KULMIYE Fighting for Freedom of Awdal People – By Ismail Muumin Aare.
The government of Somaliland prohibited all public meetings of the opposition political parties. This was clearly an attack on the constitution of Somaliland which allows for the free assembly of the citizens.
This was surely a step on the slippery slope that ends in tin pot dictatorships. KULMIYE decided to challenge this illegal action of the government of Somaliland by organizing meetings that were held in all the major cities of Somaliland.
The party felt that it is in the best interests of the nation to ensure that freedom of assembly and freedom of speech are defended now at this cross roads moment of time.
Throughout the country the government responded with a show of force, rapid propaganda through stated owned media and intermittent harsh treatment of KULMIYE Party leaders. KULMIYE offices in Borama came under particularly harsh repressive measures. The offices were surrounded by police, traffic and army personal. The participants of the meeting were harassed, some were beaten up. There were no deaths but the armed security services were clearly there to intimidate the public.
The leadership of the KULMIYE party in Borama expressed surprise and dismay at the ferocity and intensity of government actions against the public. The leaders of KULMIYE made it clear that they will accept no repression and no oppression of the people of Borama; not now, not ever.
Prof. Ismail Mumin Aare
