SNM Veterans Day Observed

SNM leader Hassan Essa Jama speaking on Thursday at Khayria Square in commemoration of 17th October SNM Martyrs Day

Hargeisa (SLT) 18 Oct - The Martyrs day of 17th October was celebrated on Thursday in many parts of Somaliland. The occasion is observed annually in memory of the fallen heroes and surviving veterans of the liberation struggle launched by the SNM twenty years ago.

Thousands of SNM troops (known as Mujahidien) died during the armed struggle while many others got disabled by the war.

In a key note speech made during a grand rally staged at Khayria Square on Thursday morning, SNM leader Hassan Essa Jama called on the Somaliland government to provide humanitarian as well as reintegration assistance for the veterans and victims of the liberation struggle, particularly the war-widows and the war-disabled groups. 10 years after the liberation war was finally won, thousands of SNM veterans are still awaiting rehabilitation and reintegration assistance. SOOYAAL, the War Veteran Association, which was founded in 1991 to primarily help ex-combatants and their dependents reintegrate into the civilian society, is facing severe funding constraints.

Currently, the association runs only one reintegration project, the Hargeisa-based and Swiss Group funded Vocational Training Center.

The Swiss-Group has been providing substantial assistance to the VTC since early 1995. However, Swiss-Group funding has been reduced during this year to cover only carpentry and masonry training activities.

CARE International has recently offered literacy and enterprise-based skills training assistance.

Last Wednesday, a group of 30 trainees graduated from enterprise-based training courses while 48 students, about 1/3 of them women, completed a literacy course. Both activities have been funded by CARE.

Meanwhile, Ahmed Mohamed Mahamud “Sillanyo”, a former SNM chairman and current leader of KULMIYE Political organization had emphasized in a statement released yesterday the historical importance of the role played by the SNM armed struggle in the liberation and founding of Somaliland.