From: barnhart@netcom.com (Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS:SOMALIA: German NGOs analyse where
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 92 22:42:56 GMT
Organization: Netcom
Reply-To: barnhart@netcom.com

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: SOMALIA: German NGOs analyse where government and media falter


an inter press service feature

by ramesh jaura

bonn, aug 14 (ips) -- ''there is perhaps a subtle racism at
work,'' says walter michler, chair of the 'pro africa' initiative
in germany referring to the lack of attention being focused on
somalia.

michler is furious that in comparison to the coverage of the
tragedy in former yugoslavia, the media are devoting inadequate
attention to the ongoing hunger, death and primordial anarchy in
somalia, which lies on the east coast of africa.

an outstanding example is that while launching on a sympathy
and fund-raising campaign thursday night for former yugoslavia,
channel 'ard' on german tv, did not even think of somalia. ''there
should have been a joint campaign for both the former yugoslavia
and somalia,'' says michler.

''are the lives of blacks less valuable than those of the
whites? do we have to show solidarity with the victims of war in
bosnia and care not a damn for the hungry and the dying in
somalia?'' asks michler, a well-known german expert on african
affairs.

but erwin kopp, spokesperson of the bonn-based german agro
action argues, ''it's not a question of racism; what matters is
the geopolitical interests, proximity, and whether you have a
lobby.''

non-governmental organisations (ngos) like the german agro
action had long ago pointed to the tragedy that was brewing in
somalia. ''our appeals fell on deaf ears,'' notes kopp.

it is only after the united nations (u.n.) signed a
breakthrough agreement tuesday with warlords in somalia for the
deployment of 500 'blue beret' troops to protect food distribution
in mogadishu, the capital, that the german government had begun
showing signs of activity, he adds.

''last january, 'help' pointed to the difficulties in providing
aid to somalia -- the first german ngo to do so -- but in vain,''
recalls holger baum, chair of the 'germanwatch' ngo in bonn.

in addition, the somalian plea for mediation by former west
german chancellors willy brandt or helmut schmidt was ignored,
said baum. such a mediation could have been successful since
germany is regarded as ''a friend'' by somalis. (more/ips)

somalia: german ngos analyse where government and media falter(2-e)

somalia: german ngos (2)

''the people of somalia still look forward to the fruits of an
eternal friendship'' which had been promised by the german
government in the wake of the assistance given by mogadishu in
1977 for liberating the lufthansa plane hijacked by german red
army terrorists, says wolfgang nierwetbers of the 'help'.

he is happy however that the german government has agreed to
provide two german air force 'transall' transport planes for
airlifting food and medicine to somalia. the decision was
announced by foreign minister klaus kinkel thursday.

kinkel also promised ''additional funds for food aid,'' adding
that the details will be worked out by a group of representatives
from the foreign office, economic cooperation ministry and ngos.

at its first meeting thursday, the group was told that the bonn
government was willing to provide some 35 million marks (24
million dollars) from the unused funds initially allocated for
technical cooperation with somalia in the past years.

this will be in addition to 24 million marks (16.4 million
dollars) that had been spent on humanitarian aid to somalia since
last january, according to nierwetbers. but having just returend
from somalia, he admitted: ''i don't know how the 500 u.n. blue
berets are going to really bring the situation under control.''

since president mohammed siad barre's ouster january last year,
the situation has been quickly becoming chaotic. and the man who
controls much of mogadishu, general mohammed farah aidid does not
appear to be able to bring about integration of the somalian
society with its multiple clans and sub-clans, says nierwetbers.

''one possible solution to the political problem is that somali
intelligentsia, most of whom have left the country, return home
and try to create a new political leadership,'' he adds.

baum favours a solution that excludes foreign intervention with
or without un troops. ''we will stir a hornets' nest once we begin
solving political issues with foreign intervention,'' he warns.

''instead of foreign intervention, we should be asking
ourselves where the warring groups are getting their weapons from.
it will be worthwhile if the united nations imposed a blockade
that makes arms flow impossible,'' baum suggested.

but michler favours a u.n. embargo that keeps industrial goods
and arms out of somalia. and, he goes as far as to say that
''without the united nations the somali nation will cease to
exist, the somali state already having come to a naught''.

he adds, ''in fact the united nations should take over the
government -- as it has done in cambodia -- until peace prevails
in somalia and there is no more hunger.'' (end/ips/ip/raj/cdm/92)




-- 
Aaron (Barnhart@netcom.com) -- posting from Evanston, Illinois
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african