Somaliland and Somalia's journalists sign landmark MOU - First such agreement since 1991 HARGIESA, Somaliland- The Somaliland Journalists Association (SOLJA) and National Union Of Somali Journalists ( NOSOJ) have signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) in Somaliland for the first time and agreed to work closely together with both parties recognizing one another. The signing of MOU is believed to be a good sign to cut through the rising tensions between Somaliland and Southern Somalia. Also included in the agreement is to allow the NOSOJ to come and hold training programs in the relative safety of Somaliland. Mr. Mostafe Abdi Isse, SOLJA chairman at the signing ceremony noted that the signing would allow the opening up of opportunities for collaboration and professional exchanges between the two organizations. Mr. Omer Farouq Osman, NOSOJ ‘s General secretary mentioned his delegation’s pleasure in forging a partnership with SOLJA and the warm welcome accorded to it. “The reason why we tabled this MOU with Somaliland journalists is because they are our neighboring countries whose media have no limitations of freedom of expression and when it comes to workshops we prefer to hold them in a safe, secure and peaceful country which does not exist in Somalia”, said the general secretary. Mr. Farouq went on to state that he truly believed that there were further opportunities of collaboration between Somalia and Somaliland journalists and urged SOLJA to join regional and international journalist bodies. here

Maxamed Aar Oo Dhagax-dhigay Dhisaya Taalo Loo Samaynayo Xabaashii Muj.Maxamed Cali Hageysa(Qaran)-Mujaahid Maxamed Cabdilaahi Aar ayaa shalay dhagax dhigay taalo laga yagleelayo Xabaashii Alle ha u Naxariistee Mujaahid Maxamed Cali,oo ku taala Magaalada Burco oo uu Mujaahidku ku shihiiday. Maxamed Aar oo ay weheliyaan xubno ka mid ahaa halgameyaashii [sNM]waxa ay booqasho ku tageen mMagaalada Burco,waxana ay halkaasi duco iyo Quraan akhris Qadar ugu sameeyeen Alle ha u naxariistee Muj.Maxamed Cali iyo Mujaahidiintii kale ee ku duugan magaalada Burco iyo guud ahaan Gobolka Togdheer. “Waxa aan aad iyo aad ugu faraxsan nahay inaan Booqdo oo aan duco iyo quraan u soo akhriyo mujaadihiintii SNM ee nafahoodii ku waayay halgankii dib u xoreynta Somaliland,gaar ahaan Eebe ha u Naxariistee Mujaahid Maxamed Cali oo ku dhintay Magaalada Burco sanadkii 1988-kii”ayuu yidhi Maxamed Aar oo khadka telefoonka igula soo xidhiidhay mar uu shalay ku sugnaa Magaalada Burco. Sidoo kale Mujaahidiintaasi waxa ay booqdeen fadhiisimada jiida hore ee Ciidamada qaranka ee k u sugan Tuulada adhi cadeeye ee duleedka Magaalada Laas-caanood,waxana halkaasi ku soo dhaweeyay Taliyaha Qeybta Aaga bari Iyo Hoggaanka Hawl-gelinta Ciidamada qaranka Col.Maxamed Cali [shiine}

SOLJA oo cambaareeyay dilka Weriyayaal lagu dilay Muqdisho Hargeysa (Ogaal)- Ururka Suxufiyiinta Somaliland ee SOLJA, ayaa cambaareeyay dilalka loo geystay Weriyayaal ka tirsanaa laba Idaacadaha Capital Voice iyo Horn Afrik ee Magaalada Muqdisho, oo dorraad mid ka mid ahna la dilay, midka kalena Miino loo dhigay waddadii uu marayay ay la kacday. Warsaxaafadeed arrintaa ku saabsan oo uu ku saxeexnaa Guddoomiyaha SOLJA Mustafe Cabdi Ciise (Shiine), ayaa waxa uu u dhignaa sedan; "Ururka suxufiyiinta Somaliland ee SOLJA waxa ay canbaaraynayaan dilalka isba jooga ahaa ee loo gaystay Labada Wariye ee ka kala hawlgeli jiray Idaacadaha the capital Voice iyo Horn of Afrik, kuwaasi oo kala ahaa Cali Iimaan Sharmaarke iyo Mahad Cilmi, kuwaasi oo midna la dilay, isagoo u shaqa tegayay Idaacada uu u shaqeeynayay, midna Miino loo dhigay ay la kacday, isagoo ka soo laabtay aaskii weriyaha hore ee Mahad. Tallaabooyinkan ka dhacaya dalkan aynu jaarka nahay ee Soomaaliya waxa aanu urur ahaan u aragnaa inay yihiin kuwo la damacsan yahay in lagu cabudhiyo xorriytul qawlka, isla markaana lagu damacsan yahay in lagu aamusiyo dhawrka Idaacadood ee ka warama dhacdooyinka halista ah ee haysata ummaddaasi Soomaaliyeed, isla markaasina tusaale looga dhigayo suxufiyiinta kale ee hadhsan in ay afka xidhaan, indhahana wax ka daawadaan. Sidaa daraadeed waxa ururka Suxufiyiinta Somaliland ee SOLJA uu canbaaraynayaa cid kasta oo door ku leh cabudhinta iyo dilalka lagula kacay wareyayaasha ka hawlgala dalkaasi, iyadoo si gaar ah uu ururkani u canbaaraynayo falalka ay ciidamada dawlada federaalka ah ee uu hogaamiyo Cabadilaahi Yuusuf kula kaceen Idaacadaha Shabeelle iyo Horn Afrik, qaasatan dhacdooyinkii ay ciidamadaasi ku baadheen Idaacadda Shabeelle, sidoo kale ay ku kaxaysteen weriyayaashii halkaasi ka hawlgalayay. Si kastaba xaalku ha ahaadee waxa dhinacyada isku haya Dalkaasi Soomaaliya looga digayaa inay ku sii socdaan falalka noocan ah, hadddii kalese waxa iman doonta in laga xisabtamo." Sidoo kale waxa dilkan dhaleeceeyay Ururka Suxufiyiinta aan Xuduudka lahayn ee RSF, isla markaana u soo jeediyay Maamulka Mbeghati inay sugaan ammaanka Suxufiyiinta iyo sidoo kale inay tallaabo ka qaadaan ciddii ka dambaysay dilkan, si looga hor tago inay sii socdaan qul-qulatooyinka iyo dilalka ka dhanka ah Saxaafadda Madaxa bannaani.

