The UN’s top human rights official has condemned the trial and sentencing of a Somali journalist, and the alleged rape victim he interviewed, as “deeply disturbing” and a blow to “the fight against impunity”in rape cases.
The journalist, Abdiaziz Abdinur Ibrahim, and the victim, an unidentified 27-year-old woman, were both sentenced on Tuesday to one year in prison. They were charged with making false accusations and “insulting a government body.”
“This is a terrible blow to freedom of expression in a country where independent journalists have also been regularly targeted and killed,” Navi Pillay, the UN high commissioner for human rights, said in a statement on Wednesday.
“I am very concerned about the impact the penalization of the woman alleging rape could have in the fight against impunity in sexual violence cases, especially given the reports of increasing sexual violence in Somalia.”
Human rights groups have described the trial as politically motivated, accusing the court of covering up rampant sexual abuse of women by the Somali security forces.
“They fabricated a story to hurt the government,” the judge, Ahmed Aden, said in court.
‘Attack on press freedom’
Ibrahim’s arrest followed increasing media attention on reported sexual abuse by Somalia security forces. Earlier in January, Universal TV – a local television station – and Al Jazeera separately published stories about allegations of rape in the city’s crowded camps for displaced people.
Ibrahim had not been involved with either story, does not work for either organisation, and had not published anything of his own investigation before he was detained. The National Union of Somali Journalists called the trial an attack on press freedom.
The United States also criticised the trial, with the State Department saying it “sent the wrong message to perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence.”
During the trial, the judge refused to hear the testimony of three witnesses who planned to appear in defence of Abdinur and the woman.
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the president of Somalia, told Al Jazeera on Sunday that while his government “is the only government that has proven” it is dedicated to improving the lives of women in Somalia, he will not directly interfere in the ongoing court case.
“I don’t have the right to interfere in the judicary system… my interference into the judiciary system, will never help the rule of law in Somalia,” Mohamud said in an interview.
Paris-based Reporters Without Borders ranks Somalia 175th out of 179 countries surveyed for its 2012/2013 World Press Freedom index.
Source: Al Jezeera
UN official condemns Somalia rape verdict
Somaliland:We won’t join KULMIYE not Now, Tomorrow or Even in a Hundred Years to Come
The Official Spokesperson for XAQSOOR has urged their supporters living in the United Kingdom to welcome the Somaliland President H.E Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud (Silanyo) when he visits that country this week; he said this during an interview with Horn cable TV.
“I urge all XAQSOOR supporters and Somalilanders living in the UK to join together in welcoming the President during his visit to the country this contrary to some reports carried in some media outlets which had claimed we (XAQSOOR) had planned to organize demonstration against the President during his visit, Said the Spokesman.
Speaking to the Horn cable Television the XAQSOOR spokesman denied in the strongest terms rumors which were triggered by during an interview with the vice chairman of the ruling party (KULMIYE) Mr.Mohamed Kahin Ahmed who claimed his party has been in negotiations with XAQSOOR officials in a bid to incorporate XAQSOOR supporters into the ranks of the ruling party.
“We (XAQSOOR) are not in negotiation with anyone neither any political entity and that KULMIYE officials should know by now that we have nothing in common nor do we share the same political views whatsoever, said the spokesperson.
In another development elder, intellectuals, and youth from communities living in Ahmed Dhagah district of Hargeisa converged today in Hotel Dalhis to reiterate their support for President Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud (Silanyo) and Somaliland independence.
Goth M Goth
Somalilandpress.com
Djibouti: An open letter to the international media
5 February, 2013 On behalf of the Union for National Salut (USN) I am writing this letter to the international media to condemn the arbitrary arrest of the leader of the Movement for Democratic Renewal and Development (MRD) and spokesman of the USN, Mr. Daher Ahmed Farah (DAF).
The latter was summoned three times by the gendarmerie brigade in the city of Djibouti since he came back to his country. According to the gendarmerie, the first two times were for the payment of a penalty for damages, a penalty of three million and five hundred Djiboutian francs (3,500,000) which was paid on 29 January 2013 by DAF. Today, 5 February 2013 DAF was summoned for the third time by the gendarmerie which decided to arrest him for no apparent reason. This practice is so common in Djibouti, a country where people are living under an oppressing dictatorship.
There is neither freedom of speech nor freedom of thoughts. The population is living in constant fear, the fear of being arrested and tortured because they dared to oppose the regime and claim their human rights.
This fear has started in 1977 with the first president of Djibouti and since then things got worse. It is time to put an end to this chaos and it is time to overthrow this regime of terror for the national salvation.
Therefore it is crucial to spread awareness about the danger of such a regime in Djibouti.
Sincerely, Maydane Okiye +25377854946 info@lavoixdedjibouti.com Member of the MRD et Journalist (Reporter) of the Lavoixdedjibouti.com
Djibouti: Friends of Djibouti Association Campaigns for Free Elections in Djibouti
London, 6 February 2013
A concerted campaign to raise awareness of the issues in Djibouti has been launched in Europe by Friends of Djibouti Association, a non-profit organisation, founded at the end of 2012 to encourage a peaceful change of the current political course in Djibouti.
