From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Fri Jan 22 2010 - 07:32:18 EST
TPLF Militias and Civilians Fought a Pitched Battle in Shiniile
Friday, 22 January 2010 05:28
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http://www.ogaden.com/images/stories/demo/other/shinile.jpgAsbuli, Shinile -
UN Photo #EDD652 by E. Debebe
Reports reaching the Ogaden Online service desk from the city of Diridhaba
in the province of Shiniile confirm the existence of a recent pitched battle
that took place between the Tigrian People's Liberation Front (TPLF)
militias stationed in the area and the local citizenry.
It is reported that towards the end of last week, the civilians held an
area wide demonstration to protest the recent confiscation by the TPLF
militias of a fertile agricultural land estimated at 60,000 hectares. There
were rumors within the city and its surroundings that the confiscated land
was being given to Ethiopians migrating from the highlands. However,
reliable sources within the TPLF militias and in Addis Ababa intimated that
the land was clandestinely sold to a Chinese consortium.
Eyewitnesses reported that the TPLF militias instead of letting the citizens
vent their bent up anger and frustration through the peaceful demonstration
started shooting everyone on sight. Ogaden civilians once they realized what
was going on immediately dispersed. However, Ogaden Online reporters in the
area confirmed that instead of waiting out the TPLF militias to return to
their barracks, as used to be the norm, the civilians many of whom were
nomads who have firearms for protecting their livestock from wild animals in
the area went back to their homes and came back armed and ready to fight the
TPLF militias.
Eyewitnesses reported that the TPLF militias were quickly overwhelmed by the
sheer number of armed civilians from all corners of the city. As a result,
the TPLF militias were quickly overrun by the local civilians who appeared
determined to face off the TPLF militias. It is reported that the TPLF
militias left five of their own dead in the area and went back to their
barracks. It is unknown how many they may lost or their number of injured
militia members.
The civilians were said to have lost one, but there many injuries sustained
by the civilian side. The city is still tense. There are reports that the
TPLF militias have consulted with their bosses in Addis Ababa on what to do
next. It is said they are awaiting further instructions. Many of the
civilians are said to have sworn that rather than vacate their fertile land,
they would die facing off the TPLF militias and any other group that
attempts to confiscate their land.
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