Save The Ogaden – SaveOgaden.Org

First, as a private US citizen, I apologize to you for the dual messages coming from my country.  Our national foreign policy has at times sided with and supported autocratic, dictatorial, and or theocratic regimes in which the concept of universal human rights is and has been a real threat to those who fear loss of power, for some ill-perceived, typically myopic and poorly planned, short-term local, regional or global benefit.While the US government officially supports and relies upon many states that do not promote, protect, encourage, or even believe in universal human rights for all their people regardless of political or ideological beliefs, sex, race, sexual preference, gender identity, age or nationality, and are not tolerant of other views, opinions, political freedoms, the government has said in other forums and in other situations that it ‘wishes’ those states would take steps toward strengthening human rights, but only while still supporting those states. 

Such policies do not reflect our national principles.  We are a state that believes strongly and without compromise in the application and enforcement of universal human rights for all mankind, which are bestowed at birth on all men and women equally.  There is no compromise on this issue.  The Universal Declaration of Human Rights are just that – universal.  By definition, universal means everyone, everywhere throughout all space and time -even for you, and yes, for your people too.  Universal means that human rights applies everywhere throughout the universe – they’re universal.

There are no states on earth that can ever again think of themselves as being isolated insular little planetoids separated from the other little planetoid like states on earth.  What goes on in your state, we see.  What goes on in our state, you see.  The internet, cellular communications, and social media are shining a vibrant and brilliant light into every dark and hidden place and situation on earth. There is no putting the genie back in the bottle again on this.  The entire planet is connected in ways that are growing exponentially and that are irreversible and ultimately un-controllable by any state – just as it should be.  But that means that borders will no longer be able to hide or allow for a disregard for human rights, human dignity and human decency.  It means that accountability now transcends borders as the entire world becomes more and more connected.

When the light of universal human rights shines into the dark forbidding autocratic, theocratic and dictatorial places around the world, then the rest of the world sees and knows about those places too.  You can not hide ever again from the eyes of the rest of the planet.  We see you.  We see the genocide in Ethiopia, the disregard for life and freedom in Iran, Algeria, Sudan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Belarus, China, Uganda, Indonesia, North Korea, etc..  The world is watching.  You will be held to account before the world for your atrocities.

Where there are any actions in violation of human rights and in violation of international law and where there are crimes against humanity being perpetrated by despotic regimes, or groups or NGO’s, then the world will see those atrocities and respond accordingly.  The more light the world shines on all the states of the earth, the greater the sense and reality and enforceability of the new global mantra – ‘enforceable accountability applies to all states and their leaders, and knows no borders’ ever again.

With all due respect for your state and its diverse peoples, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as you well know, applies to all states and all the peoples within those states.  There are no exceptions to this rule, regardless of the state.  You know this to be true.  Yet, you choose to trample under your feet the natural and universal human rights of the people.  You kill those who oppose you.  You threaten the rest of the world with vile disregard for human life and human dignity, and claim that you are right in your righteousness.  You are wrong.

It is time you were removed from power.  You are no respecter of human life, of human rights, of dignity or decency. No leader or representative of your government should ever be given any position or even recognition at the seat of world leaders or any of their global agencies as long as you disregard the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the slightest way. If your way was truly right and correct and just, then would it not stand of its own without it having to be forcefully imposed upon those who do not want it?  Your people know this, and will bring you down.

I for one support the people in their pursuit of human rights, for free, fair, open, honest, internationally observed elections, for the right to express themselves politically, openly, and to have an open public discourse and involvement in the affairs of their states.

Remember this, “accountability knows no borders” is a reality in our connected world.  Your actions will be found out, and you will be held accountable for all atrocities and violations of human rights, crimes against humanity, and for violations of international law.  The old days are over.  Adapt to the new days before you end up in prison at the Hague.