Gharri Massacre in Ethiopia and Kenyan in 2000

The Gharri Massacre in Ethiopia and Kenya: in 2000   By Isaac Omar and GSG Member 2000  A VOICE OF GHARRI The Gharri Massacre in Ethiopia and Kenya  in 2000: Reports are as follows: As a result of an ethnic cleansing campaign sponsored by branches of the Ethiopian and the Kenyan governments, thousands of the Gharri people have lost their lives, many others were physically handicapped, thousands were displaced and families dispersed. Their properties were destroyed; millions of their animals looted. It is the duty of government to safeguard the welfare and well-being of citizens; however, the government has failed to fulfill its obligation to take an appropriate action. Instead, “the authorities have managed to cover up these crimes and their ugly consequences, making it appear a willing participant, directly or indirectly, in the conflicts” and genocide against the Gharri people. So far, the perpetrators have not been punished Overwhelming evidences shows that, both the Ethiopian and the Kenyan local government officials and armed security officers have been playing leading roles in the ethnic cleansing campaign that took place against the Gharri people. “The Ethiopian federal government, on its part, has failed to attend to and resolve the ethnic cleansing occurred in the Gharri region in Southern Ethiopia, thereby ignoring the responsibility entrusted to it by Article 48 (1) of the Constitution which states,” All border disputes shall be settled by agreement of the concerned States. Where the concerned States fail to reach agreement, the House of the Federation shall decide such disputes on the basis of settlement patterns and the wishes of the peoples concerned." We call upon the Ethiopian and the Kenyan government to take an urgent and appropriate action to: Bring to justice those individuals, government officials, and armed security persons who were responsible for the ethnic cleansing that led to, the loss of many lives, and the destruction of the Gharri property in Arero Wereda, in the Gharri region, in Southern Ethiopia as well as the Gharri victims in Bute and Danaba, located in the Eastern Kenya. Also, we are asking your help to demand that the Ethiopian and the Kenyan governments pay compensation and rehabilitate those surviving victims and families of the deceased. Please see the following: Table 1. Summary of total property lost and number of people killed on September 07, 2000. Type of destruction Size of destruction 1 Humans · Killed · Wounded 75 33 2 Houses destroyed by fire 9 3 Domestic animals looted · Cattle · Goats · Mules · Camels 570 1624 16 176 4 Looted money in cash Over 80,000 Birr The details of the destructions summarised in Table 1 above are presented in Tables 2 and 3 below: I, 83 Gharri people were killed including women, children and the elderly. Also, 32 people were seriously injured Table 2. Full names and brief descriptions of the persons killed Full name of deceased Sex Age Brief description of circumstance 1 Abdi Aliyu Molu Male 60 Shot and killed and the facial skin peeled off while sheltering for safety at the wereda council's office 2 Menur Mediker Aliyo = 57 Same as above 3 Alew Ibrahim Hassen = 31 Same as above 4 Nishow Ibren Yisak = 37 Same as above 5 Abrosh Edin Mohammed = 35 Same as above 6 Mohammed Haji Ali? = 64 Shot and killed while sheltering for safety at the wereda council's office 7 Ibrahim Ali Yisak = 60 Same as above 8 Eden Bereyohu Mohammed = 53 Set on fire while at home 9 Abdrahman Abdo? = 25 Same as above 10 Mohammed Aliyu Abdella = 17 Same as above 11 Mohammed Menur Mediker = 15 Same as above 12 Edin Geraw Yisak = 13 Same as above 13 Aliyu Iya Ketelo = 20 Same as above 14 Abdunur Ali Kula = 5 Same as above 15 Edin Yisak Male 6 Set on fire while at home 16 Edin M/Aliyu Ibren " 10 Same as above 17 Mohammed Hassen Mohammed " 5 Same as above 18 Yisak Aliyu Hassen " 3 Same as above 19 Yisak Mohammed Mure " 9 Same as above 20 Hassen Edin " 11 Same as above 21 Ali Abdilahi