Do you think it is his position to justify it? Do you think politically it is a wise move to officially announce your son as your advisor? Do you think the leaders of country/state/province in the world could get away with that? and what leader would offically name their son as an advisor??????? Come on, lets be honest here. You know the Presidents move is ridiculous.

Secessionist from NW Somalia just love this type of news. They know the negative impact it can possibly have.

You are right and family usually does benefit in that part of the world, but to make it official like President Faroole did, now that's something new. It is just so shocking.

Maybe in your opinion it isn't. But most of Puntlands top news sites are all reporting it. Doesn't Puntland have more qualified people with advanced degrees? I know President Faroole was a PHD candidate, what is his sons education background in Australia? To many this is huge news. Many are seeing clear signs of nepotism here.

That's okay with you?

Originally posted by The Zack: Take it easy folks, he named his son as an adviser and nothing more. True, but the question is, is his son qualified enough to give his advice to the President of Puntland? More importantly, why was there a need to make it official, your son is immediate family and can give you his advice anytime he wants. It may be a move so that later on he can appoint him to something higher??? I am hearing President Faroole is going to be naming his son as head of the PIS sooner or later.

Originally posted by Che -Guevara: Get off your high horses people-so what he appoints his son? Che - so what??? This is something that has never happened before, this is going to be talked about a lot! Sure other leaders had family members aiding them, but officially naming your son as someone that will be advising you is something brand new. This is probably one of the boldest appointments of President Farooles presidency so far. Don't try and minimize this news as something that is not a big deal. My opinion is that President Farooles son has been his advisor since day one, everyone knew that. So I think all he did now was make it official. I am not sure what people will think of this decision, it could back fire or it might be quickly forgotten, time will tell. But it is a gamble!

Horseednet Madaxweynaha Puntland ayaa maanta magacaabey la taliyaal November 29, 2009Madaxweynaha Puntland Dr.Cabdiraxmaan Faroole ayaa maanta u magacaabey Maxamed Cabdiraxmaam Faroole in uu noqdo la taliyaha dhanka saxaafadda ee madaxweynaha, Maxamed oo ah wiilka madaxweynaha ayaa horey u ahaa agaasimaha Radio Garoowe oo laga dhegaysto magaalada Garoowe iyo barta internetka ee Garoweonline.Com. Dhanka kale Madaxweynaha ayaa u magacaabey Abwaan Xassan Guulwade in uu noqdo Gudoomiyaha Hidaha iyo Dhaqanka Dawladda Puntland, Xassan Guulwade ayaa ah abwaan caan ah oo muddo dheer la soo shaqeeyay dawladdii Kacaanka ee Siyaad Barre, waxaana uu caan ku yahay in uu yahay ninkii sameeyay heesta Guulwadoow Siyaad. Wareegtada Madaxweynaha ayuu ku sheegay in uu u cuskaday dastuurka Puntland waxaana Lanbarkeedu ahaa Lr/99/2009

JB, you'd actually post an article bashing Islam? That tries to quote and interpret the Prophets (pbuh) words. One that doesn't mention a single positive thing? Do you think when the article mentions Somalia, he isn't including a region that calls it's self Somali land? It is our peaceful religion and only our peaceful religion that has keeps us functioning The truth is rather simple, however, the political correct brigade, radical Islamists, anti-Westerners, apologists, and others; desire to cover up the obvious reason. Yes, stoning people to death for adultery, killing Muslim converts to Christianity, and other draconian measures, are all based on the teachings of Islam itself. Might I remind you of this JB: SOL Golden rule #4: SOL golden rule 4 - Anti-Islamic: No one will be allowed to insult Islam and Muslims under any circumstances. Your post will be deleted and/or username banned if cought with any anti-Islamic attacks. Your views are welcome but your deragotory language against Islam/Muslims will not be welcomed at the expense of those muslims who pay the bill for this privately owned website. I know you thought the article would make Somalia look bad and you hoped it would make you enclave look good. But you should no your limits when you are trying to depict your enclave in a good light.

Which is exactly why your criticism is so flawed and biased. Because your "specific" expectations judge Puntland harder then your area's which means you are BIAS. Thank you for finally admitting it! You have the LEADERSHIP in the south, who makes the rules and controls a vast area, torturing people and beating them. Yet instead of trying to focus your energy in protecting the innocent there, who are being subjected to unbelievable abuse, (particularly the women), you dismiss their crimes and say "oh it is expected of them to be doing this." Then you call the Puntland leadership corrupt, but say nothing about the leadership in the south!!! None of you care about the ONLF guys or the suffering of anyone, you just want to attack Puntland for obvious reasons, because if you did care, you'd be crying at all injustice!