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GOOD NEWS FOR NAYRUUS Somaliland and Somalia's journalists sign landmark MOU - First such agreement since 1991 HARGIESA, Somaliland- The Somaliland Journalists Association (SOLJA) and National Union Of Somali Journalists ( NOSOJ) have signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) in Somaliland for the first time and agreed to work closely together with both parties recognizing one another. The signing of MOU is believed to be a good sign to cut through the rising tensions between Somaliland and Southern Somalia. Also included in the agreement is to allow the NOSOJ to come and hold training programs in the relative safety of Somaliland. Mr. Mostafe Abdi Isse, SOLJA chairman at the signing ceremony noted that the signing would allow the opening up of opportunities for collaboration and professional exchanges between the two organizations. Mr. Omer Farouq Osman, NOSOJ ‘s General secretary mentioned his delegation’s pleasure in forging a partnership with SOLJA and the warm welcome accorded to it. “The reason why we tabled this MOU with Somaliland journalists is because they are our neighboring countries whose media have no limitations of freedom of expression and when it comes to workshops we prefer to hold them in a safe, secure and peaceful country which does not exist in Somalia”, said the general secretary. Mr. Farouq went on to state that he truly believed that there were further opportunities of collaboration between Somalia and Somaliland journalists and urged SOLJA to join regional and international journalist bodies.

Zenawi’s End: a Panic to Few – a Heaven to almost All In previous articles, we published several parts of the recently issued Report of the ****** Human Rights Committee, which bears witness to unprecedented Crimes against the Mankind, perpetrated in occupied ****** by the monstrous and criminal Tigray chieftain Zenawi, Africa’s cruellest tyrant of all times. Beyond the Executive Summary, and the Recommendations and Appeals, the Report’s first part (entitled “Background”) contains a Profile of ******is’ Inhuman Oppression, and three specialized units on ‘Ethiopian’ government’s Starve out and Depopulate and Scorched Earth policies, and about the severe ecological damages caused in many parts of ****** as consequence of the oppressive policies. Then, the second part is focused on the Human Rights abuses per category. We strongly believe that the meticulously compiled document provides the World Community with the most solid and convincing documentation and the ultimate proof of Intentional Genocide bluntly executed by means of tribal and heinous thugs. This document must be available to anyone in the world, and we intend to re-publish sizeable part of it, in order to better illuminate the case that demands for immediate UN Security Council resolution and subsequent intervention. In the present article, we re-publish the part about the ‘Ethiopian’ Government’s Depopulate and Scorched Earth Policy; in this regard, it is essential to advise for a second reading of the text. Beyond its primary – Humanitarian – reading, this text offers a more illuminative view of the ailing Abyssinian tyrannical class’ panic. A cool, second reading reveals the political reality; the inhuman Abyssinian tyranny collapses. Its soldiers are killed in every occupied land, Oromia, ******, Somalia, its rule is being dismantled by numerous manifestations and popular reactions of all sorts, and its days are numbered. The numbers of the oppressed populations are unsustainable; attempting to indiscriminately kill means panic. The Panic of the End of Zenawi; a panic to few – a heaven to almost all. Depopulate and Scorched Earth Policy As Ethiopian officials stated repeatedly they want the land but not the people. So they have to evict the Somali people in the ****** from their ancestral land by using all means including brutal military force. The following are some main incidents documented by OHRC in the course of last twelve years. On February 22nd 1994, a cold-blood massacre took place in the town of Wardheer, where Ethiopian government forces killed more than 81 unarmed civilians. In 1996, in Xodayo, Dhanaan, Toon-Ceeley and Qabribayax, Ethiopian government forces killed many defenceless civilians in four different incidents. The victims were businessmen, elders and pastoralists. In December 1997, the Ethiopian army razed to the ground the villages of Weerare, Laan-Jaleelo, Xero-Bilcir, Garwaan, Lix-Irdood, Samo and Masaarre, killing many defenceless civilians. The government troops looted at gunpoint, 6 000 head of camels and 20 000 head of sheep and cattle owned by innocent nomads. In February 2003, in Bulaale, one of the most well-known water wells in the ******, the Ethiopian armed forces using helicopter gunship killed: 500 head of sheep, 300 head of cattle, 250 head of camels and razed to the ground 80 houses. On November 15th 2005, in Qabridaharre, Ethiopian armed forces killed more than 20 people and wounded 45 others. This incident is known by the locals as (2005 jailbreak and Qabridaharre massacre). On November 20th 2005, Ethiopian armed forces razed to the ground the village of Fooljeex, which situates 44km east of Qabridaharre. Before torching the residences they looted personal properties and burned all what they could not take with them including village’s barns, which contained more than 6000 Quintals of sorghum and maize. Pastoral Development and Relief Association’s educational project in the area has also been damaged. The homeless and helpless residents of Fooljeex took refuge in Qabridaharre town and other surrounding villages. At the time Ex-Fooljeex resident who preferred not to be named told OHRC, “ We are destitute. We lost all our belongings in Fooljeex and have no where to go.” “There is no crime parallel to what Ethiopian armed forces did to us,” he concluded. On November 29th 2005, Ethiopian government forces evacuated all residents of Barraajisle. Displaced residents take refuge in Qabridaharre and environs. Ethiopian commander in Qabridaharre declared his government’s intention to torch the following villages: Galadiid, Farmadow, Geerigo’an, Gabagabo, Dalaad and Jiica. On February 25th 2005, in Yucub, Ethiopian forces forcibly evicted residents from their homes in a quarter nearby their barracks. No compensation was given to the individuals who lost their homes. In 2005, Ethiopian armed forces committed mass killings in Qabridaharre, Farmadow, Shilaabo, Madax-Maroodi, Karin-Bilcille and Gurdumi. Collective punishment and killing fields in the ****** are increasing by the day. The latest atrocities took place in Maraacaato, Daratoole, Laasoole, Higlalay, Labiga, Bulaale, Dawacaale, Dharkeenley, Ceelxaar, Qamuuda, Wacdi, Jinoole, Caado, Balli-Garabey Arraweelo, Xodayo, Taaloole, Dundumo-Cad and Qoriile. Note In the picture, we see a hotel in impoverished Gode, ******, with the imposed, hateful and alien, Amhara inscription. From: http://www.chris-kutschera.com/Galeries%20photos%20/Galerie%20maisons%20colorees%20/pages/9%20Ethiopie.htm HERE

