Somaliland Government: Hands-Off Human Rights Defenders

By Abdillahi Daud, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

The Diaspora community was taken aback by the recent shameful acts of the Somaliland Government to engineer the unseating of the elected board of the biggest umbrella of human rights organizations in our county. The aim of the government is to turn all civil society groups into Siyad Barre's era ‘Ururada Bulshada' which was controlled by Siyad's loyalists. We all remember:

Xidhiidhka Guud ee Ururada Shaqaalaha-- Labor union

Ururka Dhalinyarada Kacaanka Soomaaliyeed---Youth union

Ururka Haweenka Soomaaliyeed--Women's union

Iskaashatooyinka Soomaaliyeed---Co-op Societies

The civil societies in democratic societies are the venue through which citizens channel their   energy to influence government and legislations. Human Rights organizations are especially important to us considering the gross human rights abuses in our recent history. Rayale wants to copy the tactics of his mentor, Siyad Barre, to control the role of these organizations. Instead of banning them, he wants to create puppet organizations that are   nothing but Guulwadayaa!

It is ironic that the UDUB party which, under the leadership of late President Egal, was pioneer for multi-party electoral system in Somaliland is now destroying the democratic foundations of our county. This shows beyond doubt that UDUB has outlasted its usefulness and must be voted out of power in the next election. Electing Rayale and his party to another term will roll-back all the democratic achievements of our country.

The elected members of House of the Representative must also discharge its constitutionally-mandated role of ensuring that the government works within its limits. Abdicating this responsibility will render the checks and balances in our democratic system dysfunctional.

The opposition parties must also take a stand in this issue. Instead of being an apologist for the government, Faisal Ali Warabe, must make his voice heard in this issue.

Finally, the public must also defend the human rights defenders. Failure to do so will accelerate our demise as a free nation.

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