No it isn't. Im saying that if you are so concerned about injustice why are you only focusing on one area and not yours?

Hello, Zack,*Ibtisam, Complicated, Ducaysane_87 Where is the anger here? Why are people quiet when the leadership in the south receives international condemnation for their daily abuses against women and children? One alleged incident in Puntland was constant news but dozens of abuses are never mentioned by any of you!

Relief Web Somalia: Unlawful killings and torture demonstrate Al Shabaab’s contempt for the lives of civilians Source: Amnesty International (AI) Date: 24 Nov 2009 Amnesty International today condemned the rising pattern of unlawful killings, torture and other ill-treatment, including stoning to death, amputations and floggings, carried out in public by Al Shabaab armed groups in areas under their control. On 17 November, a woman was buried to her waist and stoned to death in a village close to Wajid in the Bakool region, while a man accused with her of committing "adultery" was given 100 lashes, the media reported. Her killing and the flogging were reportedly ordered by a "judge" working for Al Shabaab. This follows the stoning to death on 6 November of a man named Abas Hussein Abdirahman in the city of Merka, controlled by Al Shabaab since November 2008. An Al Shabaab spokesperson said that the woman accused with Abas Hussein Abdirahman of "adultery" would also be stoned to death once she has given birth. Information received by Amnesty International indicates that the woman is 32 years old, about six months pregnant and lives in the Afgoye district. Amnesty International urges Al Shabaab not to carry out the killing of this woman. All armed factions and religious leaders associated with Al Shabaab should immediately stop committing or ordering unlawful killings, torture and other ill-treatment, in all areas under their control. Stoning to death is both an act of murder and torture, which are crimes under international law. Armed opposition groups engaged in internal armed conflict, such as Al Shabaab in Somalia, are obliged to respect international humanitarian law, which prohibits, inter alia, "violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture". (Common Article 3 to the Geneva Conventions). Al Shabaab spokespeoplehave claimed that such acts are committed in order to enforce their own interpretation of Islamic law (shari'a) in the areas they control. Some of these acts of torture and killings have been ordered by "Al Shabaab courts", which seem to be quasi-judicial bodies charged with dispensing "justice" in Al Shabaab controlled areas. Such acts are contrary to international humanitarian law, which prohibits "the passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgement pronounced by a regularly constituted court" (Common Article 3 to the Geneva Conventions.) Little is known about the proceedings of "Al-Shabaab courts", since no independent observer has been able to watch them. However, people tried in such "courts" do not appear to benefit from any due process guarantees, including legal representation or possibility of appeal. In October 2008, members of Al Shabaab in Kismayo stoned to death a 13-year-old girl who was raped by three men. Al Shabaab claimed that she was in her twenties and had committed "adultery". The unlawfulness and arbitrariness of such "courts" and their apparent links with Al Shabaab place civilians living under the control of Al Shabaab at serious risk of being tortured and unlawfully killed. In recent months, members of Al Shabaab havealso carried out public executions of individuals accused of collaborating with the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). On 28 September, an Al Shabaab firing squad shot dead two young men in Masla, near the livestock market in northern Mogadishu, in front of a crowd of residents. They accused the two men, Hasan Moalim Abdulahi and Mohamed Ali Salad, of spying for the US Government, the TFG and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). On 25 October, they also shot dead two other young men in Merka, claiming that they had "confessed" to spying against them. Both sets of unlawful killings appear to have been committed in retaliation for a reported US helicopter attack on 14 September, which reportedly killed suspected Al Shabaab and Al Qa'ida member Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan. Al Shabaab