The first campaign is focussing on the parliamentary elections that are taking place on 22 February 2013. This is a critical time for Djibouti and its people who want to have a real democratic and transparent electoral process for the first time in many decades.
Djibouti, a small but strategically important country in the Horn of Africa, achieved good progress and economic growth during the past decade. But in the recent years there have been growing signs of frustration and protest among Djibouti people as they face worsening living conditions, human rights abuses and, after 30 years of one-party rule, little hope of democratic change. Recent arrest of the leader of the opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Renewal and Development (MRD), Daher Ahmed Farah (DAF) is an example of repressions the political opposition suffers in Djibouti.
In the past months, Friends of Djibouti have been active approaching US and EU officials, international NGOs and the international media, drawing their attention to the human right abuses and corruption in Djibouti. Letters outlining the current issues facing the country have been sent to the US Secretary of State, the US Ambassador to Djibouti, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and EU Commissioner for Development.
Friends of Djibouti have had an encouraging response from the office of Baroness Ashton, who during her recent meeting with the Djibouti Prime Minister expressed intention to send an EU Electoral Expert Mission to Djibouti for the elections in February 2013.
Letters encouraging international election observers to monitor the Djibouti parliamentary election have been sent to the Carter Foundation and the African Union.
Over the coming weeks, Friends of Djibouti will be approaching UK MPs, MEPs and other European politicians.
Aicha Dubae, spokesperson for Friends of Djibouti Association, said: “The West recognises how important Djibouti is to maintaining stability and security in the Horn of Africa and in helping to combat piracy. We hope that the Western leaders will put pressure on the Djibouti Government encouraging democratic process, the rule of law and the respect for human rights, and, in doing so, help Djibouti fulfil its real potential”.
Friends of Djibouti
Somalia:Faith in Somali judiciary hard to find after Abdiaziz jailed
“Let’s have faith in our judiciary system,” Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamed told an audience Monday at London’s Chatham House, the foreign affairs think-tank.
A day later, press freedom and human rights advocates are struggling to find such faith, after a court in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, sentenced to one year in jail a woman who claimed she was raped by security forces and a freelance journalist, Abdiaziz Abdinuur, who interviewed her.
They were convicted for insulting the government, according to news reports. Local journalists told CPJ that Abdiaziz’s trial was flawed, with the defense obstructed from presenting several witnesses and little evidence provided by the prosecution.
Human rights groups have said the trial of the journalist and his interviewee was politically motivated, designed to deflect reports of rampant sexual abuse by Somali security forces, according to international news reports.
Continue Reading
Borja Bergareche/CPJ European Consultant
Link: http://www.cpj.org/blog/2013/02/faith-in-somali-judiciary-hard-to-find-after-abdia.php
Somaliland: President Siilaanyo to visit UK
Hargeisa- Reliable sources close to the presidency have confirmed to Somalilandpress that president Silanyo is due to leave for Britain today, where president Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud of Somalia is currently being hosted. Mr. Siilaanyo’s expected visit to Britain comes after British foreign office and Common Wealth Officially unveiled the agenda for the upcoming International Conference on Somalia which will be held in London. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud of Somalia arrived in London on last Thursday accompanied his Senior Cabinet members, including Foreign Minister Fowsia Hajji Aden. This comes after the British government has granted 3 million pound aid boost to Somalia.
It is unclear if President Siilaanyo will meet his Somali counterpart or whether he wants to discuss with British officials about UK’s threat alert on Somaliland security. Recently president Silanyo confirmed, during State of Union address that his government will participate every conference which serves the interest of the nation. Meanwhile, Somaliland’s Foreing Minister Mohamed Abdillahi Omer has returned from a short visit to Ethopia where he met with British Embassy officials in Addis Ababa, following UK’s threat alert on Somaliland.
SomalilandPress
Somaliland: Security Threat Exaggerated Say’s Deputy Information Minister
Somaliland government has responded to the announcement made today by the American government travel warning which dissuaded citizens against visiting the country.
The Somaliland Assistant minister of information Hon Abdillahi Mohamed Dahir (Cukuse) dismissed in the strongest of terms allegations of the existent of present dangers and security threats to foreigners in the country during an interview with BBC Radio Somali service.
“We have not changed our position regarding security which off course always remains a top priority to us as a nation, let not exaggerate on the victories attained in the war against Al Shabaab by assuming that the new ground gained from the militants means it is the end of threats in those place, Said the deputy information minister.
Hon Abdillahi went on to say “I urge both the America and British to reconsider their recent stance on the security of the country and we ask our friends to share any information they have and which we are not aware of so that we can act on it, what they should be doing is to strengthen the existing cooperation on security issues such as sharing of intelligence,.
The minister also confirmed that they have in their custody people who were arrested in the past few days who are suspected to be sympathetic to Islamist militia, although it is too early to say what ongoing investigation will produce I would like to reiterate our willingness to work with regional and international partners on security related matters .
