Source:Anita Adam
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2001
Dear Friends,
ITEM 1. Following an uncertain release on remand last week, at a Press conference in Hargeisa on Thursday, June 7, Suleiman M Adam speaking on his own behalf, released a statement to the press and answered questions. The statement was précised and the press conference carried by the BBC Somali Service on the same day. In response to requests, we include the full text in Somali (rft attachment), and here in English translation.
Item 2. Helsinki 5 June: Speech by Swedish Amnesty International Representative to the Nordic Countries Conference in Finland on aid to Somaliland, June 5-6, is also attached for your information.
To friends and interested parties who have asked us to continue the flow of information, please be advised that we will in future post information through the site
www.suleiman.us.fm . which has kindly been set up (with a photo!) by a member of this news mailing. A small selection from previous newsletters 1-6 and correspondence sent through this mailing are on the site.
Current information on the situation in Somaliland, and discussions among academics and others which have sprung up as a result of our newsletters are beyond the considered remit of this news campaign against specific human rights violations.
ITEM 1: Press release
PRESS CONFERENCE HELD BY SULEIMAN MOHAMOUD ADAN AT HARGEISA
7TH June 2001
Suleiman gave the following statement to the press:
I have called you here so I can:
1. Narrate to you what happened;
2. address the allegations made and the verdict of conviction already reached by President Mohamed I Egal and announced to the world;
3. give recommendations for a solution to the national problems. I left here (Hargeisa) on 6th May 2001 on a trip to visit may family in London, and I travelled through Ethiopia, Djibouti and Yemen, both in my outward journey and on my return. I may hasten to add that there was no law prohibiting the visiting of these countries or making it a criminal offence to pass through them.
I returned to Hargeisa on 22nd May 2001. I did not inform anyone that they meet me at the airport on arrival for I had no expectation of such spiteful and cruel treatment from the Somaliland governing regime. At the airport I was met by two senior police officers who took me in a car to the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters. I was met there by none other than the Minister of Internal Affairs, who interrogated me and searched my belongings. I was then transported to Mandera (prison), where I stayed for two nights, before being returned in the middle of the night to Hargeisa. I was held incommunicado from 22nd May 2001 to 5th June 2001, and thus being cut off completely from the world; I saw no one, and had no access to outside information.
On 5th June 2001, the officer in charge of the Central Hargeisa Prison informed me that I was released. After I had arrived home, I discovered that my detention was signed by the Minister of Internal Affairs and the three Armed forces Commanders. I also learnt that I was a prisoner remanded on bail. I further saw a written communication published and distributed throughout the world by President Egal and stating what I was accused of:
a) spreading insult and evil intentions against three sultans of the Somaliland clans;
b) that while abroad I committed, in collusion with foreign leaders, and ministers and businessmen, traitorous actions against Somaliland .
c) On such allegations he passed his judgement of guilty and told the world. Let me address the President's written communication:
Firstly, it is unfortunate, and contrary to Somali traditions and custom that a person holding such high office as President of a nation should commit such an intentional insult against the traditional leaders of the nation. I leave it to the people to make their judgement on such insult and demand remedy for it.
Secondly, in relation to the allegations against me, President M I Egal included in his written communication the statement that "during Suleiman's 4-day stay at Djibouti, there was not a single step that he took, which we were not following". This demonstrates the Government's deliberate breach of Article 23 of the Constitution which guarantees the freedom of movement of citizens.
May I also state that this unlawful act against me is not confined to me, and that the infringement of rights of other citizens is common.
In his writing, Mr Egal has also accused (and convicted) me of "being the leader of people who are destroying Somaliland". I have personally never held back in the fight for the creation and realisation of Somaliland and the guarding of its sovereignty. The nation knows which one of us is destroying Somaliland. May I remind the nation that when I was busy, with others, in reclaiming the independence of Somaliland in 1991 at Burao, he was co-chairing the First and the Second Djibouti Conferences, where the sovereignty of Somalilnd was being denied!
Throughout the time I have held office, it has never been said that I have taken a step harmful to Somaliland. In contrast, it is well known how many times Egal has either opposed or doubted the sovereignty of Somaliland. Mr M I Egal added in his writing that he has "saved us all from evil harboured by Suleiman". It is up to him to prove these allegations, but I would add again that the nation knows which one of us is harbouring evil intentions against the nation. It is also strange, to say the least, that Mr Egal has mentioned in his writing that I met a Djibouti businessman (Ina Bore), whom I asked, allegedly, to import cigarettes (which Egal burnt previously) through Bosaso and then on to Yirowe, where the writ of "his" Government does not run. I wonder, when did Mr Egal give up his rule over that part of Somaliland?!
Further, I have never seen or met Ina Bore, and this written allegation by Egal has no basis whatsoever. I see this as a cheap political ploy, which is aimed at sowing discord among the nation. We await keenly for him to prove this allegation. Yet another allegation was that I met and reached an agreement with the President of Djibouti.
