January 15, 2012 | Morning Headlines.


	Mass grave containing skeletons and old rotting human flesh found inside Baladweyene Police Station 14 Jan – Source: TFG – 359 words The new police authority of the TFG, in the newly liberated regional capital of Baladweyne found a large number of skeletons and old rotting human flesh inside the city’s police station, which was until recently in the hands of the al Shabaab extremists. According to police and medical investigators, some of the bones are probably months or even a year old, and only further more sophisticated forensic tests can determine the approximate time the murder of the victims took place; also, there are no complete skeletons, just a collection of human bones thrown into a hole, probably already dismembered.
Key Headlines AMISOM peacekeepers to be deployed in Beledweyne (Garowe Online) Senior al Shabaab leader defects to government side (Radio Bar-Kulan) Aid Efforts Need Help Getting To Somalia’s Famine (NPR News) Information minister attends Arab IT meeting (Radio Mogadishu) Al Shabaab insurgents hold captive three Kenyans in Bardhere (Garowe Online) Kenya arrests 29 Ugandans ‘headed to Somalia to fight’ (Capital FM)

PRESS RELEASE Mass grave containing skeletons and old rotting human flesh found inside Baladweyene Police Station 14 Jan – Source: TFG – 359 words The new police authority of the TFG, in the newly liberated regional capital of Baladweyne found a large number of skeletons and old rotting human flesh inside the city’s police station, which was until recently in the hands of the al Shabaab extremists. According to police and medical investigators, some of the bones are probably months or even a year old, and only further more sophisticated forensic tests can determine the approximate time the murder of the victims took place; also, there are no complete skeletons, just a collection of human bones thrown into a hole, probably already dismembered. In addition to the skeletons, the police also found pieces of rotting human flesh, in varying degrees of decomposition; such as, what was evidently once, arms, legs, heads and torsoes of human bodies. This gruesome sight was discovered while the new TFG police officers were cleaning and removing rubbish from the police station compound. The victims are estimated to be between 20 and 40, the authorities in Baladweyne said. The spokesman for the new authority in Baladweyne added, ” Obviously, the victims were either killed inside the police station or their dead bodies were brought to the police station and then dismembered. We need more time to establish all the facts relating to this horrific crime ” The acting Minister of Information, Posts and Telecommunication, H.E. Abdullahi Bile Noor, condemning this anti-Islamic, and barbarous crime, said today, “I am shocked and dumbfounded. It is really very difficult to find suitable words to condemn a crime of this magnitude. To kill some inside a police station, dismember the bodies and throw them in a ditch without giving them, the mandatory obligation of all Muslims, to give the dead the prescribed Islamic burial rites, is to say the least, a new milestone in the barbarity that we have become accustomed to from al Shabaab.” We must liberate the rest of the country as quickly as possible, before we witness even more and much worse insanity from al Shabaab.” the Minister concluded. Prime Minister Abdiweli back home after visits to Kenya and Djibouti 14 Jan – Source: TFG- 149 words The Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali and his delegation jetted back to the country after visits to Kenya and Djibouti where they held talks with the heads of those countries. The prime minister was welcomed at the airport by the acting prime minister who is also minister for trade Abdiwahab Ugas Hussein and scores of people including ministers, legislatures, officials from the government, women and musicians. The premier greeted them all. The premier addressed the media inside the airport saying the journey to Kenya and Djibouti were fruitful and held discussion with them. “In Djibouti we were received by the president Ismail Omar Gelle and his premier Dileyte Mohamed Dileyte and we discussed measures to bring about stability to Somalia. As you know Djibouti has contributed peacekeeping soldiers to the country, AMISOM and we agreed on a number of issues” the premier said thanking Djibouti for their contribution of soldiers. SOMALI MEDIA Senior al Shabaab leader defects to government side 15 Jan – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 137 words A senior al Shabaab leader and seven of his militias have on Saturday reportedly surrendered to the Somali government forces in Garbaharey, Gedo region. Hassan Abdi Elmoge