UN RHC statement on killings of Somali journalists Press Statement UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia strongly condemns the killing of two journalists, harassment of the media and calls for end to impunity Nairobi 12 August 2007 - UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Eric Laroche, has strongly condemned the killing of two prominent figures in the Somali independent media within hours of each other on Saturday 11 August and called for decisive action to ensure the freedom and safety of the media. These are the most recent in a spate of attacks against the media in Somalia which brings to six the number of journalists killed in the country this year. Saturday's first victim was HornAfrik Radio journalist Mahad Ahmed Elmi, who was gunned down by four unknown men in the morning. The second, Ali Iman Sharmarke, was the founder and chairman of HornAfrik and was reportedly killed in his car by a remotely detonated device as he returned from his colleague's funeral. Two other journalists traveling in Sharmarke's car escaped with injuries. Sharmarke was a Somali-Canadian who returned to Mogadishu nine years ago to establish and manage the media group. The group works regularly with the United Nations on AIDS and mine awareness, child soldier recruitment and other programmes. Both victims were respected figures among Somali journalists who strive to keep alive freedom of information and principles of impartial and accurate reporting in Somalia's violent environment. A third journalist, Abdihakim Omar Jimale, from Radio Moqadishu, was also victim of an assassination attempt on Friday evening and is still under medical supervision for his injuries. No group has so far claimed responsibility for these crimes. On Friday morning nine journalists and other workers of Radio Shabelle were seized for several hours without court order by a senior police officer who was looking for the journalist who had just broadcast a report about a security-related event the night before. Journalist Mohamed Abdi Farah 'Afgoye' has been in hiding since and fears for his life. The same radio station had been threatened a few days before by a foreign diplomat whose threats were recorded and broadcast by the station. The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Eric Laroche, strongly condemns this spate of attacks, and now targeted killings, against journalists. At this trying time he wishes to convey his personal sympathy to the families and colleagues of the victims and to express solidarity with members of a profession that perform vital work in fulfilling the right to know. The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia calls on all authorities and other groups throughout the country to respect the right of all to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information through any media. The violent events of the last days show how vulnerable freedom of expression remains in Somalia. The Transitional Federal Government is responsible for ending impunity for attacks on journalists by conducting prompt and impartial investigations and preventing any form of harassment of the media. Furthermore, the draft legislation on media must ensure that freedom of information and media, as enshrined in article 20 of the Transitional Federal Charter, is fully protected. ENDS Note to editors: for more information please contact, Susanne Morrell: +254-720204992 Renaud Detalle: +254-734057137 Sue Morrell Communications adviser UNDP Somalia Tel: +254 (0)20 4255209 Mob: +254 (0)720 204 992