Lastly the deputy information minister had this to say” Us far as we are concerned the security status of the country is normal and I want to reassure all foreigners in the country that their safety is guaranteed.
Goth M Goth
Somalilandpress.com
Somalia's Al Shabaab rebels back on Twitter after suspension
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Somalia’s Islamist al Shabaab militants, who have used Twitter to announce assassinations and bombings, are back on the microblog service two weeks after their account was suspended.
“[Our new account] will function like the one they closed,” a spokesman who declined to be named said on Tuesday.
Al Shabaab’s previous official Twitter account was suspended around January 24, days after group, which is aligned with al Qaeda, used the social media site to threaten to kill two Kenyan hostages.
The group tweeted a link to a video of the abducted civil servants and threatened to kill them unless the Kenyan government released all Muslim prisoners in its jails.
Twitter rules say threats of violence are forbidden but the site declined at the time to comment on why al Shabaab’s account, which had thousands of followers, had been suspended.
Al Shabaab’s Somali- and Arabic-language Twitter accounts were never closed.
The new account, using the handle @HSMPRESS1, has attracted over 1,100 followers within two days.
Al Shabaab wants to impose its strict version of sharia, or Islamic law, across Somalia. However, it has lost significant territory in the southern and central parts of the country in the face of an offensive by African Union troops.
Source: Reuters
Somalia’s Al Shabaab rebels back on Twitter after suspension
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Somalia’s Islamist al Shabaab militants, who have used Twitter to announce assassinations and bombings, are back on the microblog service two weeks after their account was suspended.
“[Our new account] will function like the one they closed,” a spokesman who declined to be named said on Tuesday.
Al Shabaab’s previous official Twitter account was suspended around January 24, days after group, which is aligned with al Qaeda, used the social media site to threaten to kill two Kenyan hostages.
The group tweeted a link to a video of the abducted civil servants and threatened to kill them unless the Kenyan government released all Muslim prisoners in its jails.
Twitter rules say threats of violence are forbidden but the site declined at the time to comment on why al Shabaab’s account, which had thousands of followers, had been suspended.
Al Shabaab’s Somali- and Arabic-language Twitter accounts were never closed.
The new account, using the handle @HSMPRESS1, has attracted over 1,100 followers within two days.
Al Shabaab wants to impose its strict version of sharia, or Islamic law, across Somalia. However, it has lost significant territory in the southern and central parts of the country in the face of an offensive by African Union troops.
Source: Reuters
Somaliland seems to be an orphan among African nations for two decades
The realization of duties is very significant often to standardize for the services delivered in a good quality and reliable levels. The government has different agencies and units that involved in very huge and serious tasks which are the heart of the governmental systematically operations always and deserve quite energetic and competent individuals to be engaged this area in order to increase the better services of the government mainly security and peace for both national and international levels.
There must be competitive and challenge in terms of work capability and also capacity to select the right people in the right positions elsewhere in the governmental departments to avoid monopoly and backing someone who is too weak to remain in office where unable to handle the work properly and creating many shambolic of duties which general populations are not totally happy how this is managed or dealt with negligence and unprofessionalism that may not secure the better role or assignments to accomplish in a brilliant way of intentions.
Somaliland has been recently on the eyes of the western especially Britain government that releases information and some concerns related terrorism issues in the region, even though the source of this information is unclear and Somaliland Government hundred percent denied the existence of that source, Somaliland still prepares to redouble and strengthen terrorism combat to ensure international communities the fully stability, peace and prosperity in the fragile, unrecognized nation that seems to be an orphan among the African nations or the world for a period of 22 years that looks the world both turned ear/eye deaf or blind to unfairly and indecisively.
Somaliland nation one hand often receives very hostile attacks from different areas weather neighbouring countries of having senseless jealousy and envy towards Somaliland sovereignty as a free independent country joins straight away to the African nations or international communities, on the other hand, Somalia is still chasing Somaliland wrongly and bulling back to remain the former catastrophic union that left one million Somaliland people dead for the result of political domination and severe oppression of 21 years of suffering.
No way of a new marriage takes place between the two republics of Italian and Britain colonies again. Because Somaliland people is still treating the wounds and trauma of the past that resulted every house of Somaliland nation lost the loved ones of their families with dictatorship and pressure of many faces including tribal issues and geographical reasons, Somaliland nation do not have any grudge to their brothers of Somalia, but determined to manage their own interest of peace living and independent enjoyment for the rest of their life. Due to Somaliland request from the international communities, it is important to listen and study the demand of Somaliland nation that has been the only priority agenda of this nation for the last two decades.
Somaliland is still and often too strong to continue securing that rays of hope of which world communities one day convince the right entitlement of Somaliland to generous recognition, although Somaliland does not believe that any recognition is missing from them, as they recognized themselves and work together as nation that implemented the whole governmental procedures by fulfilling and putting in place everything that nation of Somaliland needs to have fully and clearly.
Abdilahi John
UK