armed groups have taken advantage of the breakdown of the rule of law in south and central Somalia. The country lacks an effective justice system since the state effectively collapsed in 1991. Al Shabaab claim that their actions are intent on restoring law and order in Somalia. However, the actions of Al Shabaab groups and other allied armed opposition groups have on the contrary seriously undermined the security of civilians. They have conducted indiscriminate attacks and attacked their opponents from the cover of residential areas, for example in Mogadishu, and thus placed civilians at risk of the effects of the attacks. They have looted compounds and closed operations of aid agencies, and made threatening statements against them, restricting humanitarian aid on which some 3.7 million civilians depend. They have also intimidated journalists and civil society activists, who are reporting on the plight of civilians in a country devastated by conflict. Somali and international observers strongly suspect members of Al Shabaab and allied armed groups to be behind some targeted killings of journalists and humanitarian workers in the past three years. Since the beginning of 2007, at least nine journalists have been killed in targeted killings. Of these, seven were shot dead by unidentified gunmen, making it difficult to ascertain the identity of the perpetrators of such targeted killings. However, in some cases, journalists had received death threats from people saying they were Al Shabaab members prior to being killed, and some of the killings were committed in areas controlled by Al Shabaab, including the Bakara market in Mogadishu. No one has been held accountable for such killings. While Al Shabaab spokespeople have denied involvement in some killings, Al Shabaab leaders have failed to publicly condemn attacks against journalists and order them to stop. Al Shabaab leaders do not seem to have taken any action to suspend from its forces people suspected to have committed or ordered such crimes. Members of Al Shabaab almost invariably carry out executions, floggings and amputations in public, inviting the local population to watch. This suggests an intention, under the pretext of maintaining law and order, to assert their control over territory through public displays of cruelty and violence aimed at intimidating and instilling fear in the civilian population. The human rights situation continues to deteriorate in Somalia. Civilians continue to be killed and injured in indiscriminate or direct attacks by all parties to the conflict, to be forcibly displaced en masse and to be denied access to essential humanitarian aid. More and more frequently they are also at risk of being executed and subjected to forms of torture by members of armed groups who assert their control on the population by showing utter disregard for human life. Background Al Shabaab controls at present vast areas of south and central Somalia, including major cities such as Merka, Kismayo and Baidoa, as well as districts of the capital Mogadishu. The internationally-backed TFG of Somalia exercises authority only in part of the capital, is repeatedly attacked by armed groups and has not been able to establish a national justice system. After the government of Siad Barre was ousted in 1991, Somali elders were often administering "justice", using customary and shari'a law as a basis, in the absence of a functioning state judiciary. Al Shabaab armed groups have grown out of the Islamic Courts Union, a movement that temporarily established control over Mogadishu and other areas in 2006. The Islamic Courts Union was credited by some civilians with bringing some security and order in many areas formerly subjected to the will of armed groups, militia and clan leaders. The Islamic Courts Union were militarily defeated by Ethiopian troops who intervened in Somalia in late 2006 to assist the Transitional Federal Government. During such military operations, numerous violations of international human rights and humanitarian law were carried out by Ethiopian and TFG troops. After Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, a former Islamic Courts Union leader, was appointed as President of the TFG in January 2009, the Transitional Federal Parliament adopted shari'a as a basis for the law in the country. Al Shabaab rejected the TFG adoption of shari'a, claiming that the TFG is allied to Western nations.

