| CRD
- July 12 2005 - Abdulkadir Yahye Ali, Somalia's most respected
peace activist and Co-Director and Founder of Center for Research
and Dialogue was assassinated at his home in Mogadishu by unknown
assailants. Mr.
Yahya has been active in Somalia peace efforts for a long time.
He was a prominent peace activist, an active member of the Somali
civil society and intellectuals who decided to work for and
live with their people in the face of all odds. |
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The
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Maxwell Gaylard,
strongly condemned the murder. "We are shocked and dismayed
by this assassination and send our sincere condolences to his family
and friends," Gaylard said in a statement, describing Yahya
as "a committed advocate for peace and reconciliation".
"His optimism never faltered," Gaylard added. "This
is a great loss to Mogadishu and Somalia at this particular time
when people of his courage and tenacity are most needed."
"All
the people who have been murdered are the people trying to rebuild
the country. Everyone has become a target," said Andre Le Sage,
a leading American academic expert on Somalia.
"We
have lost a good man. Yahya worked hard to help his nation,"
said the African Union's Somalia envoy, Mohammed Ali Faum. "This
underlines the importance of dialogue and not confrontation."
"They
killed the man, the peace-warrior, but, I don't think they killed
his vision for peace. " was quoted from one of his friends.
"The assassination of this noble person has grieved us more
than we can, and we beg to tender our heartfelt condolence to his
family, relatives, colleagues and friends." Was also quoted
from one of Somali webmasters.
The
co-director of the Centre for Research and Dialogue (CRD) Jabril
Abdulle said Mr. Yahya had turned down the chance to leave Somalia
because he wanted to help rebuild the country.
UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan said such acts of violence undermined
the prospects for peace and reconciliation. "Mr Yahya had devoted
many years to foster peace and reconciliation in his country and
was widely respected by his countrymen and by many in the international
community," Mr Annan said.
One
of Yahya's recent achievements was to help coordinate a recent peace
drive that saw Mogadishu warlords disarm hundreds of fighters in
collaboration with civic groups, a venture unprecedented in Somalia's
long history of failed peace efforts.
Mr
Yahya was buried on Monday morning at Daynile Cemetery in Mogadishu
.
PLEASE
POST YOUR CONDOLENCE HERE FOR ABDULKDIR YAHYA ALI , MAY GOD BLESS
HIS SOUL ! AAMIN
SRSG
statement at Abdulkadir Yahya Ali memorial service
Death
of a Peacemaker (By Jeffrey Bartholet - Newsweek)
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