Somaliland Forum: Mr. President, End The Subjugation Of Your Citizens

To: H.E. Mr. Dahir Rayale Kahin
President Republic of Somaliland
CC: Somaliland Parliament [Guurti & Wakiilada]
CC: Supreme Court of Somaliland

February 10th, 2007

Somaliland Forum is reiterating to the President of Somaliland H.E. Mr. Dahir Rayale Kahin and his administration to immediately release the Haatuf journalists and all other citizens held against their will. The Constitution does not authorize the arbitrary power to seize any citizen without due process of law. Mr. President, this organization and many others had called upon you and your administration to do your due diligence and respect the rights of the citizens of Somaliland.

The continual disregard and contempt of your administration will inevitably force the will of the Constitution to challenge the validity of your administration. That is   a crisis Somaliland would rather avoid unless you change direction now.   Your administration cannot be seen as an obstacle to the recognition and democratic development of Somaliland.

We prompt your administration to reverse your ill timed decisions   immediately by releasing all those you hold against their will. After all, Mr. President, it’s the citizens of the Republic who fought for and chose to be governed by this constitutional democracy and not by the arbitrary rule of your administration.

To The Parliament ,

You have the sheer privilege to serve the citizens who democratically elected you. You have failed to fulfill your obligations by not strengthening the institutions you swore to defend and by not holding this administration accountable. This parliament has given this administration carte blanche to do as they will whilst relegating their constitutional duties.

We encourage you to forcefully engage in the policy matters of the Republic and lead the nation as you were sworn to do. Somaliland will not allow itself to go back to a one man rule. It is imperative that you lay the foundation we hope to pass to our grandchildren.

If the Republic is to remain an oasis of optimism and achievement, the parliament has to set the standards and lead the way and that begins with demanding the laws of the land be followed.

To The Supreme Court ,

Democracy starts at the steps of the High Court of the republic. It is within the exalted   walls of this institution that we hold no man to be above the laws of Somaliland. The laws of the republic are being circumvent daily and your laissez-faire attitude not to mention your silence is leading the nation down a perilous path.

We urge you to immediately assert your constitutional powers and release all citizens held against their will. In a Democracy, the deprivation of liberty cannot be allowed and it’s your duty to not allow this to continue. No branch of the government should be allowed to exercise any type of omnipotent power over its citizenry. The systemic incidents which have taken place in the past few years amount to the most dangerous and audacious attack on the freedom of the citizens.

We urge all the institutions of the Republic to immediately adhere to the constitution of the land and not be a hindrance to the fundamental liberties of the citizens of Somaliland. The nation faces a constitutional dilemma and all institutions will have to answer to the public as to what their intentions are for the nation.

SOMALILAND FORUM

Somaliland Forum   is an independent Diaspora   think-tank that advocates for the Sovereignty, Democracy and socioeconomic development of   the Republic of Somaliland.   We work with Somaliland communities, supporters, governments and NGO's. For more information please contact: chair@somalilandforum.com or our website   www.somalilandforum.org

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