Aliyu " 5 Same as above 22 Yisak Ali Kula[1][1][1] " 3 Same as above but with three other family members Table 2. Full names and brief descriptions of the persons killed (cont'd) Full name of deceased Sex Age Brief description of circumstance 23 Ibrahim Aliyu Nura male 3 Set on fire while at home 24 Aliyu Nura M/Mustafa " 45 Same as above 25 Hussein Shimoy Hussein " 10 Same as above 26 Mohammed Gerew Yisak " 10 Same as above 27 Yisak Mohammed Buli " 16 Same as above 28 Ibren Edin Jirow " 52 Same as above 29 Aden Mohammed Kunu " 32 Same as above 30 Iya Ketelo Roble " 41 Same as above (wereda council executive member) 31 Guracha Abidiyu Mohammed " 54 Unknown where killed 32 M/Husman Mohammed Sheik " 56 Same as above 33 Ismael Mohammed Aliyu " 25 Same as above 34 Hussen Hassen Edin? " 27 Same as above 35 Yisak Aliyu Ahmed " 55 Same as above 36 Abdirahman M/Hassen Abdu " 50 Same as above 37 Aliyu Edin Sengar " 23 Same as above 38 Edin Aliyu Bele " 25 Same as above 39 Robow Mohammed Ibren " 45 Same as above 40 Hussen Shiek Abdinur Haji " 33 Same as above 41 Iray Hussen Shiek Abdi " 7 Same as above 42 Eden Hussen Shiek Abdi " 4 Same as above 43 Aliyu Ibren Hassen " 67 Same as above 44 Dayuhu Aliyu Menur " 30 Same as above 45 Alnur Mohammed Jilo " 22 Same as above 46 Musluma Somo Mehad Female 50 Shot and killed while sheltering for safety at the wereda council's office 47 Shelela Bidi Molu " 80 Same as above 48 Mina Menur Ser " 29 Same as above 49 Alima Swin Mohammed " 23 Same as above 50 Abdiya Aliyo Yishak " 2 mos. Same as above 51 Fatuma Nurow Hassen " 43 Same as above 52 Abiba Aliyo Ibren " 9 Same as above 53 Alima Abdo Hassen? " 6 Same as above 54 Alima Hassen Ali " 66 Same as above 55 Abiba Mohammed Haji Ali " 15 Same as above 56 Mariam Mohammed Hassen? " 13 Same as above 57 Abshire Hassen Shebela " 2 Same as above 58 Musluma Ibren Ali " 80 Same as above 59 Asenay Mohammed Yisak " 28 Same as above 60 Fatu Abdliban " 20 Same as above 61 Amina Abdiliban " 12 Same as above 62 Fiduma Boronje Aliyu " 70 Same as above 63 Kuresh Abdulay " 2 Same as above 64 Fatuma Aliyo Shiek Hassen " 15 Same as above 65 Timira Beriyuhu Mohammed " 15 Same as above 66 Neham Abdulay Aliyu " 7 Same as above 67 Amina Mohammed Hassen " 23 Same as above 68 Kediha Abdulay Mohammed " 5 Same as above 69 Robiy Shilow " 75 Same as above 70 Nuriya Ali Mohammed " 40 Same as above 71 72 Imbiya Birkan Hassen Fatuma Birkan Hassen " " 7 4 Two sisters set on fire in their home II. Wounded by Gunshot and Other Traditional Weapons Table 3 below provides a brief description and list of the individuals who sustained various bodily injuries as a result of ethnic cleansing, the nature and seriousness of the injuries. The injuries sustained by those individuals listed under number 29 through 33 were serious enough to necessitate their admission to the Army Hospital in Addis Ababa where they have bee getting medical treatment until the time that this report was being prepared. Table 3. Persons who sustained various bodily injuries Victim's full name Brief description of injury 1 Ato Kulu Mohammed A 27-year-old farmer was hit by a bullet on his right arm while in his house. 2 Child Abdnaser Yesuf An 8-year-old child was stabbed on his shoulder, back and right hand. 3 Woizero Yere Issa A 50-year-old and a mother of 6. She was hit by a bullet on the leg. 4 Child Abdiya Ado A child of 4 was hit by a bullet while at home with her parents. 5 Child Aliyo Mohammed Yisak A 5-year-old son of Woizero Alima Ketelo (see No. 16 in this Table) was hit by a bullet on the right thigh. 6 Yisak Geraw A son of Woizero Halima Mohammed (see No. 11 in this Table) was hit by a bullet below the knee.? 7 Child Hassen Mohammed A 9-year-old boy is the son of Ato Mohammed Haji (see Nos. 6 & 70 in Table 2) and Woizero Nuriya Ali. He was stabbed on the chin and back and his right hand has sustained fractures from beatings. 