officials that they are not going
to vote because they are afraid of being arrested due to the fact that,
most of them are Kenyan citizens and are not residents of Moyale City.
2)
The others said they do not want to be seen as supporters of the Oromo
state fearing reprisals or attacks later. Therefore, the Oromo officials
ran out of options or alternatives to offer them. So, they are trying
to smuggle people in through the back alley, but that too has been
exposed.
The
two Gharri District’s MPs are expected to visit Moyale.
Victory
to the Gharri people
GHARRI REGION
NEWS UPDATE: by Gur Gharri GSG news
contributor December 14,
2004
On
December `12, 2004 a Bomb exploded in Burji Maňata,
Moyale Kenya. There weren’t any reports of injuries. The Burji are
blaming the Gharri people as the perpetrators behind the bomb. But our
reporter stated that this is not the first time that a bomb exploded in
Burji and they blamed the Gharri people but it was proved to be false
and the incidents were proven to be caused by the Burjis themselves.
Again this bomb incident appears to be the same bomb that exploded while
they were playing with it for training purposes.
In
addition, the smuggled Burjis from Kenya have returned back after they
herd that non-residents of the disputed location that are caught voting
will be jailed up to five years.
Also, the Moyale referendum process has stalled. The Oromo officials
have purposed to divide the city in two locations along the main asphalt
road, they will conduct the election on one side and the Gharri people
will take the other side. According to our reporter, the Oromos are
requested to be allowed to have a poling place in the villages rather
than in the city on the main road side where the out come is clear and
easier for the absorbers to monitor poling place activities. So, the
Gharri people have objected to the Oromos request. Now the matter is on hold until new instructions are received
from Addis Ababa.
GHARRI REGION NEWS UPDATE:
December
13, 2004 by Gur Gharri GSG News Contributor
The Oromo
officials are making a mockery out of the Ethiopian government
officials.
The Moyale
referendum election is still hanging in thin air. The Oromo region
officials are trying so hard to win, they have been playing all kinds of
tricks that are known to crooks. Now it appears that they have run out
of tricks to play. They have used the system as if it is a ball game
where the players kicks and passes a ball around as they see fit in
order to score and eventually win a ball game.
The Oromos
advocated avoiding the normal way of conducting an election by counting
houses and issue-voting cards for its inhabitants. The Gharri people
fought against the idea of counting homes and issuing voting cards. But
the federal election commissioners and election boards twisted the
Gharri’s arms and literarily forced the Gharri officials to accept it.
The Oromos, the Gharri and the election commissioners and the election
board member met on December 10, 2004 to decide how to start the house
count and the locations of the polling places. They agreed to have 10
polling places in Moyale, consisting of five location on each side of
the two kebels, as well as how they will conduct the house counts;
However, when the house count
started, and some of the people whom the Oromos believe that they are on
their side, said they are supporting the Somalis; Our reporter said, the
oromo official’s mood changed right away and started objecting to the
Gharri traditional houses “MIN-DASSE”
to be counted as houses. Also, they
began demanding to stop counting houses and also to be given two more
locations that will be off limits for the Gharri people. However, the
Oromos demands were denied. Subsequently, the Oromo officials’
boycotted pre-scheduled meetings with the Gharri, and the federal
election board on 12-12-2004.
Reports
have been sent to Addis Ababa regarding the Oromos decision to boycott
and getting out of the decision that they agreed to earlier. So, the
local authorities are waiting for the results from Addis Ababa.
The mediation conference between the Gharri and Ajuran
has failed. The Ajuran changed the menu and demanded to allow the Ajuran
herders be allowed to settle in Irs Teno and creation of police station
at Ires Tino. Before they discuss about the return of the EL Danaba
refugees to their homeland of Butte.
GHARRI REGION NEWS UPDATE: December
10, 2004 by Gur Gharri GSG News Contributor
Members
of the Ethiopian election board have arrived in Moyale. According to our
reporter, they have met with local election commissioners and are
discussing ways in which the election will taking place.
Also, the Oromo rebels and Oromo elders from local nomads headed by the
Abba Gadda arrived in Moyale to disrupt or sabotage this process, but,
they met stiff Gharri resistant, and they were denied to have any public
gathering there and were ordered to leave Moyale within 24 hours.
Kenya:
The Gharri and the Ajuran conflict resolution conference has began in
Garissa. According information receive from Nairobi, the conference
participants are discussing repatriation of the EL Danaba refugees and
if so, then, how it will be carried so, we will let you posted as soon
as information reached us.
GHARRI REGION NEWS UPDATE: December
09, 2004 by Gur Gharri GSG News Contributor
It
has been agreed that the scheduled Moyale referendum election, will be
held in January 2005. However, the federal government has ordered to
hasten the date of election to fourteen days from today. The referendum
election will be held on December 24, 2004. Therefore, 38 members of the
election board and their staffs are expected to arrive in Moyale today.
According
to our reporter, the election commissioners and the
board members will go house to house to
determine household sizes. Furthermore, they are planning to have a mass
public gathering or “Monolongo” to pick a few community elders to
help them determine the residents from the visitors so that they can
distribute the voting ballots for eligible residents only.
In addition, the Oromo rebels have announced that they
will wage war against the Gharri people to capture the Gharri land.
GHARRI REGION NEWS UPDATE: December
02, 2004 by Gur Gharri GSG News Contributor
The Western Gharri region
Gharri people are celebrating partial victory. The upcoming referendum
will not be held at Bulladi, Gof, Beddee, Chamuq, or Mallab. Also, the
Oromo smuggled students, prostitutes, and day laborers who have been
brought in to Moyale for the purpose of participating in the referendum
election have been baned from participating. So, referendum will be
held at the remaining four Kebeles, including 01, 02, Mado Migo and
Qabannawa within next two weeks.