"Beginning……. Based on the reaction of public and political parties to the first part of the article,http://www.qarannews.com/show/14132.html. I urge readers to understand and study the constitution to have a constitutionally-sound view to support politics. Of the 150 emails I received from readers and even from the existing political parties including banned Qaran Party, I gathered that they have misinterpreted the constitution to achieve personal objectives or propagate a particular political stance. Such a blind ignorance has resulted in the current confusion between the vicious politicians and the government. Some readers have expressed their objection to the arrest of the Qaran politicians on grounds that they are SNM veterans. I can’t deny the fact that two of the arrested politicians were SNM seniors but that does not mean that they are allowed to commit violations against the constitution as nobody is above the law. SNM is a common term and every Somalilander has the right to define the term based on his own convictions. SNM should not be a tool against a part of the Somalilanders who were labeled as “******” or NSS. Ladies and Gentlemen, 90% of our politicians have served the Siyad Barre Government that killed thousands of our citizens. So, “Maroodigu takarta saran ma arkee ta kale buu arkaa” if everybody who served during the Siyad regime is ****** then we should not label only some of our citizens. Our entire community including Somaliland diaspora, refugees in Ethiopia, and SNM fighters were part of the SNM struggle even those lost their lives during bombing major cities of Somaliland including Hargiesa, Burco and Berbera. Even soldiers of Somaliland origin, who rejected to bomb the civilians and then get killed based on rejection are SNM. As an eleven-year-old boy in Dulcad, I grew up seeing my mother contribute half of our food supplies from the United Nation agencies to SNM food collections. I asked her, why she is giving our food from UN to SNM, and she replied “They are our brothers who are fighting to liberate our country, so we can go back to our home.” I quickly accepted her explanation because our main objectives were to liberate our country and support our brothers who are on the frontline fighting for our freedom. However, one question has lingered in my mind at the time - is there anybody who owns SNM from mothers who sacrificed their children’s food to support its cause? Similar stories from Somaliland Diaspora indicate that 50% of their monthly incomes used to go directly to SNM bank account in a move to financially support the cause. Ladies and Gentlemen, a soldier without financial support cannot win a war if he does not have a bullet or gun to fight. Actually, those calling themselves SNM are fake. We are all SNM and Somaliland is nothing but a product of SNM so everybody who loves SNM should care more for Somaliland. The SNM era has ended and we now entered the history of Somaliland. The history of SNM will remain only in school text books and will be considered as retired senior organizations that functions no more. SNM cannot be defined based on tribe because there is a large number of non-***** people who participated in the freedom struggle including First Vice President of Somaliland Abdurrahman Aw Ali Farah. Let me say it again, SNM cannot be a tool against Somalilanders. Every Somalilander is a SNM fighter. About arrested Qaran leaders, Somaliland government arrested them in the right manner at the right time; otherwise, the country could have ended up into a political chaos and unrest. The ongoing spat of criticisms from some organizations is easier than losing the election. Every citizen understands that these criticisms are nothing but a natural response from those who hate law and order in Somaliland, and they will not be given chance to damage Somaliland image. We should protect our next election regardless of who is complaining and at any cost. Somaliland image will remain excellent as long as we have a fully functioning government, peace, security and united people. Such criticisms may form little obstacles on our path towards diplomatic recognition but our national unity and security of our election are more important issues. Some readers even compared Somaliland government with Zimbabwe regime who killed and destroyed its people and country. Today Zimbabweans are suffering of financial crisis including inflation, absence of freedom of expression and human rights. We cannot say entire developments of Somaliland in human rights and freedom of expression disappeared due to the aforementioned arrests. Somaliland will continue democratic and Qaran leaders will remain in prison as long as they believe in such an illegal and corrupted campaign. Qaran leaders miscalculated their move. They could have demand registration through Constitutional Court before carrying out illegal political campaign and asking the public their votes. As the Somali Proverb says “Oodo dhacameed siday u kala sareeyaan baa loo kala guraa.”, we have a Judiciary System, although it is remotely controlled by the government, Qaran should fight through the legal proceedings in our courts. If you don’t lay down the foundation stone of the party, then you will not achieve progress and slow down your move towards a stable Qaran Political Party. The Qaran leaders have failed in laying down the foundation stone so the party will never develop. In reality, Qaran Chairman Dr. Gaboose formed SAHAN Political Party and his Vice Chairman Mohammed Hashi Elmi (with two votes against Egal) was also an active politician during the laying down of the multiparty system foundation. Gaboose did not win the votes of citizens with his SAHAN Party in the same manner that Mohammed Hashi Elmi could not come through overcrowded political parties in the country. As per the principles of democracy, “If you lose in the election, then you should let the winners lead the country without meddling with their affairs”. The people of Somaliland voted for UCID, Kulmiye and UDUB so it only follows that the candidates of these parties are the only ones authorized to lead the nation until future amendments of the constitution. I completely agree with you when you said that current political parties are highly corrupt and turned into tribe parties but we don’t have any other way out. As noble citizens (like that of Qaran) we should fight these corrupted and tribal-minded parties’ leaders within their political parties. We know that every political party gets a share of Sl.Sh 40 million from the National Budget. Do you think our budget is capable of paying another 40 million to Qaran which should be given to every recognized political party? We also have to consider that our people are not well prepared to face open democracy with an unlimited number of parties similar to that of India. Tribalism is another disease in our community and the people will be further divided with the emergence of another political party. My final word, Qaran leaders should ensure that they will stop such illegal campaign and they will follow the rule and the constitution of Somaliland. Government will release them if and only if they comply with the abovementioned points. Qaran should only fight their case through the Constitutional Court but not through public uprising as such a move will only paralyze efforts to achieve democracy and security. Allah Bless Somaliland……………………………We all stand united By Abdirahman Ahmed Ali here

