INSIDE OGADEN: In this report, we shall discuss, analyse and give an
over view on the situation in Ogaden particularly, Ethiopia’s free press
ban in the region and it’s military hostility. We as Qorahay Media
Journalist Group, aim to share with the World two major areas; which
separated the Ogaden region from the rest of the Globe. These issues are
respectively; the banning of the Free press and the Sanctioning of the
Humanitarian Aid. In our report, we would uncover the Human right abuses
faced by our Journalists and other International media reporters who
risked their lives and attempted to cover the untold stories inside
Ogaden. Lastly, we would be finalizing this report with a press release
and appeal to the World and the International community that, we as
Qorahay Media Journalist Group suffer in the hands of the Ethiopian
troops as the regime declared, the Ogaden region as a ”NO-GO ZONE”
BACKGROUND: The Ogaden-Somali territory lies geographically; between
Oromia to the West, Afar land to the Northwest, the Republic of Djibouti
to the North, Kenya to the South and The Somali Republic to the east.
The inhabitants are Somali who are Agro-pastoralist people with a single
language, culture, and socioeconomic structure which predominantly
inhabit the Ogaden territory at large.
The Ogaden Somali people were Free, Independent and Powerful until the colonial powers particularly; The British & the Italian colonialists from overseas came to Africa and started arming . Abyssinians used the arms and expertise provided by the colonialists to capture Harar in 1884 and started raiding Ogaden Somali villages in that area, killing the men and selling women and children as slaves. The Ogaden Somalis resisted vehemently the encroachment of the Abyssinian expansionists and succeeded in halting their advance. Even though, the Abyssinian military campaign to conquer the rest of the Somali territory failed, the colonial powers recognised its claim over the Ogaden region and signed treaties with them. From 1886 to 1948, Abyssinia (renaming itself Ethiopia) waged a constant war of conquest against the Ogaden-Somalis but failed in gaining any further foothold in the Ogaden region. In 1935, Italy invaded Abyssinia and captured it along with the Ogaden and the territories of other nations in the area.
Then the British drove Italy from Ogaden territory the in the year 1941 and administered the Ogaden region for eight years until it handed over to the first piece of Land of Ogaden territory namely; Jigjiga Plateau to Ethiopia (the Abyssinians) for the first time. The remaining part of the Ogaden region were transferred into Ethiopia by the British in 1954 and 1956. Moreover, Ethiopia gained the control over the Ogaden without the knowledge or consent of the Ogaden-Somalis. Since that time, successive Ethiopian regimes mercilessly suppressed the Ogaden people in the most hostile way by subjecting them in extra-judicial Killings, torture, rape and committing so many forms of Human Right abuses More so, the liberation movements seriously weakened and defeated the Ethiopian colonialists, but, unfortunately a foreign power which were strong allies of Ethiopia directly intervened to re-established its colonial rule over the Ogaden region. Nonetheless, the International media and the Human Right organizations i.e The Human Rights Watch & The Amnesty International have severally published reports indicating the war crimes committed by the Ethiopian forces inside Ogaden region. This costed the Ethiopian regime to be condemned and denounced by the International community.
For that case, Ethiopia (the Abyssinians) are using the concept of governance and Statehood to deprive the rights of Ogaden-Somali people which they have forcefully taken their Land against their will. Every regime that took over power from another, maintained the same legacy of his predecessor. For that case, the World has recognized Ethiopia as country where democracy and rule of law is totally in denial. On the other hand, Ethiopia is well known for its poor economy ranking in the poverty scale as one of the poorest Nations in the African continent this had helped them earn annually a donor funds which is estimated millions of Dollars from the Western countries i.e The UK, US & The EU in the name of fighting against hunger and eradicating poverty but, Ethiopian government uses the Aid given to buy Modern weapons from RUSSIA and other countries the regime automatically caries out an extrajudicial killings in the Ogaden region by subjecting a collective punishment to the innocent Elderly Men, Women and Children. The Human Rights violations committed by the Ethiopian military have branded them as the most vicious authoritarian military rule in the third world countries. THE PLIGHT OF OGADEN REGION: Ogaden is a region which is sealed from the rest of the world by the Ethiopian government and is believed to be accommodating the largest Ethiopian military personnel according to our under-cover reporters corresponded from inside Ogaden.
