For Immediate Release April 11, 2005

Re: Another looming War in the Horn of Africa

It is with dismay that we have learned that the President of Somalia signed the Eastern Africa Standby Brigade (EASBRIG) Protocol today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia against the wishes of the people and the Parliament of Somalia. (Easbrig Protocol) This Protocol is particularly stressing because of the fact that signatory nations surrender their sovereignty allowing other nations to intervene militarily in the event of internal conflict.

We, the Hawiye Action Group (HAG) believe that this Protocol is specifically designed to give Ethiopia a much-sought legal military involvement in Somalia. This will allow Ethiopia to operate in Somalia with impunity.

Once again we remind the new Government of Somalia is transitional administration and its mandate is to reconcile the people of Somalia and does not have the power to legally sign such a Protocol that has future implications for Somalia as a nation.

We strongly reject this Protocol with a view to the International Community, the Transitional Federal Parliament of Somalia and People of Somalia:·

We appeal to the International Community and the United Nations Security Council to reject this Protocol and note that the Transitional Federal Parliament of Somalia has voted in a resolution to deny "Frontline States" which includes Ethiopia to be part of any possible peacekeeping Operations in Somalia on March 17, 2005.
· We call upon the United Nations Security Council to require IGAD nations to respect UN Resolution 1474 that establishes Arms Embargo on Somalia and demand that any military deployment in Somalia must be authorized by the United Nations security Council first.
· We ask the Transitional Federal Parliament of Somalia to reject this Protocol and not ratify it. We also request that the Parliament proceeds impeaching the President immediately in acting against the interest of the nation and the wishes of the people of Somalia.
· We urge the people of Somalia to mobilize in preparation to face the naked aggression of Ethiopia for we believe that they have not yet exhausted their bag of tricks to invade Somalia.
· We ask the people of Somalia to seek common ground in resolving the important political issues through peaceful means and dialogue.

Contact:
Mr. Liban Gabeyre
Executive Director
hawiyeactiongroup@hotmail.com
416-245-8734

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Dear Mr. Liban Gabeyre, from Ahmed H. Ali