Arrest of violaters of the Constitution late but right action to safeguard the law and national constitution The news of the arrest of the chairman and vice-chairman of Qaran is not a surprise to us. In fact we see the Somaliland authorities were too late to take action as Qaran embarked in an action that is a gross violation and disregard for the law of the country which will not allow more than the three existing parties. What differentiates people and countries one from another is how they value their laws uphold them. Without laws nothing can work in the world and for the laws to work, they must be followed. The leaders of Qaran did not show any objection to the constitution when they participated in the competition to qualify for a place in the national political scene. They got the opportunity but the law allows only three parties and the three parties that got the most votes win the three positions allowed by the constitution. But excuse me, what has changed now? The constitution is the same and it has to be respected and followed. No problem to ask explanation or a legal opinion from the constitution court or seek amendment of the constitution through the proper route but no one has the right and allowed to violate the constitution or behave like it does not exist. Violating the constitution is a crime that is punishable by law. Let me just say that we were watching what the authority will do about this test (fitnah or mihnah), because it is in fact a fitnah, and the fitnah is worse than anything else. That is why Allah (s.w.t) said in the holy Qruan ‘The fitnah is more destructive than killing’. It is the fitnah and the disregard for law and order that broke up the great Somali Republic that Somaliland was a part of, which was a power to be reckoned in the region. For those who may defend the action of these men, whether they are from the public or from the political parties, they have to know that they have to understand the matter is not personal or factional for that matter. But respect for the law and the order and the national constitution of the country, are something that need to be safeguarded. Allowing disregarding the constitution means breaking up the system, and if the system breaks nothing will work. Just look at your neighbor, to take a lesson! Was the arrest against law? According to what we know, the leaders of Qaran were issued a warrant to close their offices as the constitution will not allow a fourth political party and stop the political campaign they were engaged. That warrant was ignored and therefore the arrest and closure of offices are legal. So for those who say this action is not constitutional, they should tell us how it is not? Do they have a version of the constitution that we do not have? Why people are not truthful or support what is right? Those of us who were saying few months ago, the law has to be followed when asked about the question of Qaran opening offices, and are now saying something totally different that is what damages ones credibility. We must not be looking at people for who they are but at what they do. We must judge at the action and our position and opinion about matters must be based on principle and following the process. The question you have to ask yourself is: Will the constitution allow for the establishment of a fourth (national) political party? Does the constitution of the country allow, the establishment of political parties without license? Did Qaran apply for a license to open offices in cities in Somaliland and did it get one? The answer to these questions, I believe, is no. So where the misunderstanding is coming from? We must stand up for the safeguarding of the constitution, because that is where the interest of the country rests. If you do not respect the law of the country, you will end up without one! Do not play with fire. For those who may denounce this action: Let us be rational. Yes, Mr. Gabose and Mr. Hashi had the right to seek office, but they must follow the law. As I mentioned earlier they must come in to the house from the front door. Every people make laws for themselves to organize their affairs. In my country, Canada, which is a democratic country, I cannot just go and open a political party without a lisence. Forget about a political party, I cannot even do business if I have no license. There is a system that must be followed. Qaran needed a license first. That was the first thing to get before starting opening offices. Of course we know that they cannot get a license because the constitution of the country will not allow more than three parties and there are already three parties in existence. So there is one of the following options in front of them: Join one of the three parties like the other parties that did not qualify did Seek an amendment of the constitution to allow more than three parties, following the proper route. Understand that you had your chance and tried but you were not successful and therefore you must accept that fact. If the law will not allow you to have a political party, that does not mean, you have to say hell with the law. I don’t care about the law that does not give me what I like. I need to have a political party and I am going to have one regardless what! That is not how things work. There was a (valid) reason to limit the number of political parties. But regardless, there is nothing wrong to try and seek an amendment for the constitution, just do not defy it. Because if you defy it you break it and if you break it, you will have nothing to run for! It’s the laws and how it respects and abides by these laws that measure the level of advancement of a society and place of men in their society. We fully support the action the authority had taken, even though we believe this matter must have been dealt with months ago. But lastly the authority had acted and taken an action and that is what matters right now. No one is above the law. That is something everyone must know. Mohieddin Issa Toronto, Ontario, Canada

We have all heard the quotes on the value of a good education, but the question is what does one do with a good education? In the case of Somaliland, much to the credit of the nations higher learning institutions, a slew of graduates, most recently medical graduates, have emerged. This a feat unheard of in an unrecognised and underfunded country. I am sure, some experts in the UN, EU, or the AU are sitting at their desks, shaking their heads in bewilderment. They are wondering how this small and under-developed, but determined nation, achieved such a historic feats with minimal external financial or logistic support! But, I digress, let us return to the question of what Somaliland has to offer these new graduates? Somaliland's schools, private and public are churning out graduates every year. I don't have the figures at my fingertips, but I would thinks that its one of the highest rates, in Africa. Fortuitously, these high school graduates have at least six options of higher learning within the country. But what happens after graduating? Somaliland is producing, doctors, engineers, nurses, economist, teachers, and so on. The question now, is how does Somaliland retain these graduates? How can Somaliland offer opportunities to these recent graduates, without losing them to the fake "bright lights" of expatriate life? A life which often leads to family strife, alienation and miss-appropriation of a foreign culture. No, there has to be better options at home. Somaliland has done very well in finding positions for most of its graduates, with the brightest securing further education overseas, however, until the on-set of full international recognition, the current situation is untenable. There are only so much vacancies within the central public sector. On the other hand Somaliland's nascent private sector is unable to absorb these new graduates at the present time, so, it is time that Somalilanders put their thinking caps on and come up with solutions to furthering the promise of these graduates. One can never accuse Somaliland of political stagnation, but economic stagnation is very much on the horizon. I urge the international communities to pay attention the situation in Somaliland. Aside from the usual political hurdles placed against Somaliland's independence, it is imperative that the international communities realise that its unfathomable attitude to Somaliland is going to have a profound effect on the countries educated youngsters. These youngsters are the future of the country, and unless they are assisted in fulfilling their potential, then it is inevitable they will become a future problem for these develop international societies. Some may argue, that Europe with its declining birth-rate, is in dire need of a fusion of fresh blood. But that is not the case, with the enlargement of the EU, an educated Somalilander would have as slim or no change of finding work. However, I know that most Somaliland graduates would rather make a good life in their country instead of starting from scratch in a foreign land. The reason many Somalilanders have a strong attachment to their country, is purely cultural. To this day, many expatriate Somalilanders are returning and investing in the their country. However, these expatriates can do only so much, and without full international recognition, Somaliland will face a serious "brain-drain". So, the call to the international communities is to begin appreciating, not only the democratic credentials of Somaliland, but also, to note the affect their misguided attitude towards Somaliland is having on the nations best and brightest. Sincerely, Ahmed Kheyre

