Somali Justice Advocacy Center Expresses Grave ‎Concern Over Disappearance Of Many Somalis Due ‎To U.S. Rendition Program

ST PAUL, Minn., April 6, 2006 -- The office of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center said today it has received reports from the Somali community inside Somalia confirming the disappearances of many Somali elders and clerics detained and interrogated by the Combined Joint Task Force in Djibouti. Fifty prominent Somali clerics are detained in Djibouti and many others are missing, according to the reports from Somalia.

Since the creation of the Combined Joint Task Force of Horn of Africa, there has been an increase of U.S warships and fighter aircraft surveillances over Somalia.

"Such activities are clear violation of the Somali sovereignty and we urge the U.S government to respect that and rather carry out their activities through the proper channels of the Somali new government recently established" said Omar Jamal, the executive director of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center. "The U.S combined task force usually cuts a deal with criminals and warlords to facilitate the illegal abduction and transfer of the Somali citizens from Somali to Djibouti." Jamal continued.

The office of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center asks the U.S. government to release all the detained Somali citizens in Djibouti, and give them access to proper legal counsel. The Center also asks the U.S. government to stop the rendition program in Somalia. The Center further appeals to all the international community to assist the new Somali government struggling to bring back minimum rule of law and to bring to an end the suffering of the Somali people.

To: National Desk

Contact: Omar Jamal of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center, 612-715-1221, shabeelj@yahoo.com

Source: U.S. Newswire

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