8 Woizero Musluma Shiek Alito A 20-year-old mother of 2. She was hit by a bullet on the hip while trying to escape with her children. Her 4 and 7 year-old children were killed. (See Nos. 27 and 71 in Table 2 above) 9 Abdulahi Aliyo A 4-year-old child who was wounded by a bullet on the left arm. He is now under medical treatment along with his grandmother, Woizero Halima Ahmed. 10 Child Abdiya Yisho A 5-year-old child. Her father was killed and she was wounded by a bullet while with her mother. 11 Youth Hadija Aliyo A young girl of 17 was wounded by a bullet on the left thigh and leg while at home. 12 Woizero Habiba Manisak A 50-year-old mother of 5 children. She had gone to the Arero Wereda Council's office looking for protection when she was hit by a bullet on the right leg. One of her children was killed. 13 Woizero Halima Seid A 56-year-old mother of 5. She had gone to the Arero Wereda Council's office looking for protection when she was hit by a bullet on the right thigh. 14 Yisak Ibrahim A 20-year-old young man who had gone to the Arero Wereda Council's office looking for protection when he was hit by a bullet on both thighs. 15 Woizero Habiba Abdi A 30-year-old mother of three who had gone to the Arero Wereda Council's office looking for protection when she was hit by a bullet on the right hand. Her child of 7, Mohammed Hassen, was killed in front of her. 16 Woizero Alima Ketelo Eden A 66-year-old elderly who had gone to the Arero Wereda Council's office looking for protection when he was hit by a bullet on the left leg. 17 Woizero Halima Mohammed A 40-year-old mother of 5 who had gone to the Arero Wereda Council's office looking for protection when she was hit by a bullet on the left thigh. On the same day, her two children were killed (see Nos. 6 of this Table), while two of her other children aged 13 and 10 (see Nos. 12 and 26) were killed. 18 Woizero Halima Ahmed A 50-year-old mother of 5 who had gone to the Arero Wereda Council's office looking for protection when she was hit by a bullet on the right knee. Her daughter, Woizero Alima Sowi was killed, while her child (see No 9 in this Table) was wounded. 19 Woizero Bisharey Ibren Kero A 20-year-old mother of 2 who had gone to the Arero Wereda Council's office looking for protection when she was hit by a bullet on the right knee. Her daughter (see No. 10 in this Table) was shot and wounded, while her husband (see No. 4 in Table 2) was killed. 20 Woizero Hajira Ubare A 40-year-old mother of 6 who had gone to the Arero Wereda Council's office looking for protection when she was hit by a bullet on the right thigh. 21 Woizero Habiba Hassen A 22-year-old mother of 2 who had gone to the Arero Wereda Council's office looking for protection when she was hit by a bullet on the back. She is receiving medical treatment while also nursing her 9-month-old child. 22 Youth Abdulahi Mohammed An 18-year-old young man who had gone to the Arero Wereda Council's office looking for protection when he was hit by a bullet on both legs. 23 Woizero Habiba Ibrahim A 40 year old mother of 4 who had gone to the Arero Wereda Council's office looking for protection when she was hit by a bullet on the cheeks. Her husband and baby child were killed. 24 Child Momina Nishow A 12 year old girl who had gone to the Arero Wereda Council's office looking for protection when she was hit by a bullet on the leg. Her father was killed, while her mother was wounded. 25 Youth Abdiya Munir A 15 year old girl who had gone to the Arero Wereda Council's office looking for protection when she was hit by a bullet on the left hand and right knee. Her mother was killed. 26 Child Zara Hussen A 12 year old girl who had gone to the Arero Wereda Council's office looking for protection when she was hit by a bullet on the right foot. 27 Youth Aliyo Mohammed A 15-year-old young man who had gone to the Arero Wereda Council's office looking for protection when he was hit by a bullet on the left knee. 28 Ato Abdi Mohammed A young man of 22 who had gone to the Arero Wereda Council's office, along with his family, looking for protection when he was hit by a bullet on the left hand. Both of his parents were killed. 