NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/alt/current/somalia/773

Internet Message Format | 1993-01-03 | 18.6 KB

Xref: sparky alt.current-events.somalia:773 talk.politics.mideast:24605
Path: sparky!uunet!wupost!usc!news.service.uci.edu!network.ucsd.edu!news.acns.nwu.edu!uicvm.uic.edu!u38026
Organization: University of Illinois at Chicago
Date: Sunday, 3 Jan 1993 20:12:12 CST
From: <[e-mail]>
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Newsgroups: alt.current-events.somalia,talk.politics.mideast
Subject: Somalia: The REAL US mission II
Lines: 432

I happen to locate some interesting information on Somalia.  I think
most people would find this most interesting in light of the so called
"humanitarian" mission, Restore Hope.  The issues that are most
pertinent to issue of U.S. military intervention are marked with a "**".
If you know anything about US imperialism, here's more fuel for the
fire.


!!!  My point of this article was mostly for people to make some of their
!!! own conclusions as to the information.  But it seems for some I have
!!! to spell out somethings.  I have marked these sections with "!!!" I
!!! hope they will answer some questions that people have been posing.
!!! I have also included some information that has been posted to the net.
!!! This article supports my argument the Somalians should be left alone
!!! as far as setting up their own government.



I obtained this information through The Software Labs (a shareware
distribution company based in Los Angeles, California), 1-800-359-9998,
"The World Factbook 1990 Electronic Version, 3 disks (3316,3317,3318)".

*********************************************************************

                        THE WORLD FACTBOOK 1990
                          ELECTRONIC VERSION

    The World Factbook is produced annually by the Central Intelligence
Agency for the use of United States Government officials, and the style,
format, coverage, and content are designed to meet their specific
requirements. Comments and queries are welcome and may be addressed to:

                       Central Intelligence Agency
                       Attn: Public Affairs
                       Washington, DC 20505
                       [phone]

***********************************************************************



Somalia

Geography
Total area: 637,660 km2; land area: 627,340 km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries: 2,340 km total; Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,600 km,
Kenya 682 km

Coastline: 3,025 km

Maritime claims:
Territorial sea: 200 nm

Disputes: southern half of boundary with Ethiopia is a Provisional
Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Ethiopia over the Ogaden;
possible claims to Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Kenya based on unification of
ethnic Somalis

Climate: desert; northeast monsoon (December to February),
cooler southwest monsoon (May to October); irregular rainfall; hot, humid
periods (tangambili) between monsoons

Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north

**Natural resources: uranium, and largely unexploited reserves
of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt

!!! Economic resources are the main reason for US foreign policy and
!!! strategic control of certain areas of the world.  If you are interested
!!! in finding out the real character of the US foreign policy.  Check out
!!! the film, The Panama Deception, (Empowerment Project, 1653 18 St. Suite
!!! 3, Santa Monica  CA 90404, [phone])

Land use: 2% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 46% meadows and pastures;
14% forest and woodland; 38% other; includes 3% irrigated

**Environment: recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern
plains in summer; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

!!! This was marked to show how devasted the country of Somalia is even
!!! before the civil unrest (war) happen for the last year and half.

**Note:  strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches
to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal.  [also
Somalia is good location for a military base to launch air strikes
against independant countries like Libya and Yemen and protect US
colonies like Saudi Arabia.]

!!!  Surprising nobody has disputed the claim of the strategic location of
!!! Somalia.  Some took insult to the phase, "US colonies" but lets not
!!! forget that the US have given many arms and weapons to Saudi Arabia as
!!! of late and the leaders are not consulting their people on the matter.
!!! So that why I use "US colony".  But, I probably should use terms like
!!! "imperial ally" or "democratic monarchy" or whatever oxymoron you
!!! perfer.

People
Population: 8,424,269 (July 1990), growth rate 0.8% (1990)

Birth rate: 47 births/1,000 population (1990)

Death rate: 15 deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Net migration rate: - 24 migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Infant mortality rate: 125 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth: 53 years male, 54 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate: 7.3 children born/woman (1990)

Nationality: noun--Somali(s); adjective--Somali

Ethnic divisions: 85% Somali, rest mainly Bantu; 30,000 Arabs, 3,000
Europeans, 800 Asians

**Religion: almost entirely Sunni Muslim [interesting that they can sing
Christmas Carols with the Marines.]

Language: Somali (official); Arabic, Italian, English

Literacy: 11.6% (government est.)

