16th October, 2007
The Somaliland government and Habar Yoonis and it is Muse Care sub-clan elders in Buroa meet today to discuss about peacemaking and resolving the conflicts between the Somaliland Government and the local especially in the issues of the recent two arrests and detention of the Qaran political association members on Thursday October 11, 2007and the arrests and detention of three clan elders on Wednesday October 10, 2007. The meeting took place in Buroa and there were about 300 participants. The Somaliland governments Minister of Industries Mr. Mohamed Suleiman and other security official from the Buroa region were representing the government in the meeting. The Habar Yoonis Clan elders were represented by 18 Chief Aqil’s and other local elders, intellectuals, religious leaders and youth representatives.
According to sources the government’s administrator in Buroa blamed all the responsibilities and faults of the recent clashes to the government, as it failed in many aspects of the law and order including not even advising his office about the government’s intentions and this shows that the government failed to abide by the rules of the land as it arrested and detained citizens without warrant solely on the basis that the Minister of Finance Mr. Husein Ali Du’ale (a.k.a. Mr. Awil) had given orders the police chief in Buroa and Hargeisa to carry out the arbitrary arrests on Wednesday and Thursday. This clearly shows the lack of the impartiality of the judiciary system in Somaliland and it shows that Mr. Awil is superior than the law of the land as he can order the arrest and detention of the citizens even though he is not a judge, court official, police and not even being the President, this clearly shows that President Riyaale is not in charge of his administration as his minister is dealing the courtry as he feels fit and one wonders if President Riyaale interest of the Minister of Finance Mr. Awil is greater than the interest he have for the nations stability and security.
Two of the clan elders who spoke in the meeting were Mr. Mohamed Abdullahi Gas and Mr. Ahmed Sudani and they both stated that the government should accept responsibility of the clashes and should pay any compensation to the deceased member’s families and the injured individuals. They also demanded from the governments to release all of the arrested and detained Qaran political association members and supporters that were arrested in relation to the government’s tension with the Qaran political association. They further advised the government to understand when it want to deal with matters relating with conflict resolution to identify the source of the conflict and deal with it in a fair, compromise and negotiation with all the relevant players or parties. They told the government releasing the last two arrested and detained Qaran leaders will not be in use if the government does release the Qaran political association leaders which they arrested and detained on July 28, 2007. They also advised the government to honour the nine Somaliland Committee members reconciliation decition which the government agreed to release unconditional the Qaran Political association Leaders with those Somaliland elders and back tracking that agreement will only create more misunderstanding and mistrust between the conflict parties.
The Minister of Industries Mr. Mohamed Suleiman who spoke in the meeting on behalf of the government had accepted wrong doings and stated that the government will compensate the families of the deceased members and the injured individuals in the recent clashes in Buroa, Somaland which happened on Thursday, 11 October, 2007 the Eve of the Eid Fitr. The Minister stated that the government will release the two Qaran members who were arrested and detained on Thursday October 11, 2007. The Minister also stated that he is not authorized to discuss about the issues of the arrested and detained Qaran Leaders who were arrested on July 28, 2007 but he assured the meeting participants that he will take their message to the government which they will discuss accordingly. The ministers also made two demands from the local clan and meeting participants which are the following.
1. That the local clans members to show restraint and respect for the security of the state.
2. That the local clan members who were involved in the recent clashes return two rifles that they took from the government’s security forces during the clash.
The meeting was concluded on the above understanding. The Local clan elders hope that the government will honor it is statement of releasing the latest arrested two Qaran members unconditionally and will discuss about the release of the other Qaran leaders as soon as possible as it agreed in the meeting. The clan elders hoped that the government will compensate all the deceased and injured members and families in relation with the recent clashes as it agreed in the meeting. The elders also demanded the government to release all other clan elders and supporters that the governments arrest and detained for discussing or supporting the Qaran political association leader’s arbitrary arrest.
I belief people can live and understand together if they abide the rules of the land and the government shows role models to citizens by showing restraint, compromise, negotiation and working with both supporters and oppositions in order to serve the whole of Somaliland Republic’s interest of peace, stability and prosperity. The government should realize that no one should be above the law and that all people starting from the President to the poorest individual of the country’s rights should be protected the same way. If any government official violates the rule of law they should realize they will lead the state into insecurity and instability and the other government official must correct the errors of certain government official in a just manner in order to maintain the public’s trust in the system. May God lead all of us on the righteous path and lead our leaders to the righteous path. No one should be above the law.
By Malik Jeylani