Well said Hamse, Some how Zack knows more then anyone else and he isn't even in Somalia. He can tell everyone is lying except the side he supports. This hatred some have for any form of Government is too much. Things will never be perfect, but it's better then having lawlessness.

You're just totally missing the point. Just let this thread go, and hide your foolishness. What?? This is the thread I started, I know what the point of it is!!! An innocent woman says she beaten! And no one is in an uproar!

Of all hostages from europe and around the world who were held by the pirate criminals and the kidnappings, has anyone ever complained they were subjected to this level of abusive treatment??? Especially on a woman? :mad: The Age Prisoners of anarchy in flight to freedomDANIEL FLITTON November 27, 2009 NO SMILING, no laughing. Week after week - through two summers and a winter - Nigel Brennan was locked in a room with little light or food. His captors, Somali bandits intent on squeezing a rich prize for his release, denied him humour as well as freedom. ''Not that there was much to laugh about,'' he said yesterday, finally free 462 days after he and Canadian journalist colleague Amanda Lindhout were taken hostage near a refugee camp on the outskirts of Mogadishu. ''My friend Amanda had a pretty rough time,'' Brennan said yesterday from a hotel in Mogadishu. ''She was severely beaten and we were both tortured both mentally and physically. Being pistol-whipped is sort of torture, being completely stripped of everything and then locked in a room … is a form of torture, really.'' Both were reported to have boarded a small private plane at Mogadishu airport last night in an escape from their 15-month ordeal. They had no warning of their release. Brennan and Lindhout were taken hostage on August 23 last year while in Somalia as freelance reporters. They had only been in the country four days, intending to report on the plight of internally displaced refugees. Somalia is a land of anarchy. The government crumbled almost two decades ago, and in the void, pirates and warlords have turned the gun into law. The Australian Government warns against any travel to the strife-torn nation. Held separately, neither had much idea about the health of the other or the fate of negotiations on a reputedly $US1 million ($A1.09 million) ransom for their release. ''Basically, my day was sitting in a corner, on the floor, 24 hours a day for the last 15 months,'' Lindhout told Canadian television. But little did Brennan or Lindhout know that in Australia, a special Government taskforce was devoting endless hours to their case. This included a deployment of Australian Federal Police and Defence personnel to Nairobi, Kenya, and a Royal Australian Air Force transport plane in the Middle East on constant standby to sweep in and collect the freed hostages. Meeting in Canberra's Foreign Affairs building at 10 o'clock each Monday morning for a review of the latest developments - taking in reports from the AFP on negotiations and the latest intelligence reports - the taskforce also included diplomats and representatives from the Prime Minister's Department. Ideas were thrashed out across the table. A military option for a snatch-and-grab operation was quickly ruled out. ''Going in Black Hawk Down-style was never an option,'' one source said. But it is believed a team of Australian special forces soldiers were on alert to provide a secure transition of the hostages if needed. The Australian Government has a policy of not paying hostage ransom but it is believed a substantial ''consular loan'' to the family was proposed. Foreign Affairs consular operations branch director James Choi - described as an impressive and accomplished diplomat - had the job of dealing with the Brennan family. Australia worked closely with Canada, which also sent national police to Nairobi. The cost of this enormous Government effort has run into the millions - the high price of the pair's foolish misadventure. But sources have told The Age that freedom for Brennan and Lindhout was won after the families engaged a private security company - believed to be AKE Group - in an expensive gamble to bring their loved ones home. ''This has been an unbelievably harrowing and wearing ordeal and nothing could have prepared us as a family for what we have gone through since Nigel's capture,'' Brennan's sister, Kellie, said yesterday in Sydney. But the family declined to discuss the details of the case, including claims that a hefty ransom was paid. ''I want to make it really clear … they are still in Somalia and they are not out of danger yet,'' Kellie Brennan said. The costs of employing the security company are believed to run into thousands of dollars a day. The Brennan family had run barbecues to raise funds. Prominent Australian business people - including Dick Smith - were approached to help raise extra money. Mr Smith last night confirmed he had been approached, but declined to go into details. ''To the individuals who have worked so closely with the two families in this case, you know who you are and we could not have gotten this far without you,'' Kellie Brennan said. Soon after Brennan and Lindhout were captured, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith asked all media - including The Age - to refrain from reporting the case for fear it might put efforts to release the pair in jeopardy. Yet the Government was still refusing yesterday to comment on their release. But The Age has learnt of the extraordinary efforts to free the pair. Hopes had risen time and again, with the captors seemingly close to releasing their prisoners. Phones rang for AFP agents at all hours with demands, and the family was told that Brennan was sick and in need of medical attention, but there was no way of knowing if this was accurate or an effort to increase pressure. ''They seemed to think that if they beat me enough,'' Lindhout said, ''then when I was able to speak to my mother - they would put me on the line with her every couple of months - that I would be able to say the right thing to convince her to pay the ransom.'' How the drama unfolded August 24, 2008 Foreign Affairs officials seek to confirm reports that Australian photojournalist Nigel Brennan and Canadian journalist Amanda Lindhout have been abducted by unidentified armed rebels near Mogadishu. September 7, 2008 The kidnappers are reportedly demanding a $US1 million ($A1.09 million) ransom to free the journalists. September 17, 2008 Al-Jazeera television broadcasts footage of Brennan and Lindhout, along with armed men who call themselves the Mujahideen of Somalia. May 25, 2009 In a five-minute phone call with an AFP journalist in Mogadishu, Brennan and Lindhout say they are in poor health and request help from their governments. May 26 Foreign Minister Stephen Smith says public discussion and media coverage of the situation could endanger Brennan's life. July 23 Brennan's mother makes an unexpected approach to Mr Rudd while he is on a visit to Bundaberg, asking for his help. November 26 Brennan and Lindhout are freed after 462 days in captivity. Brennan's family confirms his release. Brennan says he and Lindhout ''were both tortured, both mentally and physically''. With AGENCIES

No you don't, that's the issue here, you believe the ONLF stuff from Puntland with little to no evidence even after there was so many changes. So you are someone that doesn't need hard evidence to believe something. You were outraged about that incident. Now where is the outrage about this incident?? Why are you quiet now, after she says that she was abused and beaten and given little to eat. Now you are asking for evidence??? But when it's negative Puntland news, you dont need it right? I think I've proven the hypocrisy among the anti-Puntland group, that haven't said one word since this news broke about abuse. But won't stop talking about the allegations of ONLF rebels in Puntland. You all turn a blind eye if the news of abuses involves the side you support, but if it is the Federal or Puntland governments, you run with it. I posted the article to show that the same people talking about the oppressive Puntland government will keep their mouths shut when acquisitions comes out about the small group of monsters on the side they support do something.