Labor force: 2,200,000; very few are skilled laborers; 70% pastoral nomad,
30% agriculture, government, trading, fishing, handicrafts, and other; 53%
of
population of working age (1985)

Organized labor: General Federation of Somali Trade Unions is controlled
by the government

Government
Long-form name: Somali Democratic Republic

Type: republic

Capital: Mogadishu

Administrative divisions: 16 regions (plural--NA, singular--gobolka);
Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe,
Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose,
Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed

Independence: 1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland,
which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian
Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered UN
trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic)

Constitution: 25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979

National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 21 October (1969)

Executive branch: president, two vice presidents, prime minister,
Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:
Chief of State--President and Commander in Chief of the Army
Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre (since 21 October 1969);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Mohamed Ali SAMANTAR
(since 1 February 1987)

Political parties and leaders: only party--Somali Revolutionary
Socialist Party (SRSP), Maj. Gen. Mohamed Siad Barre, general secretary

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:
President--last held 23 December 1986 (next to be held
December 1993);
results--President Siad was reelected without opposition;

People's Assembly--last held 31 December 1984 (next scheduled for
December 1989 was postponed);
results--SRSP is the only party;
seats--(177 total, 171 elected) SRSP 171

Communists: probably some Communist sympathizers in the government
hierarchy

Member of: ACP, AfDB, Arab League, EAMA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
IDB--Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL,
ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador ABDIKARIM Ali Omar; Chancery at
Suite 710, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20037;
telephone [phone]; there is a Somali Consulate General in New York;
US--Ambassador T. Frank CRIGLER; Embassy at Corso Primo Luglio, Mogadishu
(mailing address is P. O. Box 574, Mogadishu); telephone U252e (01) 20811

Flag: light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center;
design based on the flag of the UN (Italian Somaliland was a UN trust
territory)

**Economy
Overview: One of the world's least developed countries, Somalia
has few resources. In 1988 per capita GDP was $210. Agriculture is the
most important sector of the economy, with the livestock sector
accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings. Nomads
and seminomads who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihoods
make up about 50% of the population. Crop production generates only 10%
of GDP and employs about 20% of the work force. The main export crop is
bananas; sugar, sorghum, and corn are grown for the domestic market. The
small industrial sector is based on the processing of agricultural
products and accounts for less than 10% of GDP. At the end of 1988
serious economic problems facing the nation were the external debt of
$2.8 billion and double-digit inflation.

!!!  The reason that this was marked with "**" was to show that the Somalia
!!! people are very weak, poor, and primative.  This shows that Somalia has
!!! few DEVELOPED resources.  Thus, the US government has
!!! the ability to mold and shape a Somalian government to reflect and
!!! secure US interests, despite the interest or needs of the people.
!!! Dictators, monarchies, and oligarchies are the easiest to exploit and
!!! maintain a economic relationship with.  Examples-Marcos, Noreiaga,
!!! Shah of Iran (a complete product of US imperialism) and Sadam Hussin
!!! during the Iran-Iraq war.

GDP: $1.7 billion, per capita $210; real growth rate - 1.4% (1988)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 81.7% (1988 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $273 million; expenditures $405 million, including
capital expenditures of $219 million (1987)

Exports: $58.0 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities--livestock,
hides, skins, bananas, fish;
partners--US 0.5%, Saudi Arabia, Italy, FRG (1986)

Imports: $354.0 million (c.i.f., 1988); commodities--textiles,
petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials;
partners--US 13%, Italy, FRG, Kenya, UK, Saudi Arabia (1986)

External debt: $2.8 billion (1989 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 71,000 kW capacity; 65 million kWh produced,
8 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: a few small industries, including sugar refining,
textiles, petroleum refining

**Agriculture: dominant sector, led by livestock raising (cattle, sheep,
goats); crops--bananas, sorghum, corn, mangoes, sugarcane; not
self-sufficient in food; fishing potential largely unexploited

!!! This part reflects that hardship of the people and their livelyhood and
!!! their ability to protect themselves and organize a government by their
!!! own accord.

Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $618 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $2.8
billion;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $1.1 billion; Communist countries (1970-88),
$336 million

Currency: Somali shilling (plural--shillings);
1 Somali shilling (So.Sh.) = 100 centesimi

Exchange rates: Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1--643.92
(December 1989), 170.45 (1988), 105.18 (1987), 72.00 (1986), 39.49 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications
Highways: 15,215 km total; including 2,335 km bituminous surface, 2,880 km
gravel, and 10,000 km improved earth or stabilized soil (1983)

Pipelines: 15 km crude oil

Ports: Mogadishu, Berbera, Chisimayu

Merchant marine: 3 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,563
GRT/9,512 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo

Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

Airports: 60 total, 45 usable; 8 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with
runways over 3,659 m; 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 20 with runways
1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: minimal telephone and telegraph service; radio relay
and troposcatter system centered on Mogadishu connects a few towns; 6,000
telephones; stations--2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth
station;
scheduled to receive an ARABSAT station

Defense Forces
Branches: Somali National Army (including Navy, Air Force, and Air Defense
Force), National Police Force

Military manpower: males 15-49, 1,878,939; 1,052,644 fit for military
service
Defense expenditures: NA

******************************************************************
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***   NEW ARTICLE not mine  DON'T SEND EMAIL TO ME ***************
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Subject: Somalia: Not war lords but clan traditions


Date: 24 Dec 1992 20:06:34 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Lines: 110
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Jay Robert Hauben)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu


     Over 1000 years ago, the camal was introduced from the
Arabian Peninsula to what is today called Somalia. Before that
time and since, the people who inhabited Somalia have been
organized in what ws call clans but what Lewis Henry Morgan in
his study  -Ancient Society- (1877) called gens. The gens is the
structure invented independently by all the eariest gatherings of
humans. Each gentile person is part of a group of people all of
whom trace their origin either by female line or later by male
line to a common ancester. Each member of the gens derives rights
to participate in decisions, marriage rites and a system of
mutual help and obligation from his or her common lineage.

