On Saturday 28 April, Hands Off Somalia (HOS), held their first conference and second public meeting to discuss the British government’s threat of military intervention in Somalia, and to raise awareness about the campaign.
HOS conference April 2012
HOS was initiated in January 2012, to mobilise opposition to an international conference hosted by David Cameron in London on 23 February, which was convened to deal with what he terms ‘a failed state’.
The campaign was formed by people from the Somali community in London, Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! (FRFI) and other anti-imperialists, and held a big demonstration outside the venue of the British government conference.
Saturday’s meeting was held at Somerstown Community Centre in Camden, in a large hall that was filled with people who had come to hear the speakers and to contribute to the building of the campaign.
HOS organised for a number of people from the Somali community to speak on the panel, including Deeq Afrika from Global Somalia Response and criminal lawyer Elmi from Stop Watch who spoke about the racism and criminalisation faced by Somali youth in Britain.
Also discussed was the looting and hidden wars conducted in Somalia by external forces, the resulting displacement of huge numbers of Somalis and the fact that the imperialists are orchestrating and benefiting from the chaos in Somalia.
Awoowe Hamza, radical poet, spoke on the panel and pointed out that although Somalia is no longer officially colonised, it is being politically colonised through both direct and indirect means. Awoowe also made the connection between Britain’s oppression of Ireland and its current agenda in Somalia (for more information about Britain’s interests in Somalia see http://www.revolutionarycommunist.org/index.php/international/2492-london-conference).
Ithisham ul-Huq, who spoke on the panel for FRFI, gave a long list of the British government’s interventions in the African continent, showing that Britain only interferes in foreign countries to divide and rule; suppressing any uprising or national liberation struggle in order to plunder and extract wealth.
After the panel spoke, the floor was opened for discussion, and HOS invited contributions from John Rees on behalf of the Stop the War Coalition, Dennis from Occupy London, others from the Somali community, plus Ali from the Revolutionary Communist Group who talked about Turkey’s role as a false friend to the Middle East and African countries. Lorenzo from HOS spoke about DR Congo and its history of underdevelopment from imperialist countries.
Audience members also gave messages of solidarity to the campaign and pointed out how important it is not to be seduced by illusions that any imperialist politician, be it from the Tories, Labour or the Liberal Democrats, can do anything to support HOS whilst they still are a member of those parties. Such involvement would lead the campaign down the road of impotence.
The meeting closed with two radical poems, one from Awoowe Hamza and another powerful and uplifting piece written and performed by Farah Gabdon from Hands Off Somalia. Farah’s words were truly touching and motivating, leaving the room politically inspired (video coming soon people!)
The overwhelming message was clear from all contributors: British intervention in Somalia must be opposed, because the British government can never play a progressive role in Somalia or any other oppressed nation, and in order to oppose it, we must be strong and principled.
Now the campaign moves forward, and we urge everyone to get involved; get in touch, come along to the organising meetings and help us build for the next action to expose this barbaric act of imperialism planned by the British government and its allies against our fellow brothers and sisters in Somalia.
Contact us at handsoffsomalia (at) gmail (dot) com for information on how to join our work.
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Thank you to all the speakers, organisations and guests who attended and helped to make this event happen.
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