BAY CENTRE FOR CONFLICT PREVENTION (BCCP)
Kismayo City, Southern Somalia, August 7th , 2001
PRESS RELEASE
BCFCP/INF/BS20/M8/2001
Arta Group Participate in Somalia's Civil War
Kismayo City, August 7th, 2001 – "Bay Centre for Conflict Prevention"
(BCCP) – According the Centre’s monitoring team, deliberate offensive
attacks by the militiamen loyal to the Arta Group, the so-called Somali
Transitional Government built at Arta City, have created untold hardships
among civilian populations in southern port town of Kismayo, as it captured
the Port City of Kismayo today.
Yesterday, the Arta Groups has intensively supplied military equipment,
medicine and mobilised more than 400 of its Mogadishu-based militiamen from
Mogadishu to Kismayo City, with the aim of re-enforcing its dismissed
alliance forces from the City and deliberately hiding the facts on human
rights abuse by its militiamen in southern Somalia.
A businessman contacted in Kimayo city by VHF radio from Nairobi City,
confirmed inhuman treatment in the city and said that the operations by the
militiamen of Arta Group and its alliance were mainly aimed at massacring
civilians suspected of supporting the former militia of previous city
administration and at pillaging their properties. More than 300 civilian
people have been massacred by the Arta group’s militiamen in the city since
last night.
Meanwhile, Kismayo City of southern Somalia is occupied by the leader of
Arta group’s sub-clan, Ayr clan, which dispersed the previous administration
of the city yesterday.
The Arta Groupis systematically diverted from its main core of
establishment, namely reconciliation among people, peace and stability
promotion, and creation of fair society in Somalia.
The Centre urges the Arta group (Transitional Government) and its alliance
in Kismayo City to respect the rights of civilians and desist from willful
targeting of civilian populations in the City.
The Centre condemns inhuman treatment by the militiamen against civilian
populations. The Centre sends clear message to the Arta Group and their
alliance who are collectively committing crimes against humanity in Kismayo
City of southern Somalia. Each of them is not immune from prosecution now
and in the future.
The Centre's officials are closely continuing to monitor events in the port
city of Kismayo including changes in command of militiamen.
Bay Centre for Conflict Prevention (BCCP)', contact its secretariat:
baycentre@hotmail.com
Bay Centre for Conflict Prevention (BCCP)', contact its secretariat:
baycentre@hotmail.com
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BCCP PREVIOUS PRESS:
Civilian Populations in The Port City of Kismayo Suffer Atrocities And
Ethnic Cleansing Click here [BCCP, July 25, 2001]
Puntland Clan Elders Take the Lead In Managing Puntland State’s Affairs
Click here [BCCP, July 24, 2001]
Puntland People Welcomes the Acting President of Puntland State of Somalia
Click here [BCCP, July 2, 2001]
Dictatorship Prevails in Puntland State of Somalia
Click here [BCCP, June 25, 2001]
Somali Transitional Government Gives Financial and Military Supports to
Warlords in Kismayo Port City Click here [BCCP, June 20, 2001]
Prospect of Creating Peace in Puntland State of Somalia Depends on the Traditional Clan Elders's Efforts
Click here [BCCP, May 23, 2001]
Puntland Leadership of Somalia Urged to Halt Depleting Somalia's Marine Resources
Click here [BCCP, May 7, 2001]
The BCCP Deplores Leadership of Puntland's Efforts to Destabilize Its Region
Click here [BCCP, April 30, 2000]
Somali Transitional Government and Mogadishu Businessmen With Some News Media Groups Determined to Destabalising Stable Regions of Somalia
Cleck here [BCCP, Febraury 23, 2001]
Kismayo Port City of Somalia Cries for Justice
Cleck here [BCCP, October 25, 2000]