I say to the nation, even though meeting the Djibouti President is not a crime, I have not done so, and neither have I entered into any agreement with him. President Egal should therefore show clearly where I have met the Djibouti President, who was present, and any other evidence that he possesses. These accusations are not small, to be ignored. When I examine the purpose behind these events, it is clear to me that there was a hidden agenda, and the reality was that:
a) My detention was a politically motivated and planned act, which contravened the Constitution and sought to damaged my personal integrity, and to stop me from exercising my political rights, and amounts to the denial of the rights of citizens.
b) It was, in my view, an attempt to foment trouble at a time when the Referendum on the Constitution was due to be held; but the nation is to be thanked for seeing this for what it was, and for keeping peace and order.
c) I am convinced that this action doesn't stop at me but that it is continually committed against other Somaliland citizens. Why were Jamac Ismail (Shabel) and Bacood Gahnug imprisoned? Is it not the fact that they belong to the SNM only - an organisation that he intensely hates? My experience of the Government's oppression is ill-treatment I share with the people. This incident has shown the irresponsibility and lack of foresight on the part of the leadership of the country. Where, in the world, can you see a President boasting about how he sent spies to other countries, and used the nation's funds to oppress its citizens even while abroad? Even worse, hasn't the President become the criminal investigator, prosecutor and judge. We should ask ourselves whether the country can go on like this. It is my view that Somaliland has to make some tough decisions, and we should all be ready together to make these decisions.
I thank all those who struggled for justice, including the Sultans, Garads, the SNM Re-Organisation Committee, the elders…citizens here and communities abroad, the Human Rights organisations, and specially Amnesty International Suleiman Mohamoud Adan 07/06/2001 HARGEISA
ITEM 2 Ladies and gentlemen of the conference
My name is Lena Rösell. I am here at the conference in my capacity of working with voluntary repatriation of refugees in Sweden. However I wish to speak to you now in another capacity that of Somalia Coordinator of the Swedish section of Amnesty International.
In the summer of 1990 I met a Somali by the name of Suleiman Mohamud Adam in Sweden. You all know him better as Suleiman "Gaal". I arranged a meeting for him to meet with Swedish NGO`s working with Somali refugees. At that time he was one of the leaders of the fighting against Siad Barre. He struck me as being a man of great integrity and showed great compassion for his Somali people.
This man is today imprisoned in Somaliland. Suleiman Mohamud Adam is considered by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience, detained solely on account of his non-violent opinions and for peacefully exercising his rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association. He was arrested at Hargeisa airport on 22 May 2001. He has not so far been taken to court or charged with any offence which is in contravention of the international legal requirement that at person suspected of a criminal offence should be brought to court and charged within 48 hours.
The illegal detention of this prisoner of conscience puts in jeopardy everyone's right to freedom of expression and freedom of association in Somaliland. This means that his detention touches upon each and every one of you in this room who come from Somaliland.
This case is especially important and serious to consider today at a conference like this where we are discussing how well-educated Somalis can be supported by the Scandinavian countries so that they could go back to Somaliland and work for the good of Somaliland society. I have had contact with the family of Mr Suleiman Mohamud Adam. They are shocked by what has happened. I have spoken at length with Dr Martin Hill at Amnesty in London and we decided that I should try to get the opportunity to speak to this conference on behalf of Amnesty International. Amnesty International hopes that this conference can adopt a statement of the nature that you support the request of Amnesty International regarding the detention of Suleiman Mohamud Adam.
This request beeing: "President Mohammad Ibrahim Egal of Somaliland should immediately and unconditionally release former presidential candidate Suleiman Mohamud Adam". I thank you all for listening and I especially thank the arrangers of the conference for giving me the opportunity to speak.
Lena Rösell
http://www.suleiman.us.fm
Anita Adam
Subject:SM ADAM - NEWS (7) SOMALI TXT
PRESS CONFERENCE HELD BY SULEIMAN MOHAMOUD ADAN AT HARGEISA
7TH June 2001 For those interested in receiving the Somali text, here it is again, with apologies for the unreadable earlier version
SHIR JARAA'ID OO UU QABTAY SALEEBAN MAXAMUUD ADAN
June 7, 2001-06-10 Waxaan halkan idiinku yeedhay in aan dhawr qodob wax ka idhaahdo:- 1. In aan ka waramo sidii wax u dhaceen. 2. In aan jawaab ka bixiyo eedaynta iyo xukunkii M.I.Cigaal igu riday. 3. Talo bixin.
1. Waxaan halkan ka baxay 6 May aniga oo u sii jeeda London oo reerkaygu degenyahay; waxaan sii maray Ethiopia, Djabouti, Yemen, soo noqodkiina isla jidkaa ayaan soo maray; Dalalka aan maraayay, midna kama jirin xeer diidaya, ama dembi ka dhigaya maritaankooda.
Hargeysa waxaan ku soo noqday 22 May 2001, cidna uma soo sheegin in ay iga hortimaado, kalsooni aan ku qabay dadkayga iyo dalkayga.