     Somalia has always had areas that are inhospitable with
frequent and severe droughts. On the other hand camal herding and
some forms of agriculture have been carried on virtually
continuosly for at least the last 1000 years. What ever the hard
times have been, the people of Somalia have survived them by
expecting and fulfilling on their gentile (clan) obligations.
Clan members have always been able to count on the absolute
obligation of sharing required of fellow and sister clan members.
One reason peoples all over the world survived all sorts of hard
times for perhaps the 100,000 years or more of human society's
infancy is the resiliency of the clan or gens system. While not
appropriate for urban or industrial life and therefore abandoned
when peoples entered territorially defined societies, the clan
system must be counted as among the two or three greatest
inventions in the history of human society.

     In 1960, what were once Italian Somalia and British Somalia
were more or less united into an effort at an independent Somali
state. From that day until today the forging of a single, stable
Somalia has been frought with problems. There have been problems
despite the fact that the Somalis are considered one of the most
homogeneous of African populations. Seventy-five percent of all
Somalis belong to the Samaale Tribe of pastoral nomades, about
twenty percent to the Sab Tribe of agriculturalists and about
five percent to neither of these main groups. Each tribe is
formed from clans which are based on male descent. Although inter
related, the Samaale clans dispute continually over water and
grazing rights. The homogeniety of the Somali people comes from
their common language, common religion (Islam), and common
struggle to survive on the Horn of Africa. The divisions in
Somali society are from pastorial versus agriculturalist
differences, tribal differences, an emerging urbanization, and
from inter clan rivalry over sources of subsistance and over
political power.

     A "bloodless" coup in 1969 installed a one party government
under Major-General Mohammed Siad Barre. This government tried
unsuccessfully to outlaw the milleniums old clan loyalties.
Somalia also became a pawn in inter super power rivalries which
meant the militarisation of Somalia. In addition to the
disruptive influence of the USA and the USSR, there were problems
during the 21 year rule of the Barre governmet caused by clan
differences and defiance, a series of droughts and sparodic
fighting in the Ogaden area outside Somalia's territory but
inhabited by nomadic Somalis. The current disruption of Somali
society traces itself to the failures of the Barre governmet and
to the overthrow of that governmet in 1991, but also to the
continuing importance of Somali clan structures.

     Since 1960 and especially since 1991 Somali clans have vied
for political power. The situation has been aggrivated by the
worst drought since 1987, but also substantially worsened by the
introduction by those international relief activities which have
tried to bypass the clan structures. Traditionally in all clan
societies, the source of what we call relief or welfare is each
person's clan. Had relief supplies been distributed among the
clans according to their relative size to distribute to their
members much of the so called looting would have been avoided. To
add disaster to injury, now foreign troops are being introduced
into Somalia, which in the name of humanitarianism can only lead
to greater disruption of Somali society. Foreign troops or forces
of occupation always and inevitably take sides or impose a
solution unless the indiginous forces are strong enough to defeat
them which in this case they may not be.

    There has been and continues a struggle among the Somali
people over the path forward. The introduction of foreign forces,
insensitive or hostile to the important clan traditions of these
people can in no way help the Somali people find the necessary
Somali solution to their problems. The situation in Somalia is
not that of "rival war lords" with too many guns, but rather a
clan based society tryimg to solve a multitude of problems. In
the long run every such society has chosen the path of nation
building and a political state. But this question is an internal
one for the Somali people themselves to resolve. Even if the path
chosen is a temporary break up of a single Somalia or leaves many
problems unsolved or must await the outcome of a civil war, the
Somali people deserve the universal right to decide on their own
future not for the imposition from out side of a "modern"
solution. The correct principle of international and inter people
relations is the right of every people to work out and fight out
if it comes to that their own solution.

     When the truth is known of the disruptive role of some of
the relief agencies and of the foreign troops epecially those of
the USA in Somalia, the American people and all democratic people
will realize the this military invasion was among other things a
diversion from the fundamental domestic problems indemic in the
industrial societies today. Not only is it in order for the
Somali people to solve their problems, a contribution to them
would be for the American people to take up to solve our internal
problems of e.g., government encouraged declining production,
diminished health and safety protections and the wholesale
forfeiting of US society to business interests. The existence of
Usenet News is a sign that the taking up of all these problems is
becoming possible.