miles-militis Posted March 10, 2004 PRESS STATEMENT – The Arrest and Illegal Detention of Boqor Osman Aw Mohamoud - Wednesday, March 10, 2004 at 20:27 We, the Diaspora community of Sool, Sanag and Ain, hereby condemn the illegal and politically motivated detention of Boqor Osman Aw Mohamoud by the self-proclaimed “Somaliland” administration (North West Somalia) in Hargeisa. Boqor Osman is a well respected traditional Somali leader known for spearheading the peaceful co-existence of Somali Communities and is identified by many as the champion of peace in Northern Somalia. We would like to inform the Somali Communities in Diaspora, Human Rights Organizations and the International Community at large, that the self-proclaimed “Somaliland” administration has committed a heinous crime and human rights violation by arresting a traditional leader who has worked hard to resolve conflicts, peacefully, in his own community as well as between other communities in the region. Moreover, "Somaliland" regional administration has turned deaf ears to the voices and wishes of the people they claim to represent, traditional elders and leaders, intellectuals and concerned individuals, to release Boqor Osman and use of alternative methods to solve the conflict between him and the administration. This has created an emerging additional tension to the region. Skirmishes have been reported, already, between the administration’s militias and Boqor Osman’s constituency in Dararaweine near Eil- Afwein, Sanaag region. Therefore, considering the foregoing, and to avoid creating unnecessary havoc, death and destruction in the region, we demand the unconditional release of Boqor Osman for him to continue his noble deeds and peaceful mediation between communities that he has successfully conducted and became famously known throughout the region. We further request the international community and human rights organizations to exert maximum pressure on the self proclaimed authorities in "Somaliland" for the immediate and unqualified release of Boqor Osman. Contact: • Dr. Hussein Suleiman Dhegaweyne lasdhooble@yahoo.com • Mohamoud Mohamed Ali “Cadami” mohamoudali@hotmail.com ............. "The case against Boqor Burmadow: Impertinence and Defamatory" Defence Counsel Hargeisa (AllPuntland) – Details of the case against the jailed traditional leader, Boqor Osman Aw Mohamoud “Burmadow” were released a couple of days ago by the Plaintiff's Solicitor for the first time since his arrest a few months ago in Hargeisa, Northwest Somalia (Somaliland). Published in one of the local newspapers in Hargeisa, Mr Roble Michael representing the Plaintiff challenged accusations levied against his client while slamming what he called “the heavy-handedness and excessive use of intensity with which the government deals in civil cases” The case against Boqor Burmadow according to the defence Counsel hinges upon two counts in reference to articles 208 and 220 cited “as were” from Somalia’s legal doctrine under the military regime of Mohamed Siyad Barre. a) Article 220 deals with “debauching the image of, offending or defaming the President” Under this article, the defence Counsel questions the legality, and under what conditions could a citizen be accused of defaming the character and image of the President. It is suggested that the case by the government in large proportion hinges on the provisions and stipulations of the above article. It is also argued that any law that attempts to muzzle, or penalize citizens for expressing adverse views, or portraying the President in bad light, is unconstitutional and undemocratic. It is noteworthy that Dahir Riyaale Kahin, Somaliland’s current President was a colonel in the notorious NSS (National Security Services) under the dictatorial regime of the former republic of Somalia, and is alleged to have committed crimes against humanity in Berbera between 1988-1990 – persecution, unlawful imprisonment and use of excessive force against innocent civilians who rioted against the then military regime. It was deemed criminal, under the then administration, and “a crime against the nation” to question the President, let alone portrays him in a negative light. b) Article 208 provides “raising fear in public when at war, and beguiling the Nation”. Mr Michael further argues, under this article that conditions under which “Somaliland” could be classified as being "in a time of war" could be construed under the constitution only by the Parliament and the House of Guurti [Traditional Leaders], and therefore is not solely at the government’s discretion to spin it unjustly in support of its case. The government here argues that Boqor Burmadow revealed sensitive information concerning Riyaale and his administration’s contributions, financial as well as military, to the political conflict in the neighbouring Puntland State, which Boqor Burmadow along with Sultan Abdisalam Saeed successfully mediated early last year. It was claimed at the time that Riyaale was against the mediation, and the fallout between Boqor Burmadow and Riyaale was conceived thereafter. And by giving interviews which technically criticised the government for abandoning diplomatic recommendations while opting for violent means to resolving the Sool, Sang & Ayn issue, Boqor Burmadow was accused of planting seeds of doubt and fear in the minds of the general public. The statement further illustrates the case against Boqor Burmadow in that it lists main points considered at the cornerstone of the Government's case. It highlights that the Plaintiff is alleged to have: a) Deliberately endangered the security of the nation by handing over weapons, ammunitions and explosives to the opposition forces of Gen. Adde Muse whose forces set up