Labo masuul oo booliis ah oo gaadhi yar wata ayaa ii soo qaaday aniga oo aan dareen qabin, kadibna igu leexiyay xarunta Dembi Baadhista, waxaan kula kulmay wasiirka Arimaha Gudaha, wuxuu igu bilaabay su'aalo Baadhiseed; aniga qof ahaan iyo wixii alaab ahna wuu baadhay, ka dibna waxaa la ii qaaday dhinaca Mandheera. Halkaasi oo aan laba habeen u hoyday, goor saq dhexe ah ayaa la iga soo qaaday Mandheera, oo la I keenay Hargeysa.
22 May ilaa 5 June 2001, caalamka go'doon ayaan ka ahaa, cid ma arag, warna ma helin. 5 June Taliyaha xabsiga dhexe ee Hargeysa ayaa ii sheegay sii daynta. Markii aan guryo tegay ee war helay waxaan ogaaday:- In ay xadhigayga saxeexeen afar nin oo kala ah W. Arr. Gudaha iyo Sadexda Taliye ciidan; waxaa kale oo aan ogaaday, in aan ahay maxbuus dibed joog ah. Waxaa kale oo aan helay qoral Madaxweyne Cigaal caalamka ku baahiyay oo ka kooban:- a) Aflagaado ku wajahan Salaadiin ummadeed b) Eedayn uu aniga iga been abuuray in aan dalkan belaayo ugu maqnaa c) Iyo xukun uu isagu eedayntiisa ka riday Hadaba, haddii aan ka jawaabo qoraalkiisa:- Waata kowaad, waxaa ayaandarro ah oo ku ah dhaqanka soomaliyeed in nin haya xil madaxwayne ummadeed uu ula badheedho gef intaa le'eg Salaadiin ummadeed.
Ka Garniqidda arrintaasi waxay u taalla Ummadda reer S/land.. Tan kale ee anigu la iga been abuuray, M I Cigaal qoraalkiisa waxaa ka mid ahaa "Saleeban afartii casho ee Djabouti joogay talaabo uu qaado oo anaan la soconima jirto". Halkaa waxaa ka caddaatay in xukuumadu si badhjeedh ah u jabisay qodobka (23) ee dastuurka oo dammanad qaadaya xoriyadda dhaqdhaqaaqa muwaadin; waxaan filayaa, in muwaadinin badan lagu xad gudbay xarriyadoodii ee aanay arrintu keligay ahayn.
Waxaa kale oo Cigaal qaralkiisa igu eedeeyay iguna xukumay "in aan madax u ahay dad baabiinaya S/land". Horta anigu qof ahaan waxba kalama hadhin u dagaallanka, Taabagelinta, iyo Sugidda Qarannimada S/land. Dadkuna waa ogyahay aniga iyo ina Cigaal midkayaga duminaya S/land, Burco 1991 markii lagu hawlanaa gooni isu taaga S/land, isaga ayuu ahaa kii hoggaminayay Shirarkii Djabouti 1aad, 2aad ee lagu duudsiyey Qarannimada S/land.
Intii aan xil ka hayay S/land marna la igama maqal wax wax u dhima S/land, Hase yeeshee inta jeer ee Cigaal ka hor yimid ama shaki geliyay Qarannimada S/land waa la wada ogyahay.
M I Cigaal wuxuu ku yidhi qaralkiisa:- "Saleebaan balaayo uu xambaarsanaa baan inaga badbaadinayaa". Ninkii jiray wuxuu yidhi, afar kub oo labo xaad leedahay yaan aroorta lagaa waayin; horta isaga ayaa laga rabaa in uu soo cadeeyo waxaa uu sheegay, waxaanse raacinayaa labadeena ka Balaayo xambaarsanaa ummadu way arkaysaa, waxaa iyaduna yaab leh in ina Cigaal qoraalkiisa ku sheegay in aan la kulmay ganacsade reer Djabouti ah oo aan ka dalbaday Sigaarkii uu gubay oo aan soo marinayo Bosaaso oo Yiroowe aan keenayo, halkaas oo, sida uu sheegay, aanay dowladiisu xukumin, waxaa is waydiin leh, goorta uu xukunkii dawlada S/land ka wareegay.
Anigu ninka Ina Boore weligay ma arkin lamana kulmin, waa arrin aan jirin waxaa madaxweynuhu qoray, waxaan u arkaa in Maxamed Ibraahim Cigaal uga jeeday Siyaasad Raqiis ah oo uu ummadda ka kala fogaynayo, iyadana Caddayntaas isaga ayaa looga fadhiyaa. Intaa waxaaka daran in la igu eedayay in aan Madaxweynaha Djabouti la soo galay heshiis ku lid ah S/land.