defected with his militias and a battle wagon popularly known as “Technical” to the government side, according to MP Mohamed Sayid Adan. Elmoge is alleged to be the man responsible for recruitment and trainings of rebel fighters in Gedo and Middle Juba. Information minister attends Arab IT meeting 14 Jan – Source: Radio Mogadishu – 151 words Hamed bin Mohammed al-Rashdi, Information Minister of Oman received in his office here today Eng. Abdulqadir Hussain Mohammed, Information, Post and Communications Minister in the Republic of Somalia who is currently visiting the Sultanate to attend meetings of the Arab Information and Communication Technologies Organization. During the meeting, good relations between the Sultanate and the Republic of Somalia were reviewed and aspects of joint cooperation discussed. Air strikes hit in a rebel-held southern Somalia town 15 Jan – Source: Shabelle – 190 words Suspected Kenyan fighter jets bombed on a militant-held Jilib town in Middle Jubba region of southern Somalia, killing at least five people, including four children, residents said Sunday. Reports said the warplanes hit several civilian locations and buildings in the heart of Jilib town suspected for Islamist training camps, killing five civilians and injuring unidentified number of people, who were rushed to the nearby hospitals in the town, which is one of the al Shabaab strongholds in southern Somalia. AMISOM peacekeepers to be deployed in Beledweyne 14 Jan – Source: Garowe Online – 166 words AMISOM peacekeepers General Fred Mugisha confirmed reports that AMISOM peacekeepers that will be deployed to Beledweyne in the province of Hiran in the coming weeks, Garowe reports. AMISOM peacekeepers will be deployed to Beledweyne located in south central Somalia which was a stronghold for Aal Shabaab until last month when Ethiopian troops alongside TFG soldiers expelled the insurgents from the city. SDMA: 1000 IDPs in Badbado camp receive aid 14 Jan – Source: Radio Shabelle, Kulmiye – 181 words The Somali Disaster Management Agency has today distributed aid to more than 1000 displaced persons at the Badbado IDP camp, the largest IDP camp in Mogadishu. The displaced people have been hit hard by the lack of basic amenities like food, shelter and clothing but the disaster Committee formed by the Somali Prime Minister H.E Abdiweli Mohamed Ali has initiated a massive campaign to better the lives of thousands of displaced persons. Security situation in the camp has also improved. Dozens of bodies removed from graves in Beledweyne town 14 Jan – Source: Shabelle – 194 words Dozens of bodies killed by al Shabaab militants in Beled-wayn town in central Somalia have been detached from graves in the town, reports say. Sources from Beledweyne say that there have been many bodies removed from graves in the east of the town. Locals added that at least 20 bodies were buried in the cemeteries.Witnesses said that the bodies were taken away from a village called Koshin in the east of Belet-weyne town. Al Shabaab display kidnapped Kenyans in Bardera 13 Jan – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 323 words Al Shabaab has on Friday displayed two Kenyan nationals who they alleged were part of a group of several Kenyans they kidnapped during Thursday attack along the Kenyan-Somali border, reports say. Addressing curious-on-lookers gathered in an open field where the Kenyan captives were paraded, the area rebel leader, Abass Abdullahi said a Special Unit of their fighters raided a Kenyan Administration Police camp in Gerille, Wajir District and took hostage Kenyan officials without any resistance. Local admin is said to be unhappy with TFG peace commission in Hiiraan 14 Jan – Source: Mareeg Online – 223 words Shabelle Valley administration opposed a TFG commission nominated by some of the transitional Parliamentarians of Somalia who are currently in Beled-weyn, official said on Saturday. Abdulfatah Hassan Afrah, the president of Shabelle Valley administration talked about newly appointed TFG security committee that was announced yesterday by members of the parliament. Al Shabaab insurgents hold captive three Kenyans in Bardhere 14 Jan – Source: Garowe Online – 202 words Three Kenyan soldiers were seen chained on a back of a pickup that was allegedly looted from the Kenyan authorities in the southern town of Bardhere, Radio Garowe reports. The hostages were kidnapped after al Shabaab attacked a police camp killing 7 in the northern town of Wajer. Al Shabaab kidnapped 2 police officers and one government employee and made off with a pickup truck. Al Shabaab asks for funds, more soldiers to be part of their Jihad 14 Jan – Source: Radio Shabelle – 137 words Al Shabaab fighters appealed to the Somali people in