Juje Posted September 30, 2009 USA: Court to weigh lawsuit against former Somali PM Wednesday, September 30, 2009 WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court will consider throwing out a human rights lawsuit against a former prime minister of Somalia who is accused of overseeing killings and other atrocities. The court said Wednesday it would review an appeals court ruling allowing Somalis to sue Mohamed Ali Samantar of Fairfax, Va., who was defense minister and prime minister of Somalia in the 1980s and early 1990s under dictator Siad Barre. The lawsuit alleges that Samantar was responsible for killings, rapes and torture, including waterboarding, of his own people while in power, particularly against disfavored clans. The lawsuit was filed in 2004 at federal court in Alexandria under the Torture Victim Protection Act. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema tossed out the case in 2007, ruling that Samantar was entitled to immunity under a separate U.S. law, the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. But the appellate court ruled that the law does not extend immunity to individuals, only to foreign states themselves and their agencies. The high court will consider whether Samantar is immune from the lawsuit. The case will be argued early next year. Source: AP, Sept 30, 2009 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Che -Guevara Posted September 30, 2009 Waste of resources! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Qudhac Posted September 30, 2009 indeed justice may be low but it catches up with all those who commited attrocities. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thankful Posted October 1, 2009 What about Riyaale? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GoldCoast Posted October 1, 2009 Ah typical Somali justice....Only reserved to those who represent the least numerical parts of society. They've simply used the American justice system as a new medium to express this well established form of clan politics. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar Posted October 1, 2009 Cali Samatar faraha ha laga qaado. Let him retire in peace. The man wasn't power hungry, dalkiisana wuu u halgamay intuu wax u tari karo. He wasn't the highest decorated military person in the country for no reason. Hadduu dambi lagu eedeeye, tobbaneeyo ka horeyso oo wada nool si nabad ahna u seexdo ha laga bilaabo eedmada. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Juje Posted October 1, 2009 Originally posted by Qudhac: indeed justice may be low but it catches up with all those who commited attrocities. Why him and not Riyaale and more than six cabinet members of his government who were decission makers and subordinates for Siyaad Barre during the genocide against people of the North West. Is it because he is....? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paragon Posted October 1, 2009 ^Yup. As NGONGE would say, 'clan is everything'. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NGONGE Posted October 1, 2009 Originally posted by Juje: quote:Originally posted by Qudhac: indeed justice may be low but it catches up with all those who commited attrocities. Why him and not Riyaale and more than six cabinet members of his government who were decission makers and subordinates for Siyaad Barre during the genocide against people of the North West. Is it because he is....? It is because he is within reach. Do you really think if Riyaale was living in the USA someone somewhere would not file a court case against him? It only takes one person, saaxib. Those supporting this might be doing so for clan reasons but the person that filed the case might be doing it out of bitterness, a desire for vengence for some personal tragedy from years ago or a real and direct reason. Hala boodin the pointless question of why him and not others. If you no of others that CAN be prosectued, cidna ha sugin, go file a case. p.s. Is he innocent? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Somalia Posted October 1, 2009 ^^ I agree with this stuff&nonsense. As a resident in the U.S.A, I know first hand that this is the easiest place on earth to file a law suit against someone(innocent or not) and still win. Especially if the defendant does not have sufficient funds to hire a good attorney. But in this case, if Samatar decides to put to work all the funds he stole from the Somali Republic during his tenure-- Am sure he will beat this lawsuit without even breaking a sweat! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jacaylbaro Posted October 1, 2009 Let the justice prevail ............... It starts from the top and goes down to the yaryarka. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Juje Posted October 1, 2009 Originally posted by NGONGE: It is because he is within reach. Do you really think if Riyaale was living in the USA someone somewhere would not file a court case against him? It only takes one person, saaxib. Those supporting this might be doing so for clan reasons but the person that filed the case might be doing it out of bitterness, a desire for vengence for some personal tragedy from years ago or a real and direct reason. Indeed sxb, how sweet and logic your argument is sxb. And if it is near then let me make you aware that the very same people filling the suit have welcomed in US and UK Riyaale and his delegation which included culprits same as Samatar. Is he guilty? Yes. But so are others that you are harbouring as national leaders. And if you cannot employ and make use of the Justice system in S/land to bring to justice those were part of making of a genocide it was quite a bafflement how you are able to do so someone oceans away. So my question again sx, is it because he is...? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NGONGE Posted October 1, 2009 ^^ Xaaji, I am not for a minute denying the clan aspect here. But it does not take an entire clan to file a case, it takes ONE man. In America, the law allows any fool to go and file a case with no come back or trouble (save a few complaints on the net). The bit about SL you talk about there is rubbish and you know why it is rubbish. Why are you arguing on this issue? If the late Dictator was alive and in America right now, are you saying people will not attempt to file a law case against him because he is from a supposedly 'better' clan than the man we are talking about here? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GoldCoast Posted October 1, 2009 Originally posted by NGONGE: ^^ Xaaji, I am not for a minute denying the clan aspect here. But it does not take an entire clan to file a case, it takes ONE man. In America, the law allows any fool to go and file a case with no come back or trouble (save a few complaints on the net). The bit about SL you talk about there is rubbish and you know why it is rubbish. Why are you arguing on this issue? If the late Dictator was alive and in America right now, are you saying people will not attempt to file a law case against him because he is from a supposedly 'better' clan than the man we are talking about here? For a man who claims a monopoly on straight forward logic, it surely has seemed to fail you here. Your analogy is baseless, are you really trying to compare Samatar to Siad Barre? Irregardless of the fact that anyone can file a lawsuit in the States it is especially disingenuous to suggest that could be the reasoning behind this. It is surely not a coincidence that this man is the first Somali political figure in the diaspora to face such a lawsuit is it? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NGONGE Posted October 2, 2009 ^^ What difference would his clan make here? So lets assume he was from a 'respected' clan, are you saying people will be scared to do it? Why? Death threats? Your local maqaaxi owner who happens to be from his clan will ban you? The 'community' will shun you? Vilification? Give me something to chew on here, saaxib. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