Other sources from the local residents in Ogaden suggest that the Ethiopian Military oppress the Ogaden people in all forms of Human oppression by which they have said to carry out mass killings, rape, torture and displacement. They have also prohibited all sorts of Media coverage and execute whoever tries to report any story that matter.jeffrey_gettlemanmartin_johanjeffrey_gettlemanmartin_johan
THE FATE OF JOURNALISTS INSIDE OGADEN: Pulitzer Prize Awardee of 2012 Mr. Jeffery Gettlemen of the New YorkTimes was among the International Reporters that shared with the rest of the world the Human atrocities committed against the Ogaden people. Mr. Gettlemen gave in the year 2008 vivid reports, most permanently at personal peril, on famine, Humanitarian organizations and workers expulsion, Media blockade and the endless conflict in Ogaden as a neglected but increasingly strategic part of the world. New York Times, Jama Noor of Aljazeera International and Swedish Journalists i.e Martin Schibbye and photographer Johan persson had entered into Ogaden different years and covered a heartbreaking news from Ogaden territory.These International Journalists had one common goal that was sharing with the Globe the Human right violations perpetrated by the Ethiopian forces against Ogaden Civilians and perhaps shading light on the strategies used by the Ogaden people as defensive mechanism to protect their lives and their territory from Ethiopian forces.
In the Year 2007 The New York Times reporter in the Horn of Africa Mr.jeffery Gettleman had filmed a documentary on the dire situation in Ogaden as it became one of the most credible reports gathered ever from occupied Ogaden. Here is the link of the documentary filmed by Jeffery Gettleman from Ogaden. https://youtu.be/B2UsCzim6ccMr Jeffery’s true story from occupied Ogaden had attracted the world’s attention which had costed Ethiopia to be enquired by the United Nation’s Organisation. Besides that, The Ogaden media organizations and Human rights activists have also condemned the Ethiopian prolonged barbaric acts and called for the end of Ethiopia’s paramilitary campaign and asked for access for Humanitarian Aid and Media. In the Year 2011, two Swedish Journalists namely; Martin Shcibbye and Johan persson had entered into Ogaden to cover on the actual matters of Ogaden territory.
The Journalist’s entrance into Ogaden was successful but they had ended up in the hands of Ethiopian Military which lasted them to be in prison for 438 days. The two freelance journalists were locked up in Ethiopian prisons for illegally entering into the Ogaden territory and claimed to be committing acts of terrorism. Prior to their arrest, journalists had been working in Ogaden, but the south is where Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson were headed when they were caught. No journalists have ventured into southern Ogaden due to extreme danger and political instability. Schibbye and Persson were arrested while traveling with guerilla resistance rebels called the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) who fight against Ethiopian army in Ogaden. The Ethiopian courts claimed to have filmed of the two journalists standing with the ONLF. On Dec. 27, 2011 they were sentenced to 11 years in jail. After a bizarre and convoluted set of events, which included the death of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, the two were freed and sent back to Sweden. They arrived home Sept. 14, 2012. Journalists interviewed them together via Skype on Monday, Sept. 24. Poynter: What drew you to Ethiopia in the first place? Schibbye: We tried to be proactive and see what impact oil exploration would have on the area.
There were a lot of things written about the Ogaden but no one had actually set foot in the oil fields. We said, “Let’s try and use our feet more than Google to cover this story.” Persson: Other journalists had been there, including from The New York Times, but they’d never gone south in to the actual oil fields. How did you arrange to illegally cross the border? Schibbye: We contacted the ONLF and asked them if they could be our guide and get us in to the oil fields where this Swedish company [Africa Oil] is active. They said yes, and so we chose to be embedded with them. What is the timeline from when you entered Ethiopia and when you were arrested? Schibbye: We crossed on June 27th and immediately it goes wrong. We were chased in the desert for 30 or 40 minute by the Ethiopian army, but managed to get away. On the evening of June 30th, I hear one gun shot. Seconds later, the whole area exploded with Kalashnikov fire.
I got hit in the shoulder and Johan gets hit in the arm. There is a four-day gap between your arrest and your arrival in prison. What happened during those days? Johan Persson (left) and Martin Schibbye (right) Schibbye: We were arrested on June 30th and held in the desert up to July 4th. For four days, the longest and worst of my life, they brought in military journalists to make a mockumentary about what happened. They gave us new clothes and they told us to co-operate or we would be shot. They drove us around to different locations; it was like a Steven Spielberg film. Persson: Martin was mock executed and I thought he was dead. Schibbye: The film’s director was the vice-president of the Ogaden. He was in contact with the president of the Ogaden all the time. At one moment I get to speak to [the president] on the phone and he tells us, “We are not happy with your performance. So tomorrow we’ll have to do it again and you have to confess you are terrorists.” During the early days in prison, what was going through your heads? Schibbye: We tried to think like journalists. During one of the interrogations, I managed to steal two pieces of paper and hide them in my shoe. So, after the interrogations I could write, word-by-word, what was said? It kept you going. What was the hardest thing about confinement? Persson: If you speak about politics, you’re reported immediately to the secret police. Schibbye: You get points. If I see someone smoking and report them to the police I get 10 points. It’s a system that promotes snitching. The view I had of prison was it’s us against them. It’s nothing like that. It’s everybody against everybody.