Waxaan ummadda u cadaynayaa in aanan la kulmin Madaxweynaha Djabouti haba yaraate, iyadoo aanay danbi ahayn la kulanku sidiisaba. Wax heshiis ahin nama dhex marin. Hadaba bal Madaxweynuhu ha I noo sheego meesha aan kula kumay cidda joogtay iyo wixii kale ee u hayo. Eeedaymahani ma aha kuwo fudud oo sidaa lagaga hadhayo. Anigu markii aan dhuuxay ujeedooyinka dhacdadan waxaa ii cadaatay in ay "Barootu orgiga ka wayn tahay", xaqiiqduna tahay:-
a) In uu xadhigaygu ahaa mid siyaasadeed oo la sii maleegay oo lagu dhaawacayay dastoorka, laguna qoomayay shakhsiyadayda qof ahaaneed, laguna hor joogsanayay hankayga siyaasadeed, laguna duudsinayay xaquuqdayda muwaadinimo.
b) Waxa kale oo aan u arkaa in Nabadgelyada khalkhal lagu gelinayay wakhtiga lagu beegay oo ahayd aftidii dastoorka, ummadduna way ku mahadsan tahay sidaas ay u aragtay, kana dabaalatay, ilaalliyeena nabadgelyada, iyo xasiloonida.
c) Waxaan hubaa in dhibaatadani keligay igu ahayn hase yeeshee ay tahay mid joogto ugu dhacda ummadda. Maxay ku xidhmeen Jaamac Ismaciil (Shabeel), iyo Dixood Gaaxnuug? Miyaanay ahayn uun in ay SNM ku abtirsadaan ooqudha!
Anigu waaya aragnimo ayay ii noqotay in aan dadkayga la qaybsado dulmiga ay ku hayso xukuumadu, dhacdadani waxay ii xaqiijisay xilkasnimo daradaa iyo Tudhaalo la'aanta dalkan lagu hogaaminayo. Xagee aduunka lagu arkay madaxweyne ku faana in uu dalal kale basaasiin u diray, in uu muwaadiniintiisa hantida ummada ku cabudhiyo; waxa ka sii daran, in madaxweynuhu yahay Denbi baadhe, Xeer Ilaaliye, iyo Xaakim in taba.
Waxaa is waydiin mudan dalku sidan maku sii socon karaa, anigu waxaan leeyahay S/land talo culus ayaa u taala ee halagu talo galo.
Waxaan u mahad naqayaa dadkii u halgamay in ay soo dabaalan cadalaada oo ka mid ahaayeen Salaadiinta, Garaadada, Ururka Dubu Haynta SNM, Cuqaasha, odayaasha, wax garadka, haweenta iyo jaaliyadaha debadaha ku nool; haayadaha xuquuqda aadamaha, gaar ahaan ururka Amnesty International.
-- Anita Adam
Somaliland: Suleiman Mohamed Adam Must Be Released Immediately
PRESS RELEASE
May 31, 2001
Posted to the web May 31, 2001
London
"President Muhammad Ibrahim Egal of Somaliland should immediately and unconditionally release former presidential candidate Suleiman Mohamed Adam," Amnesty International reiterated today.
Suleiman Mohamed Adam, 66, is considered by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience, detained solely on account of his non-violent opinions and for peacefully exercising his rights to freedom of expression and association.
He was arrested at Hargeisa Airport on 22 May 2001.
He has not so far been taken to court or charged with any offence, in contravention of the international legal requirement that a person suspected of a criminal offence should be brought to court and charged within 48 hours.
According to unofficial reports Suleiman Mohamed Adam appears to be accused by the authorities of treason or plotting to sabotage a planned referendum on 31 May 2001 on amendments to Somaliland's Constitution.
He is said to have also been accused of having met in Djibouti with President Ismail Omar Guelleh, who is known not to support the referendum.
Suleiman Mohamed Adam was held in incommunicado detention for seven days.
On 30 May he was finally granted access to a lawyer. However, prison guards refused to allow them to communicate in confidence.
Both Suleiman Mohamad Adam and his lawyer refused to talk in the presence of prison guards. He has not been allowed access to his family or medical treatment.
The illegal detention of this prisoner of conscience puts in jeopardy everyone's right to freedom of expression and association in Somaliland, "Amnesty International said.
For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566 Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW web :
http://www.amnesty.org
For further information, contact Amnesty International, 1 Easton Street, London WC1X 8DJ,+44-71-413-5500 ,+44-71-956-1157. Email: amnesty@amnesty.org. Web:
http://www.amnesty.org/.
You may repost this message onto other sources provided the main text is not altered in any way and both the header crediting Amnesty International and this footer remain intact.
Copyright © 2001 Amnesty International. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com </>).
Source: Anita Adam
Date: Thu, 31 May 2001
Subject:SULEIMAN'S ARREST - URGENT(5)
Contents
- Statement by Anita Adam
- Amnesty International's press release
- Statement by Suleiman's son, Ali Suleiman
- Statement by Togdheer's Traditional leaders
- Statement by Prof. Lee V. Cassanelli
- Reuters's report
- The Republican's report
- Statement by Abdillah H. Mohamed
31 May 01
ITEM - REPRESENTATION
Representation and questions asked of the Somaliland Government by Amnesty International - who consider Suleiman a prisoner of conscience, and by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and enquires from
MPs on behalf of family and friends, have elicited no response from the President or his representatives.
