From: barnhart@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS:SOMALIA: German NGOs criticise U.N. for 'continued omissions'
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 22:16:28 GMT
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.

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

Reference: United Nations
Title: SOMALIA: German NGOs criticise U.N. for 'continued omissions'


an inter press service feature

by ramesh jaura

bonn, dec 22 (ips) -- two german non-governmental organisations
(ngos) have criticised the united nations for its ''continued
omissions'' in north-east african somalia.

chief of the independent ngo 'help', luitwin von galen says
''atrocities are being committed while the u.n. troops watch
on''. and 'pro africa' ngo's walter michler maintains that the
world body had decided to intervene militarily without knowing
what it wanted to achieve politically.

von galen said life remained risky for representatives of aid
organisations providing humanitarian assistance in the war-torn
country on the horn of africa. caught between warring clans, one
aid worker of the 'help' organisation was nearly killed recently.

''it is incomprehensible why the u.n. troops -- mainly u.s. and
french soldiers -- are not disarming somalis fighting on one or
another front,'' von galen said.

the situation in the provincial towns was becoming increasingly
irredeemable for the inhabitants. the hospitals were full of the
injured who had fallen a prey to the ''blood orgies'' of the
ravaging marauders, he added.

''no rules whatsoever prevail there. for the first time in the
history of humanitarian assistance relief organisations are forced
to defend themselves with weapons in their hands,'' von galen
said. this was known apparently to the american commanders of the
u.n. troops in somalia.

''instead of intervening, they watch and wait,'' said von galen,
basing his remarks on a report sent over satellite telephone from
help's man on the spot in somalia, wolfgang nierwertberg.

he added: ''whereas food is being distributed to the needy in the
somali capital mogadishu, amidst lot of publicity accompanying
military tanks and buzzing helicopters, cities and towns in the
provinces are still in the hands of gangsters who had withdrawn
themselves from mogadishu.''

''does it really need an extraordinary courage for the heavily
armed u.s. soldiers deployed on behalf of the u.n. to put a stop
to it?'' asked von galen. (more/ips)

somalia: german ngos criticise u.n. for 'continued omissions'(2-e)

''when it comes to the political future of somalia, in no way
should it be ordained by the u.s.,'' warned michler, a noted
german expert on africa. his book entitled 'somalia: a nation is
dying' was released monday.

michler has worked out a five-phase agenda for ''political
rebirth'' of somalia. in the first phase, the u.n. should send
between 15,000 and 20,000 combat troops to relieve step by step
the international peacemaking force under the u.s. command.

they should be charged with providing security for ''relief
goods corridors and protection zones for the common people
suffering from hunger, and if need be by resorting to military
force'', said michler.

in the second phase, the u.n. should negotiate an ''extended
ceasefire with all the warring groups'' -- instead of the
ceasefire achieved by the u.s. between just two conflicting
parties. such an accord should include an agreement on the time
frame for withdrawal of u.n. troops.

''all the clans should be assured of their participation in a
democratic national conference,'' said michler.

after the national conference had met, the whole of somalia
should pass into the trusteeship of the u.n., with the northern
part of the country -- somaliland -- getting a special status and
the world body assuming the functions of an interim government,
michler added.

in phase four the decisions taken by the national conference --
which will continue to hold its sessions while the u.n. ruled the
country -- should be implemented and a draft constitution evolved
after ''round table'' discussions.

such a constitution should be put to a referendum carried out
under the watchful eyes of the u.n. and if people wish so,
somaliland should be separated from somalia.

in the fifth phase an elected government should come into power
in somalia with or without somaliland. however, u.n. troops should
stay on for a period of at least 18 months and be phased out after
complete peace has been restored.

michler said the government in bonn had failed to comprehend the
situation in somalia and the decision to dispatch 1,500 german
troops to ensure food supplies in somalia had been taken more for
political reasons than for humanitarian.

he added: ''together with other ngos we have been calling for a
pro-somalia coalition of members of parliament in germany, but it
is yet to come.'' (end/ips/cd/raj/mf/92)
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