Parliament Accepts Monday's Supreme Court Ruling

Hargeysa, Somaliland, May 12, 2007 (SL Times) - The speaker of the lower house of parliament, Mr Abdirahman M. Abdillahi (Eiro) opened Tuesday's morning session of the lower house by stating to the house members that the verdict of the Supreme Court on Monday regarding the extension term which the house extended for the expired National Election Commission [NEC] was accepted by the house. Mr Abdirahman, nevertheless, said, "Although, we accept the Supreme court's verdict, we are nevertheless, not confident in the matter and on the manner that the Supreme Court reached the verdict regarding parliament's last February's vote to extend the expired 5-year term of the NEC.

The house speaker referred to the house's respect for the highest court in the land as being the reason that the house accepted the court's ruling. He said, "due to the respect this house owes to the Supreme Court and the honour which the constitution of this country deserves from this house, we duly accept this verdict from the Supreme Court of the Republic of Somaliland."

Meanwhile, Somaliland Times has learnt from close sources to the presidency, that President Dahir Rayale Kahin has instructed his personal secretary of the Presidency to excommunicate the lower house of parliament. According to SL Times sources, the president had requested in a letter dated 5th May 2007 addressed to the current speaker of the lower house of Somaliland's parliament, Mr Abdirahman M. Abdillahi (Eiro) to re-open debate on the national budget (2007) which was according to the president's letter `unconstitutionally amended' by the lower house for a second-vote by members of the house. The President's letter also contained, according to our sources, a direct referral to the speaker of the parliament of the lower chamber whereby the president states, "The first opportunity parliament gets, it should make the debate over the budget as its first agenda in its opening sessions, from recess."

Again, sources close to the presidency has informed SL Times that Mr Abdirahman, the speaker of the lower house rebuffed Rayale's letter by responding that "The lower house has already made its decision regarding the 2007 national budget and that the first deputy speaker of the house had last month made it clear to the presidency that the house has made a foregone conclusion regarding the budget and that it cannot fulfill your Excellency's request" In addition to this, the speaker of the house, Mr Abdirahman in strong words rebutted the president for trying to determine the house's business according to his wishes and said "Your Excellency, you have no business to determine and state what the house's agenda is to be, and to honour this house as you are obliged by the constitution, and abide by the laws and rulings of this country."

For this reason, SL Times has learnt that the president had given firm instructions to his presidency on Monday, midday, not to honour any correspondence coming from the lower house of parliament. Obviously, said the presidency's source to SL Times that the president has taken the decision not to cooperate with lower house, whatsoever, in whatever business.

Source: Somaliland Times