29 Ato Aliyo Ibren An elderly man of 60 and father of 13 children. He had gone to the Arero Wereda Council's office looking for protection when he was hit by a bullet on both legs. Because of the seriousness of his injury he has been hospitalised at the Army Hospital in Addis Ababa. 30 Youth Aliyo Mohammed A young man of 19 had gone to the Arero Wereda Council's office looking for protection when he was hit by a bullet on the right leg. He is undergoing treatment at the Army Hospital in Addis Ababa. 31 Child Yisak Ibren A child of 10 who had gone to the Arero Wereda Council's office looking for protection when he was hit by a bullet on both legs, both hands and the chest. One of his legs had to be amputated. At present, he is undergoing treatment at the Army Hospital in Addis Ababa. Table 3. Persons who sustained various bodily injuries (cont'd) Victim's full name Brief description of injury 32 Woizero Awliya Yisak A young woman of 21 and a mother of 2. She had gone to the Arero Wereda Council's office looking for protection when she was hit by a bullet on the left leg for which she is undergoing treatment at the Army Hospital in Addis Ababa. 33 Woizero Habiba Mohammed Ibren A young woman of 28 and a mother of 3. She had gone to the Arero Wereda Council's office looking for protection when she was hit by a bullet on the chest for which she is now undergoing treatment at the Army Hospital in Addis Ababa. Gharri Massacre in Kenya: on 11/3/2000 when one Gharri man Mr. Kalla Issak Mahad was killed brutally at GolbaDiriba in Gurar. The boy was defaced, skinned and mutilated, it was a horrifying and spine-chilling episode On 27/03/2000 four Gharri. people were killed at Danaba wells They were; Adow Hillow, Mohamed Issak Tortore, Yusuf Shando Hussein and Maalim Mohamed. Also,three others were seriously injured They were Diqaya Maalim Derow, Abdullahi Kontoma and Mohamed Edin Ali. On 28/3/2000 two Gharri people, Mr. Ibrahim Aliow and Mr. Issak Hassanow Edin were killed at Nanaw. These murders were reported to the local police and other authorities, but they chose to ignore it. So, no actions were taken. There is a documented fact that, most of the crimes were committed in the presence of the Government’s security personnel, in broad day light, including the following crimes, several houses belonging to Gharri clansmen were demolished and 3 Gharri people were also killed, the victims were Fatuma Issak Jirow and Adow Issak Idow (wife and husband) and Abdullahi Maalim Abdi Fille. The Government security personnel’s failed to intervene and failed to assists the Gharri victims. While staying at the police station seeking for help, the Gharri victims witnessed and helplessly watched their houses being demolished, burnt down or iron sheets looted. In total, 35 houses were completely destroyed see the following list: NAMES OF OWNERS                       No of plots No of Rooms 1. Hajji Issack Ahmed Kiti              4 plots   12 Rooms 2. Hajji Abdullahi Nurow               3 Plots   6 Rooms 3. Hajj Nurow Bake                         3 Plots   10 Rooms 4. Hussein Abdi Dika                       1 Plot     2 Rooms 5. Haji Salah Mustafa                      1 Plot      2 Rooms 6. Nura Mohamed Abdi 1 Plot 4 Rooms 7. Maalim Aliow Chiwta 1 plot 2 Rooms 8. Hassan Maalim Moh’d 1 Plot 4 Rooms 9. Abukar Abdullahi 2 Plots 5 Rooms 10. Aliow Hussein Gedi 1 Plot 3 Rooms 11. Hajji Adow Ibrahim 1 Plot 2 Rooms 12. Hassnow Hache 1 Plot 2 Rooms 13. Salah Maalim Issak 1 Plot 2 Rooms 14. Dayow Adan Hassan 1 Plot 5 Rooms 15. Hajji Mohamed Ali 1 Plot 7 Rooms 16. Abdullahi Hache 1 Plot 12 Rooms 17. Hajji Musa Ibrahim 1 Plot 2 Rooms 18. Edinow Hassan Ibrahim 1 Plot 4 Rooms 19. Mohamed Maalim Issak 1 Plot 5 Rooms 20. Maalim Issak Adan 1 Plot 2 Rooms 21. Edaw Mohamed Abdi 1 Plot 1 Rooms 22. 