hadhwanaag 2007-08-12 (Hadhwanaagnews) To: H.E. Dahir Rayale Kahin The President of the Republic of Somaliland Hargeisa, Somaliland Dear Mr President, As a long term admirer of Somaliland's record as a beacon of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in a region where these qualities are in short supply, I was alarmed to read of the arrests of Dr Mohamed Abdi Gaboose, Engineer Mohamed Hashi and Mr Jamal Aideed on July 28. These three gentlemen were architects of Somaliland's freedom, and are surely entitled to exercise their constitutional rights to freedom of expression and of association, and the right to take part in the government of their country, which are found in Articles 19-21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Whilst the constitution of Somaliland provides that there shall be only three political parties, there is no law that I am aware of which says that the current three parties will always be the three accepted under the constitution. The constitution like all others also guarantees the right to association and the persons who have been arrested are arguing that they are simply exercising their rights to form a political association and to be given a chance to compete freely to become one of the three political parties allowed under the constitution. May I respectfully urge you to release the three gentlemen, and to convene a representative assembly to determine how to secure maximum popular participation at the forthcoming elections, by a process that would determine which three parties have the greatest support and whose candidates' names should therefore appear on the ballot papers. I need hardly emphasise the damage to the cause of Somaliland's recognition that will result from failure to resolve this problem by discussion and agreement, rather than arbitrary detentions. In the longer term, Somaliland may wish to consider whether it is necessary to place any constitutional limit on the number of parties. In most democratic countries the electors tend to support just a few parties, though others may put up candidates without harming the process. Yours sincerely, Lord Eric Avebury

Ilaahay ha u naxariisto ............. in the past 10 pages you were the one arguing and talking ..... i'm glad you finally gave up and come to the reality. Sidaasaa lagaa rabaa ............ lool

9 August 2007 - The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is calling on the European Council to meet the commitments it made in May to push through a major increase in efforts to end violence against women across the world. With United Nations investigator, Yakin Erturk, this month describing the levels of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo as the worst she has ever seen, the need to step up efforts to halt the violence is clearer than ever. Thousands of women are beaten or raped every day, especially in countries either at war or recovering from conflict. Violence against women not only has a devastating impact on the survivors themselves, but also on their children and families, severely undermining a whole community's ability to achieve peaceful development. "As one of the world's largest aid donors, the European Union has a central role to play in making women's lives safer," said Sarah Hughes, Director of the IRC's London office. "Unless the violence is stemmed no amount of aid money will bring peace, justice or development to countries recovering from conflict." The IRC plays a leading role in tackling violence against women in war-torn areas. Its programmes around the world, in places like Liberia, DR Congo and Thailand, provide support to survivors of violence, train justice officials and community leaders to prosecute perpetrators and monitor courts to make sure cases are treated fairly. The IRC is petitioning the new EU presidency, headed by Portugal's José Sócrates, to lead the way through targeted aid programmes and by speaking out wherever abuses occur. Supporters are urged to add their voice to the campaign at www.ircuk.org. Contact For more information, please contact: Lydia Gomersall, Media & Communications Advisor, London +44 (0)20 7692 2741; lydia.gomersall@ircuk.org Hervé de Baillenx, Director, IRC Belgium +32 2 511 4300; hdebaillenx@theirc.org

Ilaahay ha u naxariisto labadaba ,,,,,,,,,,,,

waar dadku ha kaa seexdeen waa weekend e ,,,, ma imikaad soo toostay adigu ?? anigu dee waan garanayaa casharadaas oo berigaan dhigan jiray qaar badan oo reer SOL ahiba may dhalane

A leading, U.S.-based analyst on Somalia says the semi-autonomous region of Puntland is in a serious political and economic crisis, which he believes could undermine Somalia's efforts to achieve national reconciliation and to create more instability in the volatile Horn of Africa. VOA Correspondent Alisha Ryu in our East Africa Bureau in Nairobi spoke to the analyst, Professor Michael Weinstein, and has this story. In a report published last week on the website Power and Interest News Report, Somali analyst and political scientist Michael Weinstein argues that failures in governance under President Mohamed Adde Muse have badly weakened Puntland's stability. Among the region's worst problems is hyperinflation, which triggered mass protests last month in Puntland's capital Garowe and in the commercial center Bossasso. The government's mounting financial problems have prompted President Muse to try to exert control over Puntland's natural and economic resources, a move that Weinstein says has heightened tension with sub-states, the business community, and political opponents. Weinstein says there are already signs that Puntland is too weak economically and militarily to maintain the status quo. Recently, a region called Sanag, claimed by neighboring rival Somaliland and occupied by Puntland since 2002, and another hotly disputed area called Western Bari, created a new regional state. The Maakhir State of Somalia says it will function independently from Puntland and Somaliland. "It Puntland starts fragmenting, then you have all the more possibility of terrorist groups forming there," he said. "You have opportunities for the Arab states, Ethiopia, to come in to try to manipulate the situation. And then, you also bring Somaliland into the mix and heighten the possibility that there is going to be an armed conflict in the northeast region." Since Puntland came into being in 1998, the northeastern region of Somalia, dominated by a clan called the *****, had been considered relatively stable. The region's first president was Abdullahi Yusuf, who remained in power until he assumed the presidency of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government in 2004. Observers say his successor, Adde Muse, is struggling to consolidate power amid Somali interim government's attempts to assert its authority over Puntland. Last month, Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi's office reprimanded President Muse for signing a fishing deal with Yemen without the government's consent. But Puntland officials say that the fishing deal, and several other deals since, did have the blessings of interim President Abdullahi Yusuf. Weinstein says he believes Puntland is in a no-win, political tug-of-war between the prime minister, who wants the transitional government to administer Puntland, and the president, who has a different agenda. Weinstein says President Yusuf has demonstrated repeatedly that his aim is to turn Puntland into a personal fiefdom. "He is the protagonist in this affair," he said. "He is striving mightily to bring Puntland under his wing, so that he can control Puntland's security forces and extract money from taxes and trade deals Puntland is making." President Yusuf has not commented on the accusations, which have been voiced by other western analysts and Somali intellectuals. Weinstein says Puntland has entered a period of deep uncertainty, made worse by the volatile political situation in Mogadishu. He says the only thing that is clear is that Puntland's relative stability can no longer be taken for granted. Source