ITEM - STATEMENT
Following is an Extract from a longer statement in Somali by Ali Suleiman Adam on his father's arrest:
"My family and I are deeply disturbed and very anxious about the arbitrary detention of my father, Suleiman Mohamoud Adam - as are all who know him.
"All those who know him know that he has worked hard and with considerable self-sacrifice over many years for the benefit of Somalis. He has resolutely abstained from personally enrich himself or otherwise gain personally from positions of authority which he has held. And in recent years, he has dedicated himself to the success of the Somaliland Republic, working within that country rather than living more comfortably abroad.
"I call on President Egal to recognise that an error has been made and immediately order my father's release.
Ali Suleiman Mohamoud Adam
ITEM - LAWYER;
A family-appointed lawyer has been refused a private meeting with Suleiman. Yesteday he was told either to speak with him in front of government witnesses, or to postpone his meeting for two more days. The lawyer will again today request to meet privately with his client.
ITEM - NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
EXTRACT FROM A LOCAL SOMALILAND ENGLISH-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER (PUBLISHED ON THE WEB) WHICH SOME OF YOU HAVE ASKED US TO CIRCULATE: (The Republican link can be found at the tope of the homepage of
www.somalilandforum.com)
THE REPUBLICAN. ISSUE# 162 (Saturday, 5/26/2001)
THE REPUBLICAN, a weekly English language publication based in Hargeisa, Somaliland. Chief Editor: Yusuf Abdi Gabobe. Issue 162, May 26, 2001. Telephone: 2522-25-3326, Fax: 252-213-4501, Email: jamhuriya@yahoo.com
Furor Rages over a Statesman's Arrest
Police vans lying in wait at Hargeisa's International Airport whisk off Suleiman Mohamoud Adan, returning from a family visit to the United Kingdom, to the notorious Mandhera Prison, seventy kilometres to the
East of the Capital. That happened on Tuesday afternoon last week.
Suleiman was bundled off minutes after disembarkation right there and then. He was not even accorded bare minimal formalities that, perhaps, would have allowed a figure of Suleiman's social standing in another
country, enough time to reach home, and, at least, shower off the grime of a long journey. He was not taken to Hargeisa's Central Prison or Police Stations, but escorted under heavy guard to one of the former
dictator's most notorious, maximum-security prisons. This Prison- Mandhera, by itself alone, smacks of political oppression since it was previously used to chiefly detain people deemed a threat to reining
regimes, away from political eminence.
These actions were further exacerbated by the minister of interior's "Press Release" later in the evening which only added to the shock waves, outrage and incredulity among people from all walks of life, both
from within and without who started a serious discussion of the true motives behind the government's move.
It is not an easy matter to assess which of the two May 22nd events- Suleiman's arrest and the government's 'attempted' justification of the event, angered the perplexed and largely offended public more. The fact, however, remains that the Minister of Interior, H.E. Ahmed Jambir Suldan's press release dissipated a lingering hope in people's minds that ascribed the statesman's arrest to a 'bureaucratic error'.
Each of the five paragraphs on which the minister's release was built carried a message on its own. For instance:
1 "The Police arrested Suleiman Mohamoud Adan on the afternoon of May 22 upon his return from abroad."
2 "Suleiman was taken into custody due to meetings he held with the President of Djibouti, Isma'il Omer Ghelleh, and other Arta faction members like Hussein Salah."
3 "At the meeting between Suleiman and those men, they agreed to, together, Subvert the due course of Somaliland's Constitution Referendum and to, simultaneously, create upheavals and destabilise in country."
4 "Documents and lists of names that include (Somaliland's) houses of Parliament and others that are here who are believed to be his accomplices were found on Suleiman."
5 "On him (or is it personal effects?) Were, also, discovered assorted currencies that included dollars (US), the sterling pound (UK), Djibouti franc and Yemeni Rials? Criminal investigation department operatives are presently, investigating the matter and Suleiman would be taken to court as soon as possible."
The honourable Minister's statement, above, portrayed a picture that had nothing in common with the Suleiman who so nearly defeated President Egal in a presidential election four years ago. If Suleiman had beaten the president to the finishing line, then, or if the two switched shoes right now, supporters contend, Egal would not have been a victim of a similar infamy or to an undignified, under-handed treatment as that which met him [Suleiman] head-on at the Airport here.
The fact that the incumbent administration decided to rock public confidence and dropped its tolerance at a time Somaliland's future looks so much the brighter, its sovereignty and international recognition so much nearer, and its reputation in the eyes of the international community growing to new heights, is, if anything, more devastating than all the onslaughts and malign of Somaliland's foes combined.
That the government did never declare meeting with Djibouti's president a criminal act on the proportions of 'High Treason' is another fact.