southern Somalia, mainly in Afgoye town, to support them in terms of funding and fighter. Reports from Afgoye district of Lower Shabelle claim there was a meeting between al Shabaab and the different parts of the society including religious, scholars, businessmen, teachers and elders groups. Fighting erupts in north Somalia 15 Jan Source: Garowe Online – 184 words There are reports of heavy fighting in the town of Buhodle located in Ayn region after the Somaliland army bombarded the town of Buhodle early Sunday morning, Radio Garowe reports. Local sources in Buhodle say that Somaliland troops have attacked the city from three different fronts, shelling the town with heavy artillery and destroying buildings in Buhodle. REGIONAL MEDIA Kenya arrests 29 Ugandans ‘headed to Somalia to fight’ 15 Jan – Source: Capital FM, Daily Nation – 294 words Kenyan police have arrested 29 Ugandans suspected of seeking to join Islamist rebels in Somalia, a police spokesman said Sunday. The suspects were arrested in Nairobi and were “undergoing interrogation,” Eric Kiraithe told AFP. “Police are investigating them because they are believed to have been headed to Somalia to fight” alongside al Shabaab rebels. KDF intensifies search for those abducted from Wajir 15 Jan – Source: Horn of Africa News – 225 words Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere has said last week’s attacks on a police post in Wajir by suspected al Shaabab militia that left 7 people dead should have been avoided. With investigations ongoing, police spokesman Eric Kiraithe says one police officer reported to be missing has been found. The Kenya Defence Forces are currently searching the whereabouts of those who were abducted during the incident. Following the attack tension has increased in the volatile region. INTERNATIONAL MEDIA Aid Efforts Need Help Getting To Somalia’s Famine 15 Jan – Source: NPR – 905 words Somalia has been struggling with the effects of a drought that began two years ago, causing a famine that’s affected millions of people. Aid groups from around the world have been pushing hard to get food and aid to the people who need it, but those efforts have been hampered by the ongoing war. Host Rachel Martin talks to Mark Bowden, the United Nation’s humanitarian coordinator for Somalia. Somali Pirates Free Indian Crew of 21 15 Jan – Source: VOA News – 200 words ndian shipping officials say all 21 Indian crew members of a chemical oil tanker held hostage by Somali pirates since August have been released. An Indian shipping spokesman said late Saturday the crew and the ship, the MV Fairchem Bogey, are heading towards a safe port. He did not give any details of the release, including whether a ransom was paid. SOCIAL MEDIA CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS Somali Nationalism: Not Dead, Just Different 13 Jan- Source: Hiiraan Online Words 1450 I write with reference to Peter Lockwood’s piece entitled “Somali Nationalism: A Dead Concept?” published on 9th January. I don’t usually respond to articles, however this one demanded a response for several reasons: • Firstly, Mr. Lockwood is a Junior Consultant at UNESCO in Nairobi and has written other pieces on Somali politics that have been published. Thus, he is part of the international bureaucracy that is responsible for administering Somalia and, notwithstanding his current, if somewhat bizarre, designation of “Junior Consultant”, is likely to become a member of the international nomenclature recognised as ‘Somalia experts’. Thus, his views and perspectives on Somali politics are likely to have an impact upon international policy on Somalia and need to be addressed as such. • Secondly, while the title of the piece raises the question of Somali Nationalism, the piece is actually concerned with the disintegration of the Somali Republic and argues that Puntland (the autonomous and relatively peaceful part of the erstwhile Republic) and Somaliland should help in ensuring that south and central Somalia do not become “…pawn(s) of other regional and international powers.”. This argument echoes those put forward at the roundtable meeting held by Chatham House in July last year, and the policies of the current Silanyo administration in Hargeisa, that Somaliland should get involved in the search for the establishment of a viable state in Somalia. • Thirdly, the piece seems to argue for the re-establishment of the erstwhile Republic of Somalia, while not explicitly coming out for this position. In the concluding paragraph, Mr. Lockwood seems to posit the idea that Islam can provide the basis of a new Somali Nationalism that supersedes the divisive clan identity that he believes continues to bedevil the search for peace and viable governance in Somalia.