What is the connection between Meles Zenawi’s death and your release? Schibbye: He promised the Swedish foreign minister [Carl Bildt] in May that we would be pardoned in September. We were worried after Zenawi’s death that he may not have informed other people about this decision. That’s why the Swedish foreign minister flew down to Zenawi’s funeral. … Also, they had gained what they had tried to achieve: to scare journalists. If they had kept us any longer the diplomatic price might have been too high. You went on Ethiopian television (ETV) and apologized for your actions. Was that also theatre? Schibbye: Yeah. It was the best lie of my life. It was part of the deal. All political prisoners show themselves on TV, say, “Hello, I’m a big idiot,” and then are released. Persson: They wouldn’t give us the release papers before the interview. One minute after, the papers came. We went straight to the embassy and then to the airport. Did this experience change your perceptions of journalism? Schibbye: I dragged my wife through hell for 14 months, but as a journalist I now have tools I didn’t have before. I now understand people I have interviewed because I have experienced similar situations. I now know what it’s like to live in a country and be afraid to think and write; you start to cripple intellectually. Persson: I don’t need permission from governments around the world to interview people. I interview who I want, when I want. I don’t care if this person is on a terrorist list or not. It’s important that you can hear all sides in the conflict. If you only report one side you don’t get the proper picture. You can stay and live your lives in one of the world’s safest, richest countries. Why are you willing to sacrifice your lives to tell these stories? Persson: There are many black spots in the world with no coverage. That’s our job to report that. The problem is that Ethiopia may have won this. Now, people are not willing to go into the Ogaden because they fear getting shot in the head or going to jail for 20 years. Schibbye: We have chosen to be freelancers to choose the stories we want to cover. … It has to be freelancers to do this kind of work. It takes time.
We worked on this since 2009 and we are still not finished. Schibbye and Persson appeared at a press conference following their release. The interview was taken by Ryan Kohls who is a well known journalist based in Toronto, Canada and operates an interview website called whatiwannaknow.com. Finally, the Swedish journalists had written a story about their journey into Ogaden including their 438 days in Ethiopia’s prison experience. In the year 2014 the script had been filmed into a movie known as ”THE ESSENCE OF TERROR” which is believed to have drawn the world’s attention and thought to be a clear evidence at hand that could clarify the Human Right abuses committed by the Ethiopian forces against the Vulnerable people of Ogaden
Read more from here
The Ogaden Somali people were Free, Independent and Powerful until the colonial powers particularly; The British & the Italian colonialists from overseas came to Africa and started arming . Abyssinians used the arms and expertise provided by the colonialists to capture Harar in 1884 and started raiding Ogaden Somali villages in that area, killing the men and selling women and children as slaves. The Ogaden Somalis resisted vehemently the encroachment of the Abyssinian expansionists and succeeded in halting their advance. Even though, the Abyssinian military campaign to conquer the rest of the Somali territory failed, the colonial powers recognised its claim over the Ogaden region and signed treaties with them. From 1886 to 1948, Abyssinia (renaming itself Ethiopia) waged a constant war of conquest against the Ogaden-Somalis but failed in gaining any further foothold in the Ogaden region. In 1935, Italy invaded Abyssinia and captured it along with the Ogaden and the territories of other nations in the area.
Then the British drove Italy from Ogaden territory the in the year 1941 and administered the Ogaden region for eight years until it handed over to the first piece of Land of Ogaden territory namely; Jigjiga Plateau to Ethiopia (the Abyssinians) for the first time. The remaining part of the Ogaden region were transferred into Ethiopia by the British in 1954 and 1956. Moreover, Ethiopia gained the control over the Ogaden without the knowledge or consent of the Ogaden-Somalis. Since that time, successive Ethiopian regimes mercilessly suppressed the Ogaden people in the most hostile way by subjecting them in extra-judicial Killings, torture, rape and committing so many forms of Human Right abuses More so, the liberation movements seriously weakened and defeated the Ethiopian colonialists, but, unfortunately a foreign power which were strong allies of Ethiopia directly intervened to re-established its colonial rule over the Ogaden region. Nonetheless, the International media and the Human Right organizations i.e The Human Rights Watch & The Amnesty International have severally published reports indicating the war crimes committed by the Ethiopian forces inside Ogaden region. This costed the Ethiopian regime to be condemned and denounced by the International community.
