PRESS
RELEASE BY THE POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS OF SOMALILAND
It is not necessary to review here the history of
Somaliland and the noble struggle of our people for justice and democracy.
It is well known that our people fought valiantly against the dictator,
Mohamed Siyaad Barre, and that their struggle was among the primary causes
that brought him down. Also well know is that our people have shown during
the past ten years that they are committed to peace, that they can settle
conflicts among them peacefully, and that they have developed their own
government without foreign instigation or support.
It is in light of that history that the people of
Somaliland have embarked on constitutionally mandated national and local
elections. The goal of these elections is to enlarge the cause of justice
and democracy. We, the political organizations of Somaliland, are angered
by the news of unexpected ambush by armed militia sent by Colonel
‘Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed, the self-declared President of Puntland. We are
also saddened by the loss of life and injuries resulting from this
unexpected ambush.
We know that the President of Somaliland, Daahir
Rayaale Kaahin, and his delegation had visited Las ‘Aanood on a mission
of peace, not of war. Meanwhile, we, the political organizations, have
been preparing for the upcoming elections, the first of which is to take
place on 15 December 2002. These elections are designed to give the people
of Somaliland their democratic rights of electing their local and national
leaders. These elections also represent a historic contribution to the
cause of justice and democracy not only in Somaliland but also elsewhere
in the Horn of Africa.
The armed attack was orchestrated by Abdulahi Yusuf
Ahmed and his underlings who know nothing about democracy, who seek to
govern by the sheer violence. They want not only to rule by means of
forced occupation but also to disrupt peaceful and democratic elections in
Somaliland. This is because they are fundamentally opposed to the cause of
justice and democracy, as shown by their rule of Puntland and by their
armed ambush in Laas ‘Aanood. Having wrestled power in Puntland by
violence, they want to destroy all prospects of justice and democracy
wherever they find them.
We, the political organizations, want these anti-democratic and unjust men
to make no mistake about our stand and the determination of the people of
Somaliland.
We want them to know the following:
1. Since we do not view the antidemocratic and
violent actions of Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed and his underlings to represent of
the people of Puntland, we do not hold ill-will or enmity to the people
Puntland or Somalis anywhere.
2. Since democracy is not simply a luxury or
convenience but a right for which people sacrifice their lives, the
elections in Somaliland will proceed regardless of whether antidemocratic
men like Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed and his underlings instigate war inside our
borders.
3. We and our supporters throughout Somaliland are
prepared to defend the cause of democracy and their land to the point
that, even if these warlords continue to armed ambush, our people will
vote with one hand and defend their rights with the other hand.
4. We are convinced that people of Somalialnd,
wherever they are, will show their opposition to dictators and their
underlings and that they will rally to the cause of justice and democracy
by voting actively, widely, orderly, and peacefully.
5. We know that Somali people, wherever they are,
yearn for justice and democracy; that, for this reason, the time of
dictators and their underlings is over, regardless of what Abdulahi Yusuf
Ahmed and his cronies do.
This press release is written and presented by the
following political organizations:
Name of Political Organization Signatures
UDUB
ASAD
UCID
KULMIYE
SAHAN
HORMOOD
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