Yes it was great time for them but i believe those who brought that short period didn't have the enough capacity to keep it alive. Yet the US bombers and Habashi attacks were expected.

YEAH I DO ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Somaliland, home to more than 2 million people, declared independence in 1991. It meets the requirements for sovereign statehood HARGEISA (for Tiraspol Times) - The unrecognized Republic of Somaliland has sent a formal request to the African Union (AU) asking to be recognized as an independent African government, according to diplomatic sources in Addis Ababa. Somaliland maintains an official diplomatic delegation in Ethiopia, as one of only four countries in the world where Somaliland's foreign ministry has offices and staff. Somaliland, located to the northwest of Somalia, unilaterally declared independence from the rest of the country in 1991, as the Horn of Africa country disintegrated and erupted in civil war. No nation in the international community has recognized Somaliland's independence yet, but several countries keep unofficial diplomatic presence in Somaliland's capital Hargeisa. The former British colony is a model of good governance, in stark contrast to Somalia, a former Italian colony. Unlike Somalia, the government in smaller Somaliland has been able to demilitarize the country and convince militias to hand in their weapons. After the 1991 declaration of independence, internal war was no longer an option. " - We had a higher purpose," said Abdillahi M. Duale, Somaliland’s foreign minister. "Independence. And nobody in the outside world was going to help us get there." Over the years southern Somalia has received tens of millions — if not hundreds of millions — of dollars in aid, and Somaliland almost nothing. English-speaking and democratic, Somaliland is an island of stability and successful self-government among war and anarchy in this part of Africa. Somaliland's leaders, with no Western experts at their elbow, have brought freedom and secular democracy to the new and emerging country. They have demobilized thousands of the young gunmen who still plague Somalia and melded them into a national army. And, says Jeffrey Gettleman from the New York Times, "they have even held three rounds of multiparty elections, no small feat in a region, the Horn of Africa, where multiparty democracy is mostly a rumor. Somalia, for one, has not had free elections since the 1960s." The one issue that unites most Somalilanders is recognition. Somaliland has its own money, its own flag, its own national anthem and even its own passport. " - And we have peace, a peace owned by the community," said Zamzam Adan, a women’s rights activist. “You’d think in this part of the world, that would count for something.” Support from Rwanda Dr. Charles Murigande, Rwanda's foreign minister, openly called for Somaliland's recognition by AU member states. Dr. Murigande said that Somaliland's government has a right to be recognized internationally since the government returned law and order to the region and has shown an ability to successfully manage its territory. Rwanda is the latest country to recognize that capacity building has entrenched Somaliland's de facto independence. This could be seen as a hark-back to traditional views of statehood: recognition can be acquired only after the capacity to govern has been successfully demonstrated. Earlier this month, thousands of protestors in the capital of Somaliland expressed their support for independence by taking to city streets and opposing the territorial claim of Somalia. In Hargeisa, Somaliland's capital, there is an increasing focus on democratization and values. Through the processes of state building and democratization, countries like Somaliland and Pridnestrovie are announcing that they share hegemonic international values (“not only are we the victims, we are the good guys, we are like you”) and do, therefore, not possess a threat to international or regional security. Both states have proven their viability by building effective democratic institutions and, therefore believe that they have earned the right to international recognition. The processes of capacity building entail state-building and democratization. Somaliland is sui generis, unique in its characteristics, because it has a brief history as an independent country before it united with Somalia. Its foreign ministry points out that with Somaliland's own declaration of independence, it was actually not creating a new country - but merely withdrawing from a voluntary union which had already broken down with the failure of Somalia; the world's most failed state. Somaliland's independence was not new, but merely an act of restoring a state within borders that already existed in the past, when Somaliland was also independent. Breaking free of a failed union Pridnestrovie points to a similar history: For most of the period between the two World Wars, it functioned as an autonomous republic in the Soviet Union, with Tiraspol as its capital. The border to Moldova was the Dniester river, and Moldova was not part of the country: Populated mostly by ethnic Romanians, it was included as part of Romania at the time. This only changed in World War II, when two of history's most brutal dictators - Hitler and Stalin - carved up Europe and included Moldova in the Soviet Union. When the Soviet Union fell, Moldova regained its freedom. In Moldova's own declaration of independence, it renounced the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, which was the act that merged Pridnestrovie and Moldova. It declared the act "null and void from the beginning" and this was interpreted in Tiraspol as a rupture of the only act, the act of union, which had bound the two inside the MSSR from 1940 to 1990. The union in Somalia disintegrated, and restored Somaliland to its pre-union borders. In the same way, the union of the former Moldavian SSR disintegrated, restoring Moldova and Pridnestrovie to their previous component parts where the Dniester river mainly defines the border again today, just as has traditionally done for hundreds of years throughout history. At no time in history has Pridnestrovie ever been part of any independent Moldovan state. " - In essence, a de facto state exists where there is an organized political leadership which has risen to power through some degree of indigenous capability; receives popular support; and has achieved sufficient capacity to provide governmental services to a given population in a defined territorial area, over which effective control is maintained for an extended period of time," says American political science professor Scott Pegg, author of a specialist textbook titled "International Society and the De Facto State". Both Somaliland and Pridnestrovie meet the general qualifications required for statehood under international law: A permanent population, defined territory, government and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. HERE