A communiqué the three topmost clan leaders of Burao-East sent the President, demanding Suleiman's release, appears to have incensed him more rather than sober him to the gravity of the matter. The Sultans
Abdullahi Sultan Ali, Mohamoud Gulaid and (Boqor) Mohamoud Ali Arab said they only hold President Egal accountable for the arbitrary detention of Suleiman. They did not mince words on what they thought of the act, calling it, for example:
a) Unconstitutional as it is based on unsubstantiated, trumped up charges;
b) Politically motivated and spurred on by personal gains;
c) A conspiratorial act intended to pit the clan (Burao-East) against their other brothers in Somaliland (other clans);
d) A malicious, deeper-rooted malign aimed at a citizen to divest him of his constitutional rights and dignity. The three luminaries called on the immediate release of the detained statesman or lest.. accept the
consequences!
Again, thirty-two Honourable Parliamentarians were not any kinder or tolerant of the government action calling it an act that can easily "Jeopardize the stability and unity" of Somaliland, especially at this particular moment when Somalilanders where about to go to the polls on which Somaliland's very existence hinged.
The Honourable Parliamentarians asked their House Speaker to call back the house from recess if the government fails to release the jailed politician immediately.
The Deputy House Speaker, the Honourable Abdulkader Haji Isma'il, who is also the Deputy Chairman of Somaliland's Commission for the Constitution Referendum, distanced himself from Suleiman's arrest by declaring that "the incarceration of Suleiman has nothing to do with the Referendum or its Commission." Pointing to the Minister of Interior, the Chairman of the SCCR, sitting nearby, he emphasized that "he (the Minister) alone is to be held responsible" for the arrest as opposed to a possible implication of the whole commission.
Calls THE REPUBLICAN received from members of Somaliland societies and organizations in Europe who are currently in the midst of lobbying for Somaliland's diplomatic recognition abroad and canvassing for monetary contributions to the Referendum, expressed their dismay and utter incredulity at the government's untimely actions, using terms such as "counter-productive", "destructive" and a "repudiation of all their efforts." One particular caller from the Somaliland UK society told the paper the government's precipitate action threw them into momentary
confusion and disarray. If not reassured by this paper, the caller said, all their plans, loyalty to the motherland and ardent advocacy of its rights would have flown out to God knows where. He told THE REPUBLICAN that, for example, they planned to hold a vigil in front of 10 Downing Street, the British Prime Minister's office throughout 31st May, voting day to pull international eyes towards Somaliland's cause.
On the other hand, President Egal, in a reply addressed to Sultan Abdillahi, Sultan Gulaid and Sultan (Boqor) Mohamoud Arab's faxed letter, earlier, couched it in phrases and words that were unbecoming of a president. In fact, calling the Sultans' assertion of Suleiman's innocence both "primitive" and "idiotic" was downright vindictive of the president. The President did not, however, corroborate the Honourable Minister of Interior's detailed accusations but veered in other more far-reaching, far more alienating directions saying that: "Suleiman's intended treachery against Somaliland is much more devastating than those Tuur (Ex-president Abdirahman Ahmed Ali) and Jama Yareh (ex-General Jama Mohamed Qalib and a one time Somaliland member of Parliament) perpetrated against it".
The President, also, accused Suleiman of meeting "the man whose cigarettes we burned" (meaning Abdirahman Borreh of Djibouti whom the president himself closeted with prior to the cigarettes tycoon's departure for Djibouti) in Yemen where, the president accused, Suleiman told Borreh to bring his cigarettes to Yiroweh (on the suburbs of Burao--Suleiman's hometown), where they will be distributed nationwide without, ostensibly, either government taxation or interference.
Suleiman, though, might have already been moved again this time back to Hargeisa Central Prison, if last night's heavy guard details and tightened security around the prison are indicative of any thing.
Anita Adam
26 May 01
Suleiman Mohamoud Adan has been brought from Mandera Prison and is being held in Hargeisa jail, still without being charged. He has been allowed to receive food from outside, but has not been allowed visitors or legal representation. Although the legal situation is unclear, according to unofficial sources (but not confirmed) he was not arrested on a warrant issued by a judge, and so technically, he should have been taken to a court within 48 hours of his arrest (Article 38 of the Criminal Procedure Code). 'Even if he was arrested on a warrant', the sources add, 'he should be taken to a court, without any unnecessary delay (Article 45). There are also clear constitutional guarantees relating to Freedom of Association (Art.23) , expression etc.' 'It is completely illegal that he should be held without any contact to his relatives and counsel', the sources comment.
Suleiman Mohamoud Adam was arrested yesterday at Hargeysa airport, Somaliland, following a visit to the UK on personal/medical grounds. Suleiman is a leading politicain of Somaliland and acknowledged leader of the loyal opposition (i.e., within a functioning democracy a loyal opposition is a legitimate voice of political dissent which may differ from the elected government stance, one which has not taken up arms to oppose but has worked through established legal mechanisms to put forward it's position and alternatives). You may be aware that the Somaliland govt. is planning to hold a referendum on the draft constitution later this month.