4 other plot whose owners were not present. Between 17/6/2000-21/6/2000, using two government vehicles “registration numbers GKZ 293 and GKZ 230,” all the Gharri at Butte police station were moved (taken by the Kenya government personnel) to Danaba by force against their wills that their safety at Danaba is at stake. There are only 4 police officers stationed at Danaba, therefore, their security could not be guaranteed. On July 4, 2000, the Gharri people’s fears became reality. THE DANABA MASSACRE: On July 4th, 2000, in broad day light and in full view of the security agencies at around 9am about 200 heavily armed militia surrounded Danaba, blocking all escape routes, and entered the Gharri village with military precision opening fire against unarmed Gharri women, children and the elderly. The Kenyan government security agencies did not attempt to intervene or assist the Gharri victims. Having no escape route, many women and children ran back into their “makeshift shanties” for safety, unfortunately, many of them were set on fire and died inside their houses including a family of six. A 9 months old boy, shaban was shot while in his mothers arms with the same bullet that killed his mother. A mentally sick elderly lady was locked inside a house that was later set on fire; she escaped through some opening in the wall while her clothes were on fire. However, She was gunned down before she could go far. The smoke screen from the fire could be seen several kilometers away. The carnage lasted almost five hours, without any interception by the Kenya government security personnel that was stationed there. At the end, 22 people were murdered including 2 elderlymen, 16 women and 4 children, all these people were buried at Takaba; , this became the Danaba massacre On 18/10/2000, two Gharri were killed at a place called Kharsa Sare between Danaba and Iris Teno, again. The victims were Mohamed Ibren Ali and Kusow Sheikh Ali Gashan. The perpetrator got away with eight donkeys and its loads of merchandises. ”On 6th April 2001 at Bute in the presence of the District security committee including the DC Mr Fred mutsami and other security personnel, Ajuran militias killed three Gharri people and several Gharri houses were touched. The DC later visited one of the houses burnt belonging to ALIO Hussein Gedi and also attended the burial ceremony of those killed, but, No arrest were made” Furthermore, the Kenya government failed to take into consideration about the Gharri grievance, that the: .Gharri businessmen from Mandera had been robbed several times between Gurar and Danaba at Kari-gola as armed bandits had opened a toll station in the area. q Gharri people have been deprived of basic rights such as access to water and pasture at Gurar. q The Gharri people were denied the right to acquire identity cards in Bute sub-district. q Gharri people were denied representation in leadership in the area i.e chiefs and councilors out of 14 chiefs only 1 is Gharri and out of 18 sub- chiefs only 1 is Gharri q Many Gharri people were killed, but no arrests being made q Creation of Butte –sub district in 1996 heightened the hatred for Gharri because of their numbers in the area. q Despite the Gharri people’s Grievances, the Kenyan Government has done nothing so far. As the above facts and reports shows, the Gharri people in Eastern Africa have suffered, and their tragedy has not been taken seriously by any human rights organizations or governments. As a result, those who survived the ordeals and are disabled are facing starvation in Ethiopia, because they cannot make a living. In addition, many others whose livelihoods were depends on their animals, are dying daily from starvation and malnutrition, because, their herds were looted. The establishment of ad hoc tribunals and the adoption of the Rome Statute establishing a permanent International Criminal Court has worked bringing notorious European war criminals to justice. However, the lesser-known African war criminals, especially in Eastern Africa have been left out unnoticed. Therefore, we are asking for your help to demand for justice for the Gharri victims. Sincerely Yours: Gharri Support Group in North America.

 

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