Maqaalada

Sagal Dolal: Prospects of Hope for the Ogadenian People

I would like to congratulate the conference in USA, Minneapolis that took place on the 4th of July 2010. In addition I congratulate the organizers of the conference and for their hard work in arranging a venue for a peaceful discussion about the people of Ogadenia and their plight. Also I would like to congratulate the many people that came and took part, because without them there would be nothing to talk about. Ogadenia is still alive because of the many people aboard, which contribute their time and energy to bring the problems of Ogadenia out in the open. We need to help those that are less fortunate then us, in whatever way we can.

The people of Ogadenia need us to support them and find ways in solving the problems of Ogadenia. Ultimately the problems back home are our problems even though we may not live there we still feel the pain when a loved one is murder. The problems of Ogadenia still affect us whether we like it or not. It is our duty to do what we can with the resources that are available to us, in time we will solve the major difficulties that our people face. The Minneapolis conference is just the beginning in the discussions about the future of Ogadenia and how we will deal with our new relationship with Ethiopia. I thank the speakers of the Minneapolis conference and the many people that made it possible to have such a large venue. Furthermore I thank the media that came and was able to broadcast it and make the event international noticed. I cannot thank the organizers enough because without them I would not be writing this article.

I hope that you try to keep up the good work and create a good role model for the youth of Ogadenia all around the world, so that they look back in history and see that their elders did something to help the people of Ogadenia.

The people that died for the Ogaden people are looking at us now and seeing what we are doing and if it is genuine. I know that it is difficult to tell the people that are doing this for the right reasons and not for glory and praise, but if we let those that we know are corrupt and dangerous speak on our behalf then we are in for another assassination like Dr. Mohamed Sirad Dolal. We ought to protect the ONLF that are fighting for a more peaceful Ogadenia and not let people like Mohamed Omar Osman, Abidrahman Mahdi, Mohamed Ismaali and Cadaani Hiromogee corrupt our people and talk on our behalf anymore. I hope with all my heart that some good comes of this nightmare that I can at least say that my father died for something. It is up to the people of Ogadenia to say loud and clear what they want and it is up to us to listen to it and act accordingly. Many men, women and children have died and for what, so that Mohamed Omar Osman can use the ONLF as his stepping stone to a more comfortable life. They did not die for that! The people of Ogadenia know what has been happening in Ogadenia the last 18 months and those that refuse to listen or even look for themselves at the evidence for whatever reason are lying to themselves. The core values of the ONLF have been broken by a few and it is our responsibility to continue with our main goals and give Ogadenia the peace it so needs. I wish that my father could be with us now and help us with the process of this new direction, but we cannot always get what we wish for and so must do what we can by ourselves. Those that new Dr. Mohamed Sirad Dolal will now remember what he use to say to us, now is the time to hold on to those words and let it give you energy, motivation and peace.

I have been struggling with the murder of my father for 18 months and it gets worse everyday, but to know that there are so many people out there doing such good work is a comfort to me and I thank you all for doing such wonderful work and I hope that the people of Ogadenia live a life of peace.

I would like to ask the Ogaden people that are in Ogadenia or aboard to help me find the remains of my father. I know that Mohamed Omar Osman did not carry my father’s dead body on a camel to Eritrea, so it must be in Ogadenia. If someone suspects that they have found an unmarked grave and have enough evidence to suggest that it could be the remains of my father then I urge you to inform me and I will get the necessary forensic tests done to identify the remains.

We as of yet are not sure when exactly dad was killed but we think that it was the 17th of January 2009. Already we have had the first anniversary of his death and there will be more to come. It has been an up hill struggle trying to find out what happened and who was responsible for my father’s death. As I have previously written in my other articles, my search has led me to believe that the former chairman of the ONLF Mohamed Omar Osman, Abidrahman Mahdi, Mohamed Ismaali and Cadaani Hiromogee organized the assassination of my father. The circumstances surrounding my fathers murder is full of mystery and lies, the fact that the Ethiopian government has told me that they were informed of Dr. Mohamed Sirad Dolal’s death tells me that they are not the ones responsible for his murder. In addition when I asked the Ethiopian government whom told them that my father was murder, they didn’t reply. So I ask the Ethiopian government if there is going to be a new relationship between Ogadenia and Ethiopia then this problem needs to be solved. I speak directly to the Ethiopian government either you know where my father is or you don’t, but make it official and stop these men hiding behind you.

Mohamed Omar Osman, Abidrahman Mahdi, Mohamed Ismaali and Cadaani Hiromogee are not very bright men and thought that we are like them; unfortunately for them we are much smarter. They said that Ethiopia kill my dad but would you not think that if someone killed your father then they ought to at least know where his body would be. Furthermore why would Ethiopia want to keep Dr. Mohamed Sirad Dolal’s body? It does not make any logical sense and also dad had an interview on VOA on the 26th of December 2008, he told the journalist that these men were trying to kill him and destroy the ONLF. Now I am no detective but I have watched enough police dramas to know that you at least question the man that are been accused and not dismiss it because he is your uncle or you are from the same clan. My father cared about the people of Ogadenia and if he was alive and something like this had happened he would at least investigate it to find out the truth.

I hope that the discussions about the future of Ogadenia will at least involved the search for Dr. Mohamed Sirad Dolal’s remains and to give us some sort of closure. We need to put this tragic time in our history to rest and it will not happen if we do not look and ask the necessary questions.

I send my deepest thanks to the many people that were involved in the Minneapolis conference as this is how we are going to make a difference to our own lives and those of the Ogaden people for many generations to come.

Sagal Dolal

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