However, what is at stake is a maneouvre by the incumbent President to establish a means whereby he can, contrary to the mandate given to him by the people, extend his term of office for a further and third term. This he is seeking to do by the inclusion of a clause within the constition which will legitimised an extension of his incumbency in the event of there being present a state of instability (in this case an instability deliberately constructed). The arrest of Suleiman yesterday by the Egal government may be interpreted as an attempt by the incumbent President to himself destabilise a situation, neutralise dissent, and forestall or outwit an otherwise inevitable change of leadership.
PRESS WIRE
www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/africa/05/23/somalia.arrest.reut/index.html
HARGEISA, Somalia (Reuters) -- The government of the self-declared republic of Somaliland has arrested a leading politician on charges of treason, officials said on Wednesday. Suleiman Mohamoud Aden, who came second in the breakaway republic's 1997 presidential election, was arrested on Tuesday on his return from neighbouring Djibouti and accused of plotting to sabotage a planned referendum on Somaliland's constitution. The referendum will be held on May 31, and will ask for popular approval of Somaliland's 1991 unilateral declaration of independence from the rest of Somalia, which has never been recognized internationally. But the referendum has provoked anger from the transitional government in the Somali capital Mogadishu, which was set up after a conference of clan elders in Djibouti last year and claims to represent the whole of Somalia. Somaliland's Interior Minister Ahmed Jambir Sultan said Suleiman had met Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh as well as a leading member of the transitional government from Mogadishu while he was in Djibouti. "We have seized documents that are incriminating and a list of people, which include members of parliament and other personalities...who are believed to be conspirators to the sabotage," he told Reuters. Suleiman, who won more than a third of the vote in the 1997 presidential elections, has been transferred to Mandhera prison, some 70 km (45 miles) east of the Somaliland capital Hargeisa. The former British colony of Somaliland has long been an oasis of stability in the chaos of Somalia, although observers say the arrest of Suleiman is bound to increase tension. Copyright 2001 Reuters
FROM PROFESSOR LEE V. CASSANELLI
I'm very distressed to learn of the arrest of Suleiman Mohamoud Aden This is something I did not expect to happen in Somaliland.
Indeed, I was planning to visit Hargeysa for the first time in my long career as an historian of the Horn in order to attend the International Congress of Somali Studies in July. I have been telling my colleagues that I was confident that the government of Somaliland had made great strides toward achieving real democracy, including respect for freedom of speech and freedom of association; and I was very much looking forward to witnessing the progress that the country has made over the past ten years. Now I am not so certain that my optimism was warranted.
I am not a partisan of any Somali clan, party, or regime--only a scholar who hopes to see Somalis rise above the parochial interests and infighting that have caused so much chaos over the past two decades. Now I worry. What has happened to the slow, painful, but steady growth in political maturity that seemed to be occurring in Somaliland, something that could set an example for the rest of Somalia and Africa? What has happened to the rights of citizens to speak their opinions without fear of arrest? If individuals cannot meet and speak with those who have different viewpoints, if they are expected to associate only with those who already think the way they do, how can they grow intellectually? And how will Somaliland be able to convince the international community that it is moving toward true democracy and respect for the law?
While I certainly cannot pretend to know all of the details behind the recent arrest of Suleiman Mohamoud Aden, I must say I find it difficult to believe that this man has engaged in "conspiracy" or "sabotage" of any sort. In the more than twenty-five years that I have known him, I have always considered Suleiman an individual of the greatest integrity and patriotism. While he has often disagreed with his fellow Somalis in high office, he has always sought to put the well- being of the Somali people as a whole above his own interests.
I urge the Somaliland government to do the same, and to release Suleiman Mohamoud Aden from prison.
The many friends of Somaliland need to know that we are not going back to the old days and the old ways.
Respectfully,
Lee V. Cassanelli
Professor of History and Director of African Studies
University of Pennsylvania
26 May 01 PUBLIC STATEMENT OF THE ELDERS OF BUHOODLE DISTRICT, SOMALILAND - TO INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATIONS
(Following text in translation from Somali. Original containing signatures/marks of the 12 named persons)
Title: Release our Politician
We the undersigned tribal chiefs of Buhoodle District are shocked and angry at the unlawful imprisonment of Suleiman Mohamoud Adan (Suleiman 'Gaal') who is a politician of this district. We are requesting the International Human Rights Organisations to immediately intervene for his release from Egal's prisons. We are disheartened by the unacceptable way that he has lost his basic human rights of freedom of movement. Signed by the following elders:
- Poet Adam Yussuf (Adam Arab)
- Caaqil/Chief Abdi Jama Hala
- " " Ismail Mohamood Kooreeye
- " " Mohamoud Haji Omar Amay
- " " Abdilahi Hassan Kambi
- " " Mohamed Yussuf Kooreeye
- " " Ahmed Ali Duh
- " " Jama Sharif Dega Ade
- " " Ahmed Dirie Jinje
- " " Elmi Abdilahi Bud-ad
- " " Abdisemed Ali Hassan
- " " Ibrahim Abdi Deere and on behalf of all the elders of Buhoodle District Thank you.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE
31 May 2001 AI Index AFR 52/001/2001 - News Service Nr. 94
(heading) Somaliland: Suleiman Mohamed Adam must be released immediately
"President Mohamed Ibrahim Egal of Somaliland should immediately and unconditionally release former presidential candidate Suleiman Mohamed Adam,"Amnesty International reiterated today.
