This is the case in which the alleged pirates were sentences. The trial took only a week to be completed...because the complex nature of pirate laws it take other nations more than a freakin week! (Kenyan just did one and it took them more than a year!) Probably the most astonishing part of the article is the claim by a security officer in Bebera NW Somalia that some of the so-called pirates claimed they were innocent, yet despite this they were still sent to jail....there was no mention of any ability to appeal the sentence. This alleged pirate case that NW Somalia's admin in Hargeysa is claiming, was so weak that they negotiated with kidnappers and released the men. You think Kenyan who has convicted pirates or any other country would negotiate with alleged kidnappers. Further proof that NW Somalia's secessionism is a failure. NW Somalia Press NW Somalia: Somali pirates get 15-year sentences – officials BERBERA (Somalilandpress) — A court in Somalia handed out 15-year prison sentences to 11 pirates on Sunday, the presiding judge said. Prosecutors at the court in Berbera, in the breakaway northern state of Somaliland, brought a number of charges against the men, including piracy and attempted armed kidnapping. They showed the court photos obtained from NATO naval forces showing the pirates when they were arrested last December. “The trial, which lasted a week, was finally concluded today after the evidence brought before the court showed that the eleven were involved in piracy and hijacking. The court finally announced its verdict — a jail term of 15 years each”, Osman Ibrahim Dahir, the presiding judge, told AFP by phone from Berbera. The pirates were detained last December after they attacked an international naval force ship mistaking it for a commercial ship off the Somali coast. The international forces released them after disarming them, but they were arrested against a few days later by Somaliland coastguards who spotted them in a coastal village near Djibouti. The international forces released them after disarming them, but they were arrested against a few days later by Somaliland coastguards who spotted them in a coastal village near Djibouti. “Some of the pirates confessed their crimes while others were still reluctant to confess, but they were sentenced and sent to jail,” Jamal Abdikarin, security officer in Berbera told AFP by phone.

One minute they want us to believe that there is chaos and crimes taking place in certain area's, but the truth comes to light in the form of photographic evidence of the youth of these area’s celebrating tournaments, whether it is Dhahar or Bosasso. Why aren't these young men joining the just cause that some on SOL want us to believe Atam is fighting for? If Atam and his group were ever to take control, football would definitely be banned, you don't see tournaments taking place in Al Shabaab controlled areas. Excellent pictures, it's good to dispel the claims of a small number who want to try and cause instability from the safety of their foreign homes by spreading made up news.

Xaaji, you need to focus on posting genuine articles and not heavily manipulated ones like you just did. It's a shame that you would stoop to such a level! That is why you wanted to hide the source right? Africanown, Puntland has always said it was part of Somalia! They have never declared themselves independent! So of course they are not secessionists. I think the tone of the U.S and if this news is true Kenya’s as well is more a way to pressure Sharif and other southern groups to start getting serious about peace or other regions in Somalia will be getting international aid and develop.

Xaaji, Xaaji, Xaaji...tsk tsk tsk! Anyways enough with that, August 1st, I am starting to think the international community is becoming fed up with the whole TFG in Mogadishu thing and are taking some drastic measures. I wonder what Puntland’s involvement is in all this is; maybe there will be a shift in our governments long standing policies. I mean if other countries are willing to provide us with desperately needed aid, I see no reason why we shouldn’t reconsider things. Don’t get me wrong, we will always be part of Somalia and never call for independence, but maybe we can find an alternative to the current situation until Al Shabaab is defeated in the south and peace prevails in that area. Faroole is looking more and more impressive, hopefully he handles this well.