Nabadba ma jirtee maxaa saliid la raadin ,,, they better look for peace instead of oil.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Outside it was a sticky 111 degrees, but Ali Hamdan was shivering under two parkas as he sipped hot chocolate, surrounded by tables and chairs made of ice. Chillout, its owners say, is the Middle East's first ice lounge — the latest venture in this desert Gulf emirate, which has been transformed by a mania for the biggest, first or most outlandish. Gulf men in traditional white robes with wives covered in black cloaks, teenagers eager to experience their first cold blast and Westerners who miss the chill are flocking to the bar-restaurant to hang out in what amounts to a freezer. Everything is made of ice: the walls, tables and chairs; cups, glasses and plates; the art on the wall, the sculptures depicting Dubai's skyline, the beaded curtains, the 7-foot-chandelier and the bar. "It was the first time that I've been in such a cold place," said Fatima Ali, a 13-year-old Emirati, as she emerged from the restaurant, still breathless from the adventure. "It was fantastic. I took pictures to show my friends so they would come too." Not everyone is so impressed. Some rush out after only a few minutes in the 21-degree temperature. The $17 cover charge gets you one drink and the rental of a hooded parka, woolen gloves and insulated shoes. Customers don them outside, then spend a few minutes in the Buffer Zone, a room set at 41 degrees to adjust before entering the restaurant. Sami al-Muhaideb, a 25-year-old Saudi travel agent, warned his friend Yousef Badr going in to expect a blast of cold air, like a freezer. Thirty minutes later, Badr emerged shivering, with a red nose. Hamdan, 22, who works at Dubai customs, looked miserable as he sipped hot chocolate, an extra parka covering his legs. He hadn't quite dressed for the occasion, coming in a T-shirt and Bermuda shorts. "He's not happy," his colleague Marwa Kharsa, a 25-year-old from Atlanta, said with a laugh. "But I'm extremely happy. I miss the cold." While the new, $3 million hangout, which opened in a Dubai mall in June, is expected to become a must-see tourist destination, it also is expected to raise questions about already high energy consumption in this desert land. The average person in the Emirates puts more demand on the global ecosystem than any other in the world, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Energy consumption in the Emirates runs high for many reasons, particularly because of the air conditioning that cools houses, malls, cars and public places not only during the furnace-hot summers but in the warm winters. Making matters worse are Dubai's audacious developments. The emirate has transformed itself into a financial and tourism center, building up its name with dramatic projects — the world's tallest skyscraper, island resorts in the shape of palm trees and maps of the world, even an indoor ski slope that still creates snow amid the inferno of summer. Mike Ebenezer, business manager at Sharaf Group, which owns Chillout, insists it consumes only as much energy as a cold storage facility for frozen foods does. "There are hundreds of cold storages in Dubai," said Ebenezer. Ebenezer said that Chillout is the ninth such ice bar in the world, with others in the U.S., Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, London and Italy. "It's a cool oasis in the middle of the desert," said Ebenezer. "We want it to be a fashion and lifestyle statement for the Dubai people," he added. "It's the kind of place where you want to be seen." It took 40,000 tons of ice to build the decor of the 2,400-square-foot restaurant. Every item was designed, carved and cut at a studio freezer at Iceculture Inc. in Canada and then shipped to Dubai. Diffused lighting, from low-heat LED bulbs, constantly changes colors as it filters through the ice blocks. Sheepskin rugs cover the seats for the diners' comfort. Cocktails — which are nonalcoholic in a nod to Muslim culture — are served in ice glasses that are later discarded. Hot drinks and food, from an Asian fusion menu, are served in stainless steel thermos containers — but still get cold within 15 minutes, diners are warned. Putting on their parkas, newlywed Lebanese couple Yousef and Obeida Bissani, who live in Dubai, said they are used to cold winters in Lebanon but wanted to see what it's like to sit on an ice bench and drink from an ice glass. "We didn't want to go to Ski Dubai because we have (the Lebanese) ski resort of Faraya," said Obeida Bissani, 23, who works in advertising. Thuraya Amory, a 24-year-old Moroccan who works in sales, brought her mother, Amina, who was visiting from their homeland. "It's the first time that I experience cold in Dubai," she said. "It's nice to do it from time to time." SOURCE

You cannot predict what is coming but this is a good start. things might change soon though.

Subxaanallaah ! ! ! Ilaahayow u naxariiso

Ilaahay baa og ,,,, that is what they reported and it seems the human rights activists in the region condemned the incident.

loooooooool