Suleiman Mohamed Adam, 66, is considered by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience, detained solely on account of his non-violent opinions and for peacefully exercising his rights to freedom of expression and association.
He was arrested at Hargeisa Airport on 22 May 2001. He has not so far been taken to court or charged with any offence, in contravention of the international legal requirement that a person suspected of a criminal offence should be brought to court and charged within 48 hours.
According to unofficial reports Suleiman Mohamed Adam appears to be accused by the authorities of Atreason@ or Aplotting to sabotage a planned referendum@ on 31 May 2001 on amendments to Somaliland=s Constitution. He is said to have also been accused of having met in Djibouti with President Ismail Omar Guelleh, who is known not to support the referendum.
Suleiman Mohamed Adam was held in incommunicado detention for seven days. On 30 May he was finally granted access to a lawyer. However, prison guards refused to allow them to communicate in confidence. Both Suleiman Mohamed Adam and his lawyer refused to talk in the presence of prison guards. He has not been allowed access to his family or medical treatment.
The illegal detention of this prisoner of conscience puts in jeopardy everyone's right to freedom of expression and association in Somaliland,"Amnesty International said. \ENDS public document
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For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566 Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW www.amnesty.org
Statement issued by Ali Suleiman,(English language version)
My family and I are deeply disturbed and very anxious about the arbitrary detention of my father, Suleiman Mohamoud Adam - as are all who know him.
My father was arrested on Tuesday May 22 on his arrival in Hargeysa from a family visit to the UK. He has been held incommunicado since that time, and no formal charges have yet been made (9 days on). This is an illegal and unconstitutional act, and either he should have been charged within 48 hours or released from detention. Even though he has not been charged with an offence, this has not prevented statements being made by the Somaliland Government and its representatives abroad of evidence being in their possession of my father attempting to undermine Somaliland's integrity as a state. He has the right to defend himself against any such accusation.
My father is widely recognised within the country and abroad as a man and a politician of integrity and honesty, and one who has never been afraid to stand up for what he believes in, even when at times it was at great risk to his personal safety (as now). All those who know him know that he has worked hard and with considerable self-sacrifice over many years for the benefit of his countrymen. He has been steadfast against corruption and against the use of positions of power in pursuit of personal gain. And in recent years he has dedicated himself to the success of the Somaliland Republic.
One of the things he seems currently to be accused of is meeting the President of Djibouti on his way back to Somaliland. This we know to be untrue, but if it were true, is Somaliland at war with it's neighbour? Can Somalis of whatever persuasion no longer be free to speak to each other because of the fears and megalomania of one man? Are we to go back, God forbid, to the days of Siad Barre and his ilk?
On the current situation of my father, we should like to acknowledge the petitions for his release which have been made by the Sultans in Burao and by the elders of the Buhoodhle district, as well as by many private individuals. The matter of his detention and denial of access are also being pursued through official channels both in the UK and the US and the human rights organisation Amnesty International. Somaliland is a country for which we, its people hold out much hope, but the strategy adopted by the current government is not conducive to encouraging Somalilander, let alone foreign, investment in the country's recovery and growth, nor in helping the young nation to get international recognition.
The criminalization of the right of political or even social association is a blow to a young democracy. President Egal is going down the dangerous road that many of his political predecessors have gone.
I call on President Egal to recognise that an error has been made and immediately order my father's release.
Signed: Ali Suleiman Mohamoud Adam
London, May 30 2001
By Abdillah H. Mohamed (aminasirad@hotmail.com)
Re: SULEIMAN'S ARREST
This is absolutely outrageous. How can some so called president give ridiculous orders like this to put some one like Suleiman Mohamud Adan in jail just like that? Don't we learn?
Isn't this exactly like the days when Afweyne was putting innocent people in prison with no reason and even killing many of them? Doesn't Egal know that he himself was a victim like this for many years? Has he forgotten the pain and the torture he endured in prison? I guess not. Egal is doing nothing but destroy the future and any little hope Somaliland might have had. Somaliland is so far the only viable nation that has survived the utter destruction of the Somali nation.
I cannot believe that Suleiman is today languishing in that rotten black hall in Mandera. Mandera is a place for thieves and criminals, not for some one like Suleiman who, for the love of his country, has refused time and time again to leave and seek refuge else where like the rest of. Where is justice? Where is democracy, and where is freedom?
As a Somlilander, I cannot hide my anger and outrage that this is happening. I demand the immediate release of this great man. I ask all those who stand
for freedon to give their vehent denounciation to this outrageous act. I am going to warn Egal that Suleiman's safety is paramount and I demand his
immediate and unconditional release.
Abdillah H. Mohamed
United States