Originally posted by Xaji_Xunjuf: Kenya is on the verge of recognising Somaliland: Somalia’s peace could be found in unlikely place By Juma Kwayera Kenya is on the verge of recognising the breakaway region of Somaliland to get Somali warlords to silence their guns. The breakaway region has enjoyed relative peace for the last 17 years eliciting view whether they should secede. The two are petitioning the United Nations and the African Union to be acknowledged as sovereign states; different from the other war-ravaged central region that includes the capital Mogadishu. Good job August 1st....again Xaaji has been dishonest!!! The real article mentions Puntland as well..... THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I ALWAYS ASK FOR THE SOURCE! Xaaji (or the place he got his) purposely left out the parts that included Puntland. Xaaji's real article Somalia's peace could be found in unlikely place By Juma Kwayera Kenya is on the verge of recognising the breakaway region of Somaliland and Puntland to get Somali warlords to silence their guns. The two are breakaway regions and have enjoyed relative peace for the last 17 years eliciting view whether they should secede. The two are petitioning the United Nations and the African Union to be acknowledged as sovereign states; different from the other war-ravaged central region that includes the capital Mogadishu. Kenya’s move is seen as one of the many efforts – spreading 20 years – to force the militia in Somalia to end fighting. Ethiopian President Meles Zenawi has been accused of fuelling the conflict in Somalia. A delegation of Kenyan MPs that visited Hargeisa, Somaliland capital, on fact-finding mission after peaceful elections and change of power on June 26, have recommended that Kenya considers engaging diplomatically with the regions regarded as peace enclaves and semi-autonomous entities that have warded off insurgency, piracy, and terrorism. Vital lessons The leader of the delegation, House Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim, told The Standard On Sunday the group’s report is likely to be debated in Parliament as an urgent matter of national importance given its security and economic implications. "In the interest of regional peace, let’s engage with Somaliland. Somaliland has had peace for 17 years and there is a lot the larger Somalia can learn from the relative stability. They combat terrorism and piracy that have been a major threat to international security," says Maalim, MP for Lagdera, which borders volatile Somalia. However, the views of the delegation are unlikely to find favour in Mogadishu. Somali ambassador to Kenya Mohammed Nur told The Standard On Sunday that despite the two-decade old conflict, a unitary state is still the ideal situation. "The problem Somalia faces today is that we have spent too much time in conferences that do not resolve the crisis. What we want friendly countries to do is provide the military and material support to beef up government efforts to restore peace and stability in Somalia," says Nur. Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed Sharif kicked off an international campaign last week during his address to the United Nations General Assembly when he appealed for action to stamp out the violence in his country. Nur sees no sense in "more and more conferences". "It is the same message the president will be taking next week to another international conference in Madrid, Spain, that will address Somalia crisis. This is because we are aware the insurgents are threatening regional peace after the Kampala bombing," says the Somali envoy. Positive engagement In its report, the delegation recommends that the Kenya Government should develop a framework for limited engagement with Somali land to promote trade and enhance security in the Horn of Africa. "For those who are able to access education, Kenya should provide assistance because there are many idle youth. The delegations said there should be an international reward for stability," says Maalim. According to the report, lack of international recognition has negatively affected Somaliland, which cannot do business with other governments and multilateral organisations. Now, says Nur, such assistance is available through the non-functioning and fragile Transitional Federal Government led by President Sharif. UN and other friendly states can only provide humanitarian assistance such as food, shelter and medicine, often intercepted by Al Shabab. Maalim says positive engagement would result in peaceful region influencing Somalia. There should be a premium good governance, peace and political stability in the form of funding the operations of police, judiciary and the civil service, which are rather weak for lack of necessary skills," he says. the Somaliland regime, despite limited resources, has arrested and charged 48 hardcore terrorists and pirates. If the Kenyan Parliament approves the report, it will send a signal to the Government to engage and lead the campaign for the recognition of the Republic of Somaliland, as a full member of Inter- Governmental Authority on Development, the African Union, and the United Nations.

I guess we can group this with the report from a few months about about Israel being on the verge of recongizing you right? We all know where that went? I like how every few months it's a new country that is on the verge...lol. But than there is never any evidence from their government to verify this info. Where did you get this from Xaaji? Because until the Kenyan government release something, I think we know it's nonesense. I bet this report won't even go before parliament and probably doesn't even exist.... But I like your title!

But almost 20 years after declaring independence, the breakaway region is not widely recognized internationally. Canada does not formally recognize the Republic of Somaliland. Neither do clan leaders in the Sool, Sanaag and Cayn regions that are nominally part of Somaliland accept secession. They want to remain part of Somalia. Experts believe the issue is partly rooted in clan differences between the *****-dominated Somaliland government and the SSC, which is made up of ******s. Do you blame them when they had absolutely no one running for the position of president in the last s)election?? The group that dominated the government made up the entire opposition leaders. He said the Somaliland government had denied basic services such as health care, clean water and schools to the eastern regions. "Calling us war criminals, it's a false statement and they have attacked this territory and still they are here. They are attacking us." This is why the SSC is growing by the day! "They were supposed to really fight, you know, guerrilla war, hit and run. The Somaliland militias are not that strong. I mean, most of them are unpaid and they have a lot of deserters. So it's not as though we are facing the USA army in Iraq," he said. Which is why none of the secessionists presidents have visited Lascaanood since warlord Habsaade took it over.

