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Hargeysa,
Somaliland, August 29, 2009 – Members of the ruling party
parliamentarians violently disrupted the normal session of the Lower
House of the parliament on Monday. The UDUB members of the parliament,
who are the minority, were said to be fearful of possible sanctions
against Riyale administration. Just over a week ago the parliament
passed a bill ruling unlawful a decision reached jointly by president
Riyale and the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to suspend the voter
registration list.
The parliament gave the president and the NEC a week to comply with the
ruling. That week ended August 20th without any response from Riyale.
Several UDUB MPs broke furniture and damaged other equipment as the
normal sessions of the parliament were to begin. The Speaker of the
parliament, Mr Abdirahman M. Abdillahi (Cirro) later announced the
formation of a subcommittee composed of members from both sides to look
into the complaints of UDUB MPs.
The Speaker said after holding talks with all sides an agreement has
been reached that will allow the normal parliament sessions to continue.
Mr. Cirro, asked whether he was going to take appropriate actions
against the MPs who violently disrupted the session and damaged
equipment in the hall, said “He is offering to talk” to the MPs in
question. “If that does not bring order [to the parliament], the law
will be followed”.
“Their behavior is visible to the constituents from where they were
elected.” he added.
Other MPs expressed revulsion and condemned the actions of the UDUB MPs.
Mr. Ahmed A. Kijandhe, a KULMIYE MP elected from Hargeysa region,
accused Riyale of being behind the actions of the UDUB MPs. He said the
actions of the MPs “is part of and follows the interruption of other
lawful institutions in the country including the National Election
Commission”. He added “these attempts to disrupt the parliament will
fail”.
Mr. Kijandhe’s blame on the president, follows a recent reported meeting
Riyale and some of his ministers had with the UDUB MPs.
Source: Somaliland Globe, August 25, 2009
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