Commentary

Hargeysa, 20 October 2007 (SL Times) – None of us know when we might need the services of an effective human rights organization to defend us, our families, colleagues and communities, or even our way of life. What is certain is that we will need them at some point in our lives. That is why we all have an interest in making sure that the individuals who have chosen this difficult job are allowed to do their jobs without pressure and intimidation.

The public in Somaliland therefore have the right to know, and the duty to respond to, what appears to be a nasty campaign against the Somaliland Human Rights Organizations, know as SHURO-Net, an umbrella for dozens of groups from all corners of Somaliland. Over the past year, SHURO-Net has been courageous and tireless in documenting and publicizing abuses, and calling for corrective action. In short, it has done the job that we all expect it to do, without fear or favor. They have stood up for the freedom of the media, they have come to the rescue of workers threatened with the loss of their livelihoods, they have condemned the routine use of the shadowy security committees which send hundreds of people to detention without cause or investigation, and they have demanded respect for the rights of the citizens of Somaliland to enjoy their constitutional and democratic rights. For this we should applaud and express our appreciation.

Many of us have done just that. But others, and who don’t know exactly who, though we have our suspicions, have become alarmed at the success of SHURO-Net, and view its visibility, credibility and effectiveness as a reason to cripple the organization. These individuals have now resorted to the age-old practice of divide and rule, helping to establish fake groups who claim to be members of SHURO-Net, and using them to undermine and challenge the duly elected leadership of SHURO-Net. In addition to making scandalous accusations, these non-existent human rights groups have even copied, in what can only be described as an illegal move, the logo of SHURO-Net, and are using it to disseminate their personal attacks against the leaders of SHURO-Net.

SHURO-Net, as we write, is considering what legal action to take. It is also getting ready for an attempt, on Sunday 21 October, by these fake groups to ambush SHURO-Net, in the course of an annual general meeting they have insisted on calling. The meeting is intended to give them the platform and the excuse for a calculated and well-planned assault on SHURO-Net.

So we must ask the question: who has a motive for wanting to destroy SHURO-Net, targeting in particular key players who have been especially critical of the government’s handling of human rights? We believe that very senior people in the government are behind the attempt to distract SHURO-Net’s attention away from human rights problems in the country, and to keep it forever busy, and ineffective, by having to deal with petty internal squabbles.

If that is allowed to happen, we are all losers. And that’s why this campaign to silence SHURO-Net has to be stopped now. The public in Somaliland must be vigilant, because they need genuine human rights defenders. They need SHURO-Net, and they would do well to remember that today.

Source: Somaliland Times