Isn't this suppose to be a secret???

Originally posted by Xaji_Xunjuf: Thankful instead of being happy you got your pirates back you are saying we should of kept your pirates at mandheera this is illogical even from you Xaji, please....if they were really criminals you should have never released them, ESPECIALLY if you are being threatened by kidnappers!!!! All I am saying is that for the kidnappers their mission was a success, your government gave in!

JB don't think this article is good news, it is only saying that you negotiate with kidnappers. Most countries have a policy of no negotiations with kidnappers, because now it will just encourage others to kidnap people because your regional government can give into their demands.

Didn't even read the article, when I saw the title I couldn't even believe that this guy is actually admitting that his enclave negotiates with people they accused of being criminals. Whether the article is true or not - I am shocked he would make his enclave look so bad. Those guys that supposedly kidnapped these truck drivers did it so they can get guys released right?? Which is exactly what the got! And he posts it??? Wow

Originally posted by Xaji_Xunjuf: What if they start piracy activities again will we arrest them again Lol, so the moral of the story is that the kidnappers won. Your secessionist enclave gave into their demands and gave them what they wanted. Any real government would never have negotiated with them if they were truly criminals. Only NW Somalia can convict pirates within days without speaking to witnesses or giving them a chance to defend themselves. You guys negotiate with people you claim are criminals and you are proud of that??

Originally posted by AfricaOwn: quote:Originally posted by Thankful: Africaown, The U.S is basically reiterating their long held policy that just because they will work with other regions in Somalia directly it does not mean they are going to recognize them as independent nations. I think we both know they see no value in recognizing any independent enclaves whether it is the Puntland or NW Somalia admin in Hargeysa. They dont need another poor african nation that they will have to support, now if we had something of wealth to offer them it would be a different story. This article though is great news and I hope the Puntland government takes full advantage of all the aid and resources the U.S can provide. I hope the focus is on education and making many area's more self-sufficient. Great news! You're a secessionist, enough said. You want me to prove that you're one? I can provide you some articles You can not provide a single article!! Just like last time when you said you could provide pictures of booraama celebrating Siilayno's victory in the NW Somalia's elections, then Mr. Somalia called you out on it and ask you to do it....of course you couldn't and you quickly back out of it!!!

The man in the middle with the glasses is the owner of Juba Hotel in Bosasso. I travelled with him and his son once from Bosasso to Garowe, nice person! Companies like Telecom and Golis bring in healthy competition and help expand our economy. They are definitely one of the big reason why Puntland has been successful, (Alhamdulillah). Bosasso has always been such a peaceful city, even though it is expanding at a high rate. Its it's economic sector is leading the way, I think it is the fastest growing city in Somalia! Excellent news and good job Telecom

Africaown, The U.S is basically reiterating their long held policy that just because they will work with other regions in Somalia directly it does not mean they are going to recognize them as independent nations. I think we both know they see no value in recognizing any independent enclaves whether it is the Puntland or NW Somalia admin in Hargeysa. They dont need another poor african nation that they will have to support, now if we had something of wealth to offer them it would be a different story. This article though is great news and I hope the Puntland government takes full advantage of all the aid and resources the U.S can provide. I hope the focus is on education and making many area's more self-sufficient. Great news!

This is good news, hopefully universities will be built throughout the state. General Duke, check your mail!

This is good news, hopefully universities will be built throughout the state. General Duke, check your mail!

Well here they spell it Gardo!

Well here they spell it Gardo!

That is exactly it, if only we could connect area's out towards the indian ocean! It is extremely expensive but I am certain if the Diaspora and government worked together with the help of international donor's it could be done. The problem with some area's is accessibility. I know some communities in Hafun are trying to build their own roads by themselves...too bad they are not receiving any help and hopefully it will come.

That is exactly it, if only we could connect area's out towards the indian ocean! It is extremely expensive but I am certain if the Diaspora and government worked together with the help of international donor's it could be done. The problem with some area's is accessibility. I know some communities in Hafun are trying to build their own roads by themselves...too bad they are not receiving any help and hopefully it will come.

