Democratic Palestine : 11 (ص 20)
غرض
- عنوان
- Democratic Palestine : 11 (ص 20)
- المحتوى
-
Somalia National Movement
In August «Democratic Palestine» interviewed two leading comrades of the Somali National Move-
ment: Executive Committee member Abdel Kader Kossar and Military Coordinator Abdullahi Askar.
Though not a large country, Somalia has great importance for imperialism and local reactionary forces.
It has extensive coastlines on both the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, vital for the oil routes, and has
been used as a base for striking at socialist Ethiopia. Thus, mounting opposition to Siad Barre’s reactio-
nary regime is of prime importance not only for Somalians but for all the Arab and African peoples.
What are the origins of the Somali National Move-
ment?
After Siad Barre’s aggressive war against Ethiopia, and
Somali’s subsequent defeat, there was general discontent with
the regime. In 1978, when a group of officers attempted a coup,
but failed, the regime carried out more repressive measures.
This in turn led to more discontent with the regime's socio-
economic policies, especially its new pro-imperialist policies.
In this situation, the Somali National Movement began as
an underground trend grouping senior army officers, intellectu-
als, trade union leaders and teachers. Underground cells were
established in every major urban center, and within the armed
forces, the police, student organizations and trade unions. The
Somali National Movement grew as a popular movement with
grassroots throughout the country, and was proclaimed as an
Organization in 1981. As the name indicates, we are not a
party, but a movement comprising all political views.
As a result of the infamous trial of 52 intellectuals in Feb-
ruary 1982, there were mass demonstrations against the
regime in Hargeisa, Burao and Berbera. The regime
responded with mass arrests of students, intellectuals and
community leaders. Since that time, the Somali National
Movement has grown into a national organization representing
the Somali people against the regime. In this situation, in
October 1982, we embarked on armed operations against the
regime after having solidified our internal organization and our
contact with the Somali community outside. Our presence is
felt in every corner of the country. We have offices in Asia,
Africa, Western Europe and North America, for making prop-
aganda against the regime, organizing demonstrations at its
embassies on national occasions and for collecting support.
We are solely dependent on the support of our people in
Somalia and those living abroad.
How do you see the political issue of opposing
imperialism in relation to the social problems fac-
ing your people?
Opposing imperialism is not a question of words, but due
to the nature of imperialism. We are actually opposing the
socio-economic structure in our country, which is the result of
imperialism. We are opposed to capitalism that makes a class
of overnight millionaires based on tribal relations. We are for a
national economy for the good of all the people, not only for
Siad Barre, his cronies, the compradors and overnight mil-
lionaires. We are opposed to imperialism because of its effects
on our country and people. The IMF is running the whole
economy of our country, and this has brought disaster. The
regime has opened Somalia as a Rapid Deployment Force
20
Barre in Washington with then US War Secretary Haig
base, and for use by South Africa and Israel, which under-
mines our people’s sovereignty in their own country. The
aggression against Ethiopia cost the lives and resources of the
Somali people, that could have otherwise been used for
development.
What is the current situation in Somalia?
The internal situation is a desperate one for both the
regime and the people. There is total rejection of Barre’s cor-
rupt, repressive regime throughout the country. There are tens
of thousands of political prisoners. Public executions and mass
arrests are the most prominent activities of the state. Destruc-
tion of villages, nomadic settlements and watering points; raid-
ing, raping, looting and narcotics trade have become the major
activities of the regime's troops.
The regime has moreover armed various clans and set
them against each other, deliberately instigating civil strife to
divert attention from the real problems. There is a total break-
down of law and order, social services, and all that could be
called real government. The regime has become a military
junta, totally isolated from the people, depending on the rep-
ressive forces to stay in power, and placing Somalia under US
domination. It was the regime itself that requested participation
in the Bright Star military maneuvers which we strongly con-
demned. - هو جزء من
- Democratic Palestine : 11
- تاريخ
- أكتوبر ١٩٨٥
- المنشئ
- الجبهة الشعبية لتحرير فلسطين
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