For that case, Ethiopia (the Abyssinians) are using the concept of governance and Statehood to deprive the rights of Ogaden-Somali people which they have forcefully taken their Land against their will. Every regime that took over power from another, maintained the same legacy of his predecessor. For that case, the World has recognized Ethiopia as country where democracy and rule of law is totally in denial. On the other hand, Ethiopia is well known for its poor economy ranking in the poverty scale as one of the poorest Nations in the African continent this had helped them earn annually a donor funds which is estimated millions of Dollars from the Western countries i.e The UK, US & The EU in the name of fighting against hunger and eradicating poverty but, Ethiopian government uses the Aid given to buy Modern weapons from RUSSIA and other countries the regime automatically caries out an extrajudicial killings in the Ogaden region by subjecting a collective punishment to the innocent Elderly Men, Women and Children. The Human Rights violations committed by the Ethiopian military have branded them as the most vicious authoritarian military rule in the third world countries. THE PLIGHT OF OGADEN REGION: Ogaden is a region which is sealed from the rest of the world by the Ethiopian government and is believed to be accommodating the largest Ethiopian military personnel according to our under-cover reporters corresponded from inside Ogaden.
Other sources from the local residents in Ogaden suggest that the Ethiopian Military oppress the Ogaden people in all forms of Human oppression by which they have said to carry out mass killings, rape, torture and displacement. They have also prohibited all sorts of Media coverage and execute whoever tries to report any story that matter.jeffrey_gettlemanmartin_johanjeffrey_gettlemanmartin_johan
THE FATE OF JOURNALISTS INSIDE OGADEN: Pulitzer Prize Awardee of 2012 Mr. Jeffery Gettlemen of the New YorkTimes was among the International Reporters that shared with the rest of the world the Human atrocities committed against the Ogaden people. Mr. Gettlemen gave in the year 2008 vivid reports, most permanently at personal peril, on famine, Humanitarian organizations and workers expulsion, Media blockade and the endless conflict in Ogaden as a neglected but increasingly strategic part of the world. New York Times, Jama Noor of Aljazeera International and Swedish Journalists i.e Martin Schibbye and photographer Johan persson had entered into Ogaden different years and covered a heartbreaking news from Ogaden territory.These International Journalists had one common goal that was sharing with the Globe the Human right violations perpetrated by the Ethiopian forces against Ogaden Civilians and perhaps shading light on the strategies used by the Ogaden people as defensive mechanism to protect their lives and their territory from Ethiopian forces.
In the Year 2007 The New York Times reporter in the Horn of Africa Mr.jeffery Gettleman had filmed a documentary on the dire situation in Ogaden as it became one of the most credible reports gathered ever from occupied Ogaden. Here is the link of the documentary filmed by Jeffery Gettleman from Ogaden. https://youtu.be/B2UsCzim6ccMr Jeffery’s true story from occupied Ogaden had attracted the world’s attention which had costed Ethiopia to be enquired by the United Nation’s Organisation. Besides that, The Ogaden media organizations and Human rights activists have also condemned the Ethiopian prolonged barbaric acts and called for the end of Ethiopia’s paramilitary campaign and asked for access for Humanitarian Aid and Media. In the Year 2011, two Swedish Journalists namely; Martin Shcibbye and Johan persson had entered into Ogaden to cover on the actual matters of Ogaden territory.
The Journalist’s entrance into Ogaden was successful but they had ended up in the hands of Ethiopian Military which lasted them to be in prison for 438 days. The two freelance journalists were locked up in Ethiopian prisons for illegally entering into the Ogaden territory and claimed to be committing acts of terrorism. Prior to their arrest, journalists had been working in Ogaden, but the south is where Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson were headed when they were caught. No journalists have ventured into southern Ogaden due to extreme danger and political instability. Schibbye and Persson were arrested while traveling with guerilla resistance rebels called the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) who fight against Ethiopian army in Ogaden. The Ethiopian courts claimed to have filmed of the two journalists standing with the ONLF. On Dec. 27, 2011 they were sentenced to 11 years in jail. After a bizarre and convoluted set of events, which included the death of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, the two were freed and sent back to Sweden. They arrived home Sept. 14, 2012. Journalists interviewed them together via Skype on Monday, Sept. 24. Poynter: What drew you to Ethiopia in the first place? Schibbye: We tried to be proactive and see what impact oil exploration would have on the area.
