Somaliland: Political prisoners released

PRESS STATEMENT

From the Desk of: Suleiman Ismail Bolaleh, the Secretary General of SHURO-Net

SUBJECT: SHURO-Net WELCOMES RELEASE OF ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS DETAINED IN SOMALILAND

On Tuesday, December 18, 2007 at 12:30 a.m, the Somaliland Human Rights Organisations' Network (SHURO-Net) learned, with delight that the government of Somaliland released from Mandhera Prison the three political prisoners Dr. Mohamed Abdi Gaboose, Eng. Mohamed Hashi Elmi and Jamal Aydid Ibrahim, the leaders of the newly formed but unregistered Political Party called Qaran, who were imprisoned on 27 August 2007 at 8 a.m. in Hargeisa after the Somaliland government accused them the engaging in an illegitimate political activities because they have established an unlawful political party.

It was December 10th 2007, on the occasion of celebration of international human rights day when SHURO-Net requested the president of republic H.E. Daahir Rayaale Kaahin, to release the three political prisoners detained in Somaliland. Therefore we acknowledge that our government have accept the voices of Somaliland human rights defenders and other civil society who constantly called the government to release the political prisoners detained in Somaliland immediately and without condition.

The SHURO-Net welcomes this recent act of the Government of Somaliland and acknowledges it as an important development that has the potential to promote genuine democracy. We have always held the view that the release of all political prisoners was indispensable to genuine democratic and peace-building, in a country afflicted by deep wounds created by more than one decade of a brutal, civil and liberation wars in 1980s and early 1990s. This view is shared by many other Somalilanders and the entire international community. By taking this recent decision to release all political prisoners, especially on the eve of the Holy Eid Al-Adxa and the current international level discussions of Somaliland's recognition issue, particularly the discussions going on inside the administration of President Bush concerning the recognition of the republic of Somaliland as an independent state, we believe that the Government of Somaliland is beginning to create a positive environment for a serious dialogue about the future of the country.

President Rayaale has indicated that releasing the political prisoners was a demonstration of his commitment to the democracy and peace building, and SHURO-Net is welcome this spirit.

The member organisations of SHURO-Net are now calling on the President H.E . Daahir Rayaale Kaahin to comprehensively deal with the other issues that still stand in the way of a serious dialogue about the future of our country. Abolishing the extra-judicial activities of Somaliland regional security committees who carryout regular arbitrary arrests of citizens, ensuring the freedom of the press, including the freedom to publish newspapers and other materials at independent printing facilities, allowing independent radios license to broadcast and ending the culture of impunity are clearly issues that stand out as impediments to a serious national dialogue.

Finally, SHURO-Net thanks to the international community, particularly Amnesty International, East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network, the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR), United States of America and the European Union, the member organisations of SHURO-Net and Somaliland independent media, Somaliland traditional elders and all other individuals and institutions whose actions contributed to the release of all political prisoners detained in Somaliland.

Suleiman Ismail Bolaleh
Secretary General
SHURO-Net

BACKGROUND

The Republic of Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but has not so far gained international recognition. Somaliland has established security and functioning institutions of governance, with a government through a multi-party system.

Somaliland has won some in the international community to its side, for example Ethiopia has diplomatic mission in Hargeisa the capital city of republic of Somaliland.

Somaliland constitution permits only three political parties, according to this in the last local government elections in 2002, only three political parties (one government-linked and two in opposition) were allowed, due to the proliferation of parties at the time and to prevent the formation of parties based on clan affiliations. There is currently no mechanism for registering new parties as the registration committee was disbanded in 2002.