07/12/07 (B424) LDDH : Les journalistes Somalis sont interdits de se réfugier au Somaliland ? Appel de l’EHAHRD

Le Président

DIFFUSION D’INFORMATION
DU 6 DÉCEMBRE 2007.

Les journalistes Somalis sont interdits
de se réfugier au Somaliland ?

Les 50 journalistes somalis, qui ont fui le génocide et les crimes de guerre
perpétrés sur les populations au Sud de la Somalie par l’Armée d’occupation
Ethiopienne, sont actuellement en Somaliland pays voisin et frère.

Au lieu de les accueillir et de les réconforter, le Gouvenement du
Somaliland sous la pression inéluctable des Autorités d’Addis Abeba a décidé
de les expulser dans les jours à venir.

Avec l’Afrique muette, le Somaliland doit-il être considéré lui aussi comme
complice des génocides perpétrés aux vus et aux sus de toute la Presse
Africaine et Internationale ?

La Ligue Djiboutienne des Droits Humains (LDDH) encourage les initiatives
courageuses d’un très grand nombre des Opposants Ethiopiens, notamment les
Parlementaires de l’Opposition Ethiopienne, qui ne cessent d’exiger le
retrait immédiat des Troupes Militaires d’Addis-Abeba illégalement occupant
la Somalie ;

La Ligue Djiboutienne des Droits Humains (LDDH) demeure entièrement
solidaire au juste combat que mènent : Amnesty International, Human Right
Wacht et toutes les autres Organisations Internationales et Régionales qui
soutiennent activement le combat mené contre les crimes de guerre ;

La LDDH dénonce la souffrance imposée au peuple Somali dans leur juste lutte
de libération et contre les Forces d’occupation.

Elle demande à la Presse écrite du Gouvernement Djiboutien de garder un peu
de pudeur dans leur Journal « La Nation » en affirmant que la « Somalie est
malade ».

La Somalie est victime d’une grave agression des Forces Etrangères
condamnable.
Une Enquête internationale sur le génocide en Somalie s’avère urgent.

M. NOEL ABDI Jean-Paul

Vice-président de l’Union Interafricaine des Droits de l’Homme
Chargé de la Corne d’Afrique.
________________________________________________________

EAST AND HORN OF AFRICA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS NETWORK

PRESS RELEASE
EHAHRD-Net Index: SOMA 034/005/2007 (Public)

5th December 2007

KAMPALA: EHAHRD-Net DISTURBED BY SOMALILAND ORDER TO DEPORT JOURNALISTS

The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network is deeply
concerned about news trickling in that the Somaliland authorities have
ordered journalists seeking refuge in the country to leave immediately.

The
24 journalists had fled the violence in Mogadishu and are seeking refuge in
Somaliland .

With utter dismay, EHAHRD-Net Chairperson Hassan Shire Sheikh together with
representatives from the Somaliland Journalists’ Association (SOLJA) were on
hand as the Somaliland Police Commander General Mohamed Saqadhi Dubad issued
the order of deportation today, demanding that the journalists leave
Somaliland within 24 hours.

The Chairperson is part of Amnesty
International’s Mission to Somaliland .

At least 50 journalists are known to
have fled the violence in Somalia in the last couple of months.
The Commander did not give details as to why he made the order, but only
said that the journalists had become a security threat to Somaliland . "We all know that these journalists fled Mogadishu due to immediate danger
to their lives.

It is therefore unjustified for the Somaliland authorities,
aware of the danger back home, to deport these journalists. Besides,
Somaliland must adhere to international refugee laws that discourage
governments deporting refugees back to their home countries when the
violations that caused their fleeing in the first place are still existing",
says Hassan Shire Sheikh, Chairperson EHAHRDP/Net

Appeal:

EHAHRD-Net calls upon the Somaliland authorities to respect international
human rights principles and immediately withdraw the order or immediately
hand over the journalists to the UNHCR office in order to facilitate a third
country resettlement where their lives will not be in danger;

EHAHRD-Net further urges all Network members to make an urgent appeal to the
Somaliland authorities to desist from deporting these journalists.

Please send appeals to;

His Exellency President Dahir Riyaale Kahin

Fax: +252 213 8324; +252 252 3848

Email: sl_victory@hotmail.com; sl_victory@yahoo.com

Salutation: Dear President

Minister of Interior
Mr. Abdillahi Ismail Shabeel

c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs or The Presidency
Fax: +252 828 3271; +252 225 3871
Email: slforeign@hotmail.com

Salutation: Dear Minister

Minister of Justice
Mr. Ahmed Hasa Ali

c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs or The Presidency
Fax: +252 828 3271; +252 225 387
Email: slforeign@hotmail.com

Salutation: Dear Minister

Commander of the Somaliland Police

Mr. Mohamed Shaqadi Dubad

c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs or The Presidency
Fax: +252 828 3271; +252 225 3871
Email: slforeign@hotmail.com

Salutation: Dear Commander

Copies can be sent to the Somaliland missions (not recognised) with the
request to be forwarded to the Somaliland authorities:

United Kingdom
Mr. Osman Ahmed Hassan
Representative of the Somaliland Government
Somaliland Mission
102 Cavell Street, London E1 2JA, United Kingdom
Fax: +44 207 247 5336

United States of America
Mr. Saad Sheikh Omar Nur
Representative of the Somaliland Government
Washington DC, USA
Fax: +1 301 231 5990
Email: snoor@sand.com
For further information, please contact EHAHRD-Net Chairperson directly on
his Mobile number in Somaliland [until tomorrow]: +252-24121231

Regional Coordination Office
EAST AND HORN OF AFRICA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS PROJECT (EHAHRDP)

Human Rights House, Plot 1853, Lulume Rd., Nsambya
P.O. Box 70356 Kampala,
Uganda
Phone: +256-414-510263(general)/ext.112
+256-414-267118(direct)

Fax: +256-414-267117

E-mail: ehahrdp@yahoo.ca, hshire@yorku.ca

Website: http://www.yorku.ca/crs/AHRDP/index.html