There were a lot of things written about the Ogaden but no one had actually set foot in the oil fields. We said, “Let’s try and use our feet more than Google to cover this story.” Persson: Other journalists had been there, including from The New York Times, but they’d never gone south in to the actual oil fields. How did you arrange to illegally cross the border? Schibbye: We contacted the ONLF and asked them if they could be our guide and get us in to the oil fields where this Swedish company [Africa Oil] is active. They said yes, and so we chose to be embedded with them. What is the timeline from when you entered Ethiopia and when you were arrested? Schibbye: We crossed on June 27th and immediately it goes wrong. We were chased in the desert for 30 or 40 minute by the Ethiopian army, but managed to get away. On the evening of June 30th, I hear one gun shot. Seconds later, the whole area exploded with Kalashnikov fire.
I got hit in the shoulder and Johan gets hit in the arm. There is a four-day gap between your arrest and your arrival in prison. What happened during those days? Johan Persson (left) and Martin Schibbye (right) Schibbye: We were arrested on June 30th and held in the desert up to July 4th. For four days, the longest and worst of my life, they brought in military journalists to make a mockumentary about what happened. They gave us new clothes and they told us to co-operate or we would be shot. They drove us around to different locations; it was like a Steven Spielberg film. Persson: Martin was mock executed and I thought he was dead. Schibbye: The film’s director was the vice-president of the Ogaden. He was in contact with the president of the Ogaden all the time. At one moment I get to speak to [the president] on the phone and he tells us, “We are not happy with your performance. So tomorrow we’ll have to do it again and you have to confess you are terrorists.” During the early days in prison, what was going through your heads? Schibbye: We tried to think like journalists. During one of the interrogations, I managed to steal two pieces of paper and hide them in my shoe. So, after the interrogations I could write, word-by-word, what was said? It kept you going. What was the hardest thing about confinement? Persson: If you speak about politics, you’re reported immediately to the secret police. Schibbye: You get points. If I see someone smoking and report them to the police I get 10 points. It’s a system that promotes snitching. The view I had of prison was it’s us against them. It’s nothing like that. It’s everybody against everybody.
What is the connection between Meles Zenawi’s death and your release? Schibbye: He promised the Swedish foreign minister [Carl Bildt] in May that we would be pardoned in September. We were worried after Zenawi’s death that he may not have informed other people about this decision. That’s why the Swedish foreign minister flew down to Zenawi’s funeral. … Also, they had gained what they had tried to achieve: to scare journalists. If they had kept us any longer the diplomatic price might have been too high. You went on Ethiopian television (ETV) and apologized for your actions. Was that also theatre? Schibbye: Yeah. It was the best lie of my life. It was part of the deal. All political prisoners show themselves on TV, say, “Hello, I’m a big idiot,” and then are released. Persson: They wouldn’t give us the release papers before the interview. One minute after, the papers came. We went straight to the embassy and then to the airport. Did this experience change your perceptions of journalism? Schibbye: I dragged my wife through hell for 14 months, but as a journalist I now have tools I didn’t have before. I now understand people I have interviewed because I have experienced similar situations. I now know what it’s like to live in a country and be afraid to think and write; you start to cripple intellectually. Persson: I don’t need permission from governments around the world to interview people. I interview who I want, when I want. I don’t care if this person is on a terrorist list or not. It’s important that you can hear all sides in the conflict. If you only report one side you don’t get the proper picture. You can stay and live your lives in one of the world’s safest, richest countries. Why are you willing to sacrifice your lives to tell these stories? Persson: There are many black spots in the world with no coverage. That’s our job to report that. The problem is that Ethiopia may have won this. Now, people are not willing to go into the Ogaden because they fear getting shot in the head or going to jail for 20 years. Schibbye: We have chosen to be freelancers to choose the stories we want to cover. … It has to be freelancers to do this kind of work. It takes time.
We worked on this since 2009 and we are still not finished. Schibbye and Persson appeared at a press conference following their release. The interview was taken by Ryan Kohls who is a well known journalist based in Toronto, Canada and operates an interview website called whatiwannaknow.com. Finally, the Swedish journalists had written a story about their journey into Ogaden including their 438 days in Ethiopia’s prison experience. In the year 2014 the script had been filmed into a movie known as ”THE ESSENCE OF TERROR” which is believed to have drawn the world’s attention and thought to be a clear evidence at hand that could clarify the Human Right abuses committed by the Ethiopian forces against the Vulnerable people of Ogaden
Read more from here
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