Telecom Companies Should Not Cover Up Massacres Committed in Lasanod by Somaliland Militias

[Deeq A.]

Telecom companies in Lasanod must not play a role in covering up atrocities committed by Somaliland militias.

Lasanod (Editorial) — Somtel, Telesom and Golis should not give in to the pressure from Somaliland militias in Lasanod to put telecommunications out of service. Citizen journalists in Lasanod have kept the public abreast of extrajudicial killings committed by Somaliland militias in Lasanod.

Earlier today telecom companies in Lasanod switched off telephone services. Somtel reportedly resumed the service one hour ago. During the telecommunications blackout in Lasanod Somaliland militias killed 14 people including the imam of a mosque.

People not only use telephony to communicate with each other; they use mobile money systems such as SAAD and E-dahab to send money or conduct transactions. Telecom companies that follow the telecom blackout instructions from Somaliland government have lost any right to operate in Lasanod.

Failure to resist pressure from Somaliland authorities keen on switching off telecommunications systems will earn telecom companies the role of an enabler
covering up crimes being committed by Somaliland militias against citizens in Lasanod. It will have an adverse impact on community amity in the long run.

Business has long been viewed in Somalia as a positive factor in breaking barriers created by opportunistic politicians. The principle to protect the political rights of citizens must guide decisions by telecom companies in Lasanod.

© Puntland Post, 2022

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