Thanks for proving my point! Any negative Puntland news you'll use it to score some political points. Any negative news outside of Puntland you'll keep silent and joke about it.

It amazes me that the same people that were up in arms about the ONLF acquisitions, haven't said a word yet, this is what the lady says happened. Lindhout and Brennan were kept in rough conditions, given little food, faced beatings and torture while holed up in dark, windowless rooms. There were times when I was beaten. I was tortured in extremely difficult situations," Lindhout, 28, told CTV News. "Yeah, because the money wasn't (coming) quickly enough for these men, and they seemed to think that if they beat me enough, when I was able to speak to my mother . . . I would be able to say the right things." These monsters would do that to a lady! Yet none of you like Zack or Ngonge have anything to say right!

Resistance, don't change this into a tribal matter. I am not calling people from the south monsters, but the guys that tortured and abused this woman are the monsters. Like I've said, people ran with the ONLF situation in Puntland and called it's government corrupt and brutal. But those same people are remaining silent when their leadership have guys that torture women. Where is the same outrage now, why are they silent? If you are going to criticize Puntland for abuses, you have to be willing to criticize the group that carried out this injustice. Now if President Sharif only controls Villa Somalia and a few streets, who controls the rest of Mogadishu and it's surronding towns? Are they to be blamed for the torture of this woman? Or for not being able to negotiate her release quicker, over 1 year is unbelievable. I have yet to hear of the Male photographers ordeal. But I suspect he was subjected to the same treatment. I am not trying to comparing Puntland to the south or that it has law and order, I am just pointing out that some of you were talking about Puntland authorties torturing prisoners, now I want to hear the same outrage about this LADY who is saying she was tortured at the hands of who ever controls that area? THIS GROUP FROM THE SOUTH TORTURED A WOMAN, think about it for a second!

Peace action, I agree with you. I think President Faroole needs to wake up and start showing some leadership. He is allowing the media to say what they want, the whole walking out on Pres Sharif and the calling Somalis in the "O", not from Somalia, are ridiculous. I don't know whats going on over there, now Garoweonline is releasing statements from the government and it's ministers regarding issues, not Puntlandgovt.com. My only issue with people like Zack and his gang is that they want to find any negative news they can and attack Puntland, but then they are silent when women are tortured near Xamar. But I agree, constructive criticism is good. Is President Faroole listen, I dont think so.

That makes no sense it's like saying Somali pirates captured a ship in the Gulf of Aden. But we know what region they came from if the attack took place there, just like this kidnapping case she was taken near mogadishu, we know who took her!!! Unlike NW Somalia and Puntland that have names, the area in the south does not. She was kidnapped near Mogadishu. I hope there is outrage about her claims of torture.

This is something to laugh about? Every single kidnapping victim in Puntland said they were treated well by their captives, NONE have said they were tortured! None have been held captive for that long. They are all criminals don't get me wrong and will answer to God, but the milita from the south tortured a WOMAN. What she claims happened, has never been said about any Puntland victim. Yet we got people on here talking about how oppressive Puntland is. Ignoring the fact they got worse monsters.

CTV Quite sad! She says on her radio interview that she was beaten and tortured and kept in extremely extremely difficult conditions. My question is, where is the outrage on here from these criminals in the South? Don't you think if the Al Shabaab or who ever is there had any power, they could have prevented this. The fact they held them for over a year tells you how unorganized the south is, yet some here have the nerve to bash Puntland. This is my WHOLE POINT, People talk about the alleged corrupt and torture of Puntland and the Ethiopians on ONLF rebels, but completely ignore monsters that torture an innocent woman.

Originally posted by The Zack: quote: I haven't seen any other websites verify this Talk about obsession with sources and their verifications! Zack and co, this is PRECISELY why I verify all my information,one source is not enough. This story was completely false. But of course NW Somalis and your side ran with it, just like you have with so many other stories. Some of these sites just want hits to their pages. That's why they post fake pic's claiming they are that of someone being tortured by ethiopians in Puntland, which was a lie! But you don't seem to care if they are credible of not, but I am not into gossip tabloids.