From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Tue Mar 10 2009 - 07:02:01 EST
Somalia: 7,574 people killed in 2008: Elman Human Rights
Mar 10, 2009 - 10:05:17 AM
MOGADISHU, Somalia Mar 10 (Garowe Online) - A Somali human rights agency
issued a report Monday in the country's capital Mogadishu to commemorate the
death of a human rights activist, Radio Garowe reports.
Mogadishu-based Elman Human Rights group was named after Mr. Mohamud Ali
Ahmed, popularly known as Elman, who was killed by militiamen on March 9,
1996, while walking with a young child along a city street.
Monday's well-organized ceremony was held at Mogadishu's Amira Hotel, where
Somali peace activists and government officials offered speeches to honor
the country's peace and human rights movement.
Abdullahi Mohamud Mohamed, chairman of the INXA human rights group,
commended Mr. Elman as a hero who organized armed youth and educated them
during difficult times.
Somali lawmaker Bottan Isse Alim, one of Mogadishu's notorious ex-warlords,
offered a brief prayer and praised Elman as a champion of peace.
"Any person who does the right is always remembered and Elman was one of the
people remembered for his good actions," said Fartun Abdisalam, Elman's
widow.
Mr. Ali "Fadha" Sheikh Yasin, the Elman Human Rights agency's current
chairman, thanked everyone for attending the ceremony and read aloud a list
of human rights violations from 2008, including killings, rapes and
kidnappings.
According to the Elman Human Rights 2008 report, 7,674 people were killed
mostly civilians in Mogadishu, while 16,914 others were forcefully displaced
from their homes.
There were 106 cases of rape reported and 1,164 cases of torture, although
the report did not specify the culprits behind such crimes.
Further, there were a total of 41 kidnappings of aid workers, including 16
foreigners. Currently, there are 12 aid workers being held hostage in
Somalia, the report concluded.
Mr. Ali Fadha called on the Somali national unity government and the
Islamist rebels to stop the war and to enter peace negotiations.
Elman Human Rights group is frequently sourced by the media for its annual
reports on human rights abuses in Somalia, especially in Mogadishu.
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