Hargeysa, October 24, 2007 – Livia Heron, a human rights officer with UNDP in Hargeysa, has been deported following a row between her and the Somaliland Ministry of Justice.

Initial reports say that Mrs. Livia was deported after she commented on several human rights violations in Somaliland such as the jail of Karan [opposition] political leaders and the holding of dozens of people in its prisons.

Reports say include that Somaliland has handed over several Ogaden [eastern Somali region of Ethiopia] people to Ethiopian government who were detained and killed.

Both Somaliland and UNDP have not yet commented on the deportation of the officer.

Meanwhile, Somaliland administration previously detained Karan political party leaders and accused them of creating political instabilities, a claim denied by the opposition officials.

Somaliland traditional leaders struggled to release, however, President Rayale Kahin has asked the Party leaders to write and request him for a pardon.

Somaliland administration had announced that it will expand what it called good governance and democratization space, however, it has been criticized failing to resolve political stalemate in the country.

Source: BBC Monitoring