Political Repression in Somaliland

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Hargeisa, May 31, 2003 (SL Times) - It is 15 years ago tonight when about 800 fighters belonging to the then opposition forces of the ‘Somali National Movement’ came into Hargeisa city to begin the final stages of the war for the liberation of Somaliland from former dictator Siyad Barre, one of the most brutal regimes that Africa has known. By May 27, 1988, SNM forces were already in Buroa. Siyad Barre's government retaliated with air and artillery bombardment of the civilian population in both Hargeisa and Buroa as well as other major urban and rural centers in Somaliland.

 

About 100,000 innocent civilians were killed, while hundreds of thousands of people were forced to flee their homes seeking refuge in camps in eastern Ethiopia. It took the SNM 2 years and several months more to totally defeat the enemy.

 

At least 10 veterans of the 31st May 1988 offensive are being held now in Hargeisa central prison. They include Mohamed Ahmed Hashi Madar (Weere) who as a high school student escaped arrest in 1982 to join the SNM, Axmed Barkhad, a civil servant, Abdul Aziz Habane, currently a businessman and Mohamed Dahir, an-unemployed father of 9 children. These men and others were arrested on May 19, 2003 by Somaliland’s security forces. No charges were officially brought against them and it is not yet known whether they will face trial.

 

According to the Minister of Interior, Ismail Adan Osman, the veterans were held for being suspected of belonging to a larger group of ex-combatants that the government had earlier described as planning subversive activities against the state. KULMIYE opposition party described these arrests as part of a repressive policy aimed at the persecution of its members. Most of the people arrested in connection with this case were known KULMIYE supporters and activists.

 

The police department has so far avoided making any comments on recent detentions, which were directly ordered by the Minister of Interior.

http://www.somalilandtimes.net/2003/71/7101.shtml

 

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Hargeisa Under Undeclared Night Curfew

 

 

Hargeisa (SL Times) - An undeclared night curfew has been imposed on Hargeisa by the Somaliland authorities. In the last few weeks, it has become routine to see armed security men deployed at checkpoints at various parts of the city during night time. Motorists and in some cases even pedestrians are stopped at these checkpoints for inspection and then told to go straight home to sleep or "waa la seexanayaa", a term that was in common use during Siyad Barre’s dictatorial regime.

 

Such behavior coupled with other types of repressive measures like arrests and beatings by security men, have already triggered a backlash against the government among Hargeisa's citizens.

 

Apart from the harassment, humiliation and trauma experienced by Hargeisites during night curfews, the curb on the freedom of movement has undermined business in various sectors, such as transport, restaurants, tea-shops, local entertainment and wedding services.

 

Last Monday night an attempt by the security forces to apprehend members of a group consisting, according to the government, of about 30 young men, had failed to produce arrests on the scene. According to the ministry of Interior, the target of the operation was a site located in the western outskirts of Hargeisa, where a group of youth suspected of plotting armed activities against the government were believed to have established a gathering point.

 

The next morning the police rounded up a number of people from various parts of the city. By Wednesday the authorities confirmed the arrest of only seven people. Though the minister of interior had denied reports that KULMIYE was involved in the alleged conspiracy plan, other government officials had not ruled out the possibility of a link. On Tuesday, a KULMIYE spokesman said the opposition party was not in any way associated with any armed group. Other opposition sources expressed suspicion that the whole conspiracy theory might have been fabricated by a number of ministers who are likely to lose their jobs in the upcoming cabinet reshuffle.

 

In a dramatic escalation of current political tension, policemen conducted yesterday a broad day light search into residential houses located at Togdheer - Radio Hargeisa road. The police were reportedly looking for people listed as wanted in connection with ex-combatants allegedly regrouping to subvert public security. During this incident, Haatuf journalists Abdulfatah Aidied and Mohamed-Amin were subjected to police harassment immediately after they arrived on the scene for investigation. Though an attempt to arrest Abdulfatah failed, Mohamed-Amin was not so lucky. He was seized by force and taken to Hargeisa central police station. This was his second arrest this month. Both Fadal, and Hargeisa police center station commander, Faysal, intervened to ensure the immediate release of the journalist.

 

In Borama, a court sentenced Haatuf correspondent Mohamed Omer to 3 months of suspended imprisonment in connection with an article that was published by Haatuf on May 7, 2003. In the article, Mohamed Omer quoted the Chairman of KULMIYE's Awdal branch as saying that UDUB party officials were involved in anti-Somaliland political activities. KULMIYE branch leader, Axmed Farah, was later accused by the authorities of fabricating malicious information while the Haatuf correspondent was charged with imparting malicious information. Haatuf Media Network and The Somaliland Society for Independent Journalists and Writers have condemned the arrest and trial of Mohamed Omer as politically motivated.

 

http://www.somalilandtimes.net/2003/70/7002.shtml

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The Somaliland Government Sues Haatuf

 

The Somaliland government has decided to take the acting editor of the daily Somali newspaper, Haatuf, Saeed Ismail Gurase, to court. On Thursday, Mr. Gurase was told by a Hargeisa district court judge that he has to appear before the court on June 5, 2003. Judiciary authorities have not yet disclosed the nature of the charges brought against Gurase. But the Journalist had already been investigated by the CID with regard to a news article that was published by Haatuf on May 25, 2003.

 

In the article, it was reported that the minister of interior Ismail Osman recently briefed the standing committee of the Council of Elders on the security situation in the country.

 

Haatuf reported that the minister told the committee that some incidents of mutiny and disobeying of orders had occurred within the ranks of the army, and that sympathizers with ex-combatants recently taken into police custody did exist within the Armed Forces.

 

At a joint press conference on Sunday, both the minister of Interior and minister of Defense, Ismail Omar Adan, denied Haatuf's report, describing it as baseless. The Chairman of the standing committee of the Guurti, Gahnug Bosh-cade also disputed "the allegation that the minister of Interior talked about military affairs."

 

Haatuf published the statements of denial issued by the ministries of Interior and Defense as well as Mr. Bosh-cade. But the newspaper stood by its story.

 

http://www.haatuf.net/

http://www.somalilandtimes.net/2003/71/7104.shtml