Somalia

Photo : Ayoub mzee
The secreteriat window at night

Report of the Commonwealth Secretary-General launched

The Secretary-General’s biennial report covering the work of the 53-nation Commonwealth and the Commonwealth Secretariat, its principal intergovernmental organisation, was launched on 30 October 2007. Ayoub mzee with the secretary General
“For all [the Commonwealth’s] previous triumphs – especially the way it supported the emergence of many proud and independent nations over several generations – the urgency of its current tasks, and the way it rises to them, is greater,” writes Mr McKinnon.

Photo: Ayoub mzee

The report – Transforming Societies, Changing Lives – looks at the Commonwealth’s work over the last two years, and its continuing efforts to meet the needs of the governments and peoples of its member states.

Photo Ayoub mzee

Among those “current tasks” facing Commonwealth countries, Mr McKinnon made special mention of climate change, HIV/AIDS, education, poverty and political stability. The report explains how the Secretariat’s work aims to meet these challenges – from policy to practice and from advocacy to implementation; using some 20 project case histories. One example is the network of 500 Commonwealth youth ambassadors across three continents, which has been established to provide guidance and information to young people about HIV/AIDS.

Photo: Ayoub mzee

In order to enhance the Commonwealth’s international impact, the report also states that the Secretariat will keep co-operating and co-ordinating with “other international and regional organisations” including the UN, the European Union, the World Bank and regional groupings such as the Pacific Islands Forum.

Photo: Ayoub mzee

In the Gulu District of Northern Uganda, a project has been set up to help former child soldiers repair the trauma of their lost childhood.

Photo: Ayoub mzee

Building a democratic culture, sustaining development, meeting social development goals, empowering young people and multiplying the Commonwealth in impact and reach are the five “core work” areas which the report addresses. Within these areas, the report focuses on various aspects of the Secretariat’s work.

Photo: Ayoub mzee

This Plan acts as a framework for action in youth affairs. It guides all activities of the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP), including projects such as the Commonwealth Youth Credit Initiative (CYCI), which provides loans, training and support for unemployed young men and women. Having been piloted in Zambia, India, Guyana and Solomon Islands, it has since been replicated in a further 12 countries. In India alone nearly 1,000 people gained functional literacy through the project and 9,000 have been exposed to health awareness camps and exhibitions.

Launch of 'The End of Tolerance'
8 November 2007
Asian Dub Foundation-Education (ADFED) and Pluto Press are holding a reception to celebrate the publication of Arun Kundnani's book: The End of Tolerance: Racism in 21st century Britain.
Thursday 8 November 2007, 6-9pm
Mezzanine Cafe, Rich Mix Centre, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA
Speakers:
Arun Kundnani
John Pandit - Asian Dub Foundation
Speakers from campaigns featured in the book.
Followed by music from ADFED's 'There ain't no black in the Union Jack' project.
Please send an email to 'mail[at]endoftolerance.com' to confirm attendance (replacing [at] with the '@' symbol). The nearest tube to the Rich Mix Centre is Liverpool Street. Turn left out of the main station concourse onto Bishopsgate and walk north towards Shoreditch High Street before turning right onto Bethnal Green Road.
Events listing is provided for information only. Inclusion in this listing should not be taken to imply that the Institute of Race Relations supports an event or is involved in organising it.

Building communities: equality and diversity in action
7 November 2007
A conference to examine the distinct needs and experiences of refugees in the context of community cohesion, equality and diversity.
Wednesday 7 November 2007
Met Hotel Leeds, King Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, LS1 2HQ
For further information email: marketing@refugeecouncil.org.uk or phone 020 7346 6737. Another conference also takes place in London on 28 November.
Events listing is provided for information only. Inclusion in this listing should not be taken to imply that the Institute of Race Relations supports an event or is involved in organising it.

SOMALIA: Separetist killings-Caan Caanod Region

WATCH VIDEO: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qZhvx6FQ4xs
Those in North Western part of Somali who are pushing for a separatists region ex “British Somaliland” has applied aggression against the civilian population of Laas caanod, causing the first humanitarian and security crisis in this area.

Oct 15th “Somaliland” lead Militia blockaded the city by closing off the access roads, cut of all lines of communications and attacked the city of Laascaanod. 10s of 1000 have fled the once peaceful city and surrounding region fearing the heavy military weapons pushed into the area.
Women, men & children continuously demonstrate everyday and have been met with heavy violence and gunfire, killing women and children. Others have been dragged out of their homes and killed for opposing their administration.

The militia of that administration has also illegally taken hostage anyone who has attempted to report on the aggression, including women and children.
Incidents of men being run over by military vehicles have been reported rendering them disabled; moving them to and holding them hostage in cities within the North Western Somalia.
Some telephone lines have now been re-established.
Their militia continue to target the remaining population with threats of further violence as a means of silencing the civilians, bringing instability to a region which has not suffered from warfare for the last 17 years.
Lack of Democracy – Security Crisis

All the traditional leaders of this land stand shoulder to shoulder against this aggression and have echoed their people’s rejection and the opposition of this illegal occupation (both in Somalia and in the Diaspora).
The following link is of one of the demo in Laas caanod which has occurred every day since the aggression. The civilian population are not armed nor have any military weaponry; instead they resort to burning tyres, throwing rocks and their voice.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qZhvx6FQ4xs
Abdul Nassir Ahmed Omar who is filming this has been taken hostage and we have no idea where he is. The militia has been accused of torturing individuals, kidnapping etc and there is legitimate concern that he could very well be subject to abuse.
Humanitarian Crisis
We now have a humanitarian crisis, with 1000’s displaced who have no shelter, place to sleep, food, drink, medical supplies etc while their homes are either empty, being destroyed or looted by the militia members. The majority of those still demonstrating in the city are children and women, inflation is taking its toll on the remaining supplies in the city with some basic amenities not available. (water, electricity, medical supplies etc).
We have approached Muslim Aid in order to help the IDP’s & have been promised that they will work with their Field office in Somalia. We look on to you to do the same.

Supporting Peace in a unified Somalia:
There is a real need to help the people of Laas caanod to bring stability and peace back to this once peaceful region and to unify the Somali people. The region has always supported the unification of Somalia and has not experienced any warfare for 17 years until this recent aggression.
Please joins efforts and contact us at the following email-
crisis@northernsomalia-watch.com