stations in El-Afweyn in western Sanag. Here, the statement establishes that the said weapons, ammunitions and explosives had been given to Gen. Adde and his militia by Somaliland government to prolong the conflict in Puntland State. It is argued, contrary to the allegations, that Boqor Burmadow indeed advised the government not to provide weapons, ammunitions and explosives to the opposing army of Gen. Adde, suggesting that once the two sides reached an agreement, they could turn around and use the weapons against Somaliland. The government on its part argues that Boqor Burmadow was ordered to retrieve the weapons subsequent to a reconciliatory agreement reached between the Puntland parties, and that he desisted, and on such grounds, the Plaintiff endangered the security of the nation. b) Advocated for a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Puntland and Somaliland over the disputed regions of Sool, Sanag & Ayn. The statement asserts as indicative of the documents and videos presented that the Plaintiff advocated for peaceful resolution to the conflict. “Before going to war in order to secure the borders, let us explore peaceful means” Burmadow advised in the interviews. “I could be of assistance in the negotiations. And we do not want the matter to be turn into a tribal war between clans inhabiting in Sool & Sanag [his ..... clan against and the ... of ... ]” he argued. It is alleged that Boqor Burmadow knowingly mislead the general public, divulged national secrecy and exploited the weaknesses of the people by going public with sensitive information and agreements between him and Riyaale. It is believed that the people of Northwest Somalia would not have sanctioned a war between the neighbouring regions had they known the facts over which their government was staging the war, yet the government in Hargeisa was, and it still is, determined to go to war despite all the odds being stacked against it. Defence Counsel points out that as a citizen Boqor Bumadow has every right to advocate for that, and for what he considers to be in the best interest of the nation, as many citizens share that view. And finally, the Plaintiff is accused of c) Disclosed terms of secret contracts and business dealings between an American firm, namely Red Sea and the Somaliland government. Boqor Burmadow is also accused of publicly speaking of secret contracts between Somaliland and the abovementioned US firm. The contract brokered by Ismai'l Omar Ghelle, the President of Djibouti is said to give the US firm fishing rights and land usage. The finer details of the agreement, and who are the benefactors, its monetary value, and ramifications of its dealings are no fully known. It is claimed that the firm will undertake a project which is said to connect the ports of Jibouti to Berbera to which Boqor Burmadow spoke against. The defence Counsel concludes in its statement by speaking against the misuse of authority and inherent nostalgic behaviour of militaristic rule and dictatorial systems of governance in curbing freedom of expression and civil liberties on the part of the government – the kind the military regime of Somalia was famous for. Judging from how the constitution is being abused and the rule of law distorted, he added the country is unfortunately manned by the remnants of the military regime and people of that generation. Unprecedented in the post-civil war Somali history where traditional leaders have taken a centre stage in assuming the position of government as well as that of peace brokers after the collapse of State institutions, the case of Boqor Burmadow is perceived as challenging the customary role of traditional elders and their leadership as there hardly is a law that specifically defines tasks they could, or could not presume. As disconcerting as the nature of the case is, the resolve on the part of the general public is admirable as violent uprising had not engulfed the region despite clashes resulting in deaths and injuries between government forces and supporters of Boqor Burmadow in Derarweyne and Karin early this week. Peaceful demonstrations calling for the release of Boqor Burmadow are being organised in towns and villages in Togdheer and western Sanag. A former SNM general who wishes to remain anonymous told our reporter in Buroa that senior SNM officers, mainly of Haber Jeclo clan are now regrouping in El-Afweyn and Dararweyne environs. Militias initially dispatched to the frontline to fight against Puntland State police forces in Sool, Sanag & Ayn are now rethinking the purpose of a war which only serves the political schema of the ruling party. Boqor Burmadow’s arrest perceived illegal, unconstitutinnal, and undemocratic in many corners is believed to have further widened the gap between the opposition and the government. The officer noted that supporters of Boqor Burmadow have been organizing themselves and strategizing in Togdheer and Sanag since Boqor Burmadow’s illegal arrest. Efforts to avert further clashes are being made by traditional leaders, even though they seem to have given up on the issue as their role has been marginalised. Link ........... Detention of a Prominent Traditional Leader:Threat to the Rule of Law ............ In Support of Buurmadow ........... Why O Why ........... In Defense of the Wrongfully Detained Traditional Leader Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nasir Posted March 10, 2004 Find something better..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muse Bari Posted March 11, 2004 hahahahahahaha riyaale acting like cigaal but he is not like cigaal the funy story is th king get busted they put him in a jell cigaal never did that shit looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
