Ogaden heroes don’t die.

On Saturday, 17 January 2009, Dr. Mohammed Sirad Dolaal was killed by enemy fire while he was carrying out his duty: defending the people and the land he loved the most.

The loss of freedom fighter is not new for our people as thousands of brave ogadenis, young, old, men and women, paid the highest price, their life, defending their dignity, freedom, families, communities, property and country throughout the last century.

Many more thousand of our people, from all walks of life will sacrifice their life as long as Ethiopia’s occupation of our land continues. The loss of the great Dolaal is therefore no way surprise.

The news about the loss of Dr. Dolaal, however, was neither easy to swallow nor digest for our people. It is understandable.

Dr. Dolaal was one of the longest serving ONLF members in our struggle against the repression, humiliation, and occupation of Ogaden Somali people. As high ranking member of ONLF He left no stone unturned to liberate his people from the jaws of the brutal Ethiopian occupation. We knew him as a true son of our land.

We knew him as a highly respected defender and mentor of our rightful cause. We knew him as a brave Somali son who did not compromise the freedom of the Somali people. His determination to see an independent Ogaden and a free Somali people was unshakeable.

Dr. Dolaal could live a comfortable life, with his beloved wife and kids, in London but chose to fight the injustice, killings, massacres, displacements and subjugation of our people.As a citizen of that occupied land, as a member of that brutalized people who is denied all kind of God given rights, as a fellow brother of Dr Dolaal, I feel the same grief and sorrow, my fellow Somali people express over the loss of Dr. Dolaal.

I, however, also feel stronger, more focused and determined than yesterday. I, dare, say this because I do know what Dolaal stood for: he was “a symbol for our resistance against Ethiopia’s occupation of our land”. His ideology was clear: “fight for what is yours and never give up” a point he succeeded to plant in the hearts of our people.

Dr dolaal has prepared his people - us, to continue the struggle for our rightful existenceas as nation and as a free people in this planet. He sawed the valuable freedom seeds at every corner of our Ogadenland.

He was with us throughout the long journey to make sure that we are at the right side of the history, to quote president Obama.

Throughout human history, Colonisers and dictators like Melese Zenawi try to defend what is indefensible and justify the massacres of thousands of innocent civilians. The history, however, prove them wrong every time.

Woyane regime is not going to be an exception; they will be the ugly losers of the fight between our freedom fighters and them.

One such case happened just few weeks ago. Woyanes lost the fight against our Somali brothers in southern Somalia. They could no longer bear the heat and pressure of the fight demonstrated by our brave brothers.

I am sure that we, too, will be the winners of this struggle

Wake up Doc ones more prove them wrong, I know you can hear me, tell them Cowards,Ogaden heroes don’t die,My head spins in sorrow disbelieve,

No human-being can dare parade a body in torment,They are shallow animals awaiting termination,Undignified of their callous exploit,Wake up Doc ones more prove them wrong, I know you can hear me,

tell them Cowards,Ogaden heroes don’t die,Brave men like you are indispensable, A whole nation is engulfed in your loss,Our heart and soul are always with you,Forever indebt to your service, Wake up Doc ones more prove them wrong, I know you can hear me,

tell them Cowards,Ogaden heroes don’t die,Dead isn’t rare, it waits us all, but a few pass the test, None can compare your life long mission, even,Dying your way struggling for the best, Wake up Doc ones more prove them wrong,

I know you can hear me, tell them Cowards,Ogaden heroes don’t die,You look so peaceful lying there,Where your father Sirad Dolaal rest, A hero as well, you followed his lead,True to your passion like a father and son,

Wake up Doc ones more prove them wrong, I know you can hear me, tell them Cowards,Ogaden heroes don’t die,Freedom solutes you,Heaven treasures you deeply,

And I will miss you greatly, “Hodeen” my friend, rest in peace,Forever until end of time,I will tell them Cowards, Ogaden heroes don’t die.