KULMIYE GOVERNMENT AND THE ROAD TO DAMNATION
Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as adopted by the
United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948, accords
certain inalienable rights and freedoms; and whereas governments are
prohibited to infringe on any of these rights and freedoms under
whatsoever pretense; and contrary to the spirit and letter of all
international conventions, the duly elected government of Somaliland
and the ruling party are on a rampage to destroy all vestiges of
demo cratic norms in the country.
Likewise, the freedoms guaranteed under our national Constitution
are not subject to the whims of the current government. Any
violations should be condemned in the strongest possible terms
without fear of intimidation or retribution. The letter of our
Constitution is the fabric that holds our society together and any
desecration on the fundamental rights and freedoms of the citizen
shall not be tolerated under any circumstance.
By resorting to irrational and draconian measures to muzzle and
stifle all forms of dissent, the current government in Somaliland
has lost the moral compass to lead its citizens. The symptoms of the
incubating disease, if not counterbalanced at its onset, will
metamorphose into an incura ble affliction. We can not afford to let
this government proceed any further on this self destruc tive
highway. If the government fails to abide by the rule of law, then
the masses will one day rise up and replace this government.
The twenty-first century belongs to the masses; and if our
government does not heed the voice of the opposition parties, make
no mistake, the alternative will be THE INDEPENDENCE SQUARE. That
does not bode well for the current incumbent and his coattails!
Let me highlight some of the incidents of the past two months:-
On December 10, 2013 Units of the RRU ( An anti-terrorist police
outfit) and regiments of Somali land Army were garrisoned around the
Headquarters of the Welfare and Justice Party (UCID) to disburse a
peaceful demonstration commemorating the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights. In accordance with the Constitution, the Welfare and
Justice Party had applied permission for a peaceful gathering.
However, members of the party leadership were roughed, rounded and
put behind bars. The police destroyed the Office equipment and other
valuable assets.
On December 4, 2013 the Presidential candidate of the Justice and
Welfare Party, Mr. Jamal Ali Hussein and an accompanying delegation
were stopped at Abudla- a police check point between the Capital and
Gabiley. The freedom of movement is a fundamental human right. Upon
further in vestigation of the issue, it has become apparent that the
Presidential palace had issue instructi ons that the opposition
political parties should obtain special travel permits to all major
towns outside the capital!
On November 30, 2013 a police officer who participated in a failed
assassination attempt on the Editor of Hubaal News paper was
released from custody. The attempted murder took place on April 24,
2013. The prosecution made no further investigation of this case.
On November 25, 2013 the chairman of the Welfare and Justice Party,
Mr. Faisal Ali Hussein was due to arrive at Egal International
Airport at Hargeisa. The welcoming delegation headed by Pre sidential
Candidate of the party, Mr. Jamal Ali Hussein,were barred from
entering the airport on instructions from the Presidential Palace.
On October 26, 2013 the RRU raided the offices of an Orphanage
headed by Ms. Lul Hassan Mat an. Ms. Matan was thrown into prison and
kept incommunicado without proper arrest warrant or the necessary
due process of the law. Ms. Lul was the chairperson of this
orphanage long before the current government came to power.
On October 21, 2013 Mr. Mohamed Farah Qabile, a member of Somaliland
House of Representati ves, survived an assassination attempt. As
usual, this ugly episode has all the familiar hallmarks on it. The
crime ended at the door step of the deputy Minister of Interior.
I would like to remind the government of Somaliland that the road to
damnation is littered with human misery. The difference of opinion
and the diversity of views are essence of a vibrant dem ocratic
process; the Gulag is not a substitute for a healthy national
dialogue.
In conclusion, we call upon all International Human Rights
Organisations to follow up these blata nt violations with the
government of Somaliland.
Sincerely,
Ahmed Ali Ibrahim Sabeyse
Chairman, Canada Branch
Welfare and Justice Party
December 10, 2013
Distribution:
Amnesty International
Africa Watch
Human Rights Watch
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