Puntland parliament leader angered by administration plot

[Jacaylbaro]

GAROWE, Somalia July 15 (Garowe Online) - The Speaker of the regional parliament in Puntland, northern Somalia, has expressed his anger at administration officials after a controversial letter surfaced.

 

Speaker Ahmed Ali Hashi told the BBC Somali Service during a Sunday interview from the region's capital Garowe that the letter was signed by Chief Justice of the Puntland High Court, Mr. Ahmed Said Abdi.

 

"This letter says: 'Objective: Attorney-General, launch an accusation against the Speaker of Parliament'," Speaker Hashi said, adding that a copy of the letter was delivered to his home by a local.

 

The letter was addressed to the Attorney-General, the President and his Vice President, and the Garowe police command, according to the Speaker.

 

"This letter is illegal [in the sense] that the High Court has no official business with the Puntland Parliament," he said. "It [High Court] is not a constitutional court."

 

Speaker Hashi said he personally spoke with two of the five justices of the High Court. Both justices confirmed to him that the letter is indeed an official government document.

 

He said he will continue his parliamentary duties from Garowe "until an obstacle comes up."

 

In explaining possible reasons for the letter, the Speaker stated that lawmakers had delved into several matters where the "administration was wrong."

 

He cited several examples, including laws ratified by parliament but disregarded by the Puntland administration, the controversy over false currency that has negatively impacted the local economy, and the recent motion to send back the 2006 budget review after some 10.2 million US dollars was "spent illegally" by the administration. [ Full story]

 

The Puntland parliament, currently in its 18th session, has challenged the administration of President Adde Muse on many accounts.

 

Charges of corruption and official misconduct have been raised up against some of Muse's influential Cabinet ministers, including the minister of finance.