Monday, 29 August 2005

Ref: SHHRF 00552005  

Dr. Ghanim Alnajja
Independent Human Rights Commissions
C/o Sandra Macharia, Information Officer
UN Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator’s Office for Somalia

Re: Human Rights issues in Somalia

 

Dear Dr. Ghanim Alnajjar

We are glad to hear you visiting Somalia again to assess human rights issues. We would like to take this opportunity to highlight some issues which we are concerned about. Human rights issues have not been better since your last visit of the country.

We believe that human rights abuses were one of the main reasons for the collapse of the former Somali Democratic Republic. Similarly, taking no account on human rights issues and humanitarian law in the Somali peace negotiations are some of the main reasons for the failures of setting a working government in Somalia for the last fourteen years.

Our concerns is shared by the majority of Somalis as they feel that those believed responsible for the worst human rights atrocities in Somalis have been rewarded with high office government office. One of this is President Abdullahi Yusuf who on 23 March 2005 lost damage case to the widow and children of the late Sultan Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud (known as Sultan Hurre) in the UK Court. The respected Sultan was killed on the 17th of August 2002 at Kala-bayrka, in Puntland state of Somalia, by the personal bodyguards of Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf.

The real intention of the killing of Sultan Hurre was intended to threaten and curb the grassroots development from taking root in Somalia. This trend has not ceased as they are still in many part of Somali regions.

It is unfortunate that after two years of Somali reconciliation in Kenya, Somalia is embracing a renewal of violence as there is a build up of tension and political hostility within the new Somali institutions. Since the formation of the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in 2004, two main problems seem to have stalled its activities. These are: (i) The deployment of foreign peacekeeping troops in Somalia, and (ii) The temporary relocation of the capital until it is cleared of militia and freelance gangs. These matters have divided the government, the parliament and the presidency into two or more groups.

The real losers are the Somali people while the warlords, turned to ‘statesmen’, are employing media rhetoric tension to shore up their position. SHHRF believes that a warlord is a warlord and he should be held responsible for his deeds.

Sultan Hurre Human Rights Focus