This is the kind of news we need to hear more about! There is no need to point out the benefits of education, but hearing stuff like this instead of the common death and destruction news is a relief! Puntland is really fixing many of it's cities and towns and I hope to see more of this.

This is the kind of news we need to hear more about! There is no need to point out the benefits of education, but hearing stuff like this instead of the common death and destruction news is a relief! Puntland is really fixing many of it's cities and towns and I hope to see more of this.

Remember this is NATO doing this,which is the most powerful organization in the world. Even they understand the power of corrupted media and how they can cause death. Freedom of media does not trump security Al Jazeera accuses NATO over Afghan reporter arrests AFP -Yahoo KABUL (AFP) - Al Jazeera television on Thursday accused NATO of trying to suppress its coverage of the war in Afghanistan after two of its cameramen were arrested by foreign forces this week. The Doha-based television network, which has been critical of NATO and the Afghan government, said the two Afghans were detained as part of "an attempt by the ISAF leadership to suppress its comprehensive coverage" of the conflict. NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said earlier this week that it had "captured a suspected Taliban media and propaganda facilitator, who participated in filming election attacks". Al Jazeera named the journalists as Mohammad Nader, detained in the southern province of Kandahar on Wednesday, and Rahmatullah Nekzad, who was arrested on Monday in Ghazni province, south of Kabul. The network provided AFP with a transcript of a telephone conversation with ISAF, in which a spokesman confirms the arrest of the cameramen and accuses them of "propaganda facilitation" on behalf of the insurgents. Both provinces, especially Kandahar, are hotspots in the Taliban insurgency that has raged for nine years in a bid to evict foreign troops and bring down the Western-backed government of President Hamid Karzai. Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the media freedom watchdog, said another Afghan journalist working for state-owned Radio Television Afghanistan was arrested on September 18, the day of parliamentary elections. Karzai ordered the culture and information ministry to do everything possible to secure the release of the three journalists. "President Karzai has ordered the ministry to contact the relevant agencies and make every effort for the immediate release of the two cameramen and the reporter," it said. Al Jazeera accused ISAF, which has almost 150,000 NATO and US troops in Afghanistan fighting the insurgency, of targeting the network and threatening staff in Afghanistan "to change the editorial line". The network said it was committed to covering all sides of the story in Afghanistan, including the Taliban, ISAF and the Afghan government. Al Jazeera said ISAF had obliquely accused the two men of working with the insurgency to spread Taliban propaganda and intimidate ordinary Afghans. "The insurgents use propaganda, often delivered through news organisations, as a way to influence and in many cases intimidate the Afghan population," it quoted ISAF as saying. Al Jazeera had "strongly rejected the claims and insisted the two were innocent," the statement said, calling for their immediate release. The network's Afghanistan correspondent Sue Turton said that most of Al Jazeera's Afghan reporters feared arrest. "Eighty percent of our stringers or every stringer who works in a dangerous region has now left their location for fear that they will be next to be arrested by the security forces," she told AFP. "We usually get calls from our people on a daily basis to tell us what's going on in their area and to offer footage. We haven't had coverage in most of the country for two days now." RSF said on its website of the third arrest: "Hojatullah Mujadadi, a radio station manager and head of a journalists? association, was arrested by police in the Kapisa valley. "In all three cases, journalists working in difficult provinces have been treated like dangerous criminals. "We urge President Hamid Karzai to intercede to ensure that grave mistakes are not being made." Mohommad Sharif Hakimzada, the acting governor of Kapisa province, told AFP that intelligence agents had made the arrest "on orders from their headquarters in Kabul". The Northern Provinces Journalists' Association, representing journalists working in Parwan, Kapisa and Panjshir provinces, demanded the authorities release information on where Mujadadi was being held. Ahmad Hanayesh, an executive of the association, described Mujadadi's detention as "a serious threat" to media freedom in Afghanistan. "Recently, self-censorship and limits on journalists' activities has increased by the powerbrokers north of Kabul who somehow have the support of the government," he said in a statement. RSF called for his immediate release, saying that "police transferred him to Kabul on 19 September, apparently on the orders of the Afghan intelligence agency, the National Directorate of Security".

Originally posted by Jacaylbaro: JB that is not the pic, maybe this pic is from one of your NW Somalia stations. This is actually it, also might I add that this thread has already been started by General Duke......I guess you will just post anything so you can remain number 1 in posts. Notice the minister in this pic, unlike yours?