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USA reports: Somaliland Faction’s Human Rights Violations In Regions of Khatumo State of Somalia.
By A. Hindi
June 27, 2015
Somaliland security forces regularly suppressed supporters of the self-declared Khatumo state in its eastern regions of Sool and Sanaag during the year. The use of force resulted in numerous casualties and internal displacement of persons. In one such intervention on August 28, Somaliland security forces launched a military offensive against the political group in Sardheer town, Sool region, reportedly killing nine and forcing other political supporters to flee to Ethiopia.
Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from:Share
a. Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life
Somaliland committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. and executed persons without due process. Armed clashes and attacks killed civilians (see section 1.g.). Impunity remained the norm.
Political Prisoners and Detainees: The number of persons detained during the year for politically motivated reasons was unknown. Somaliland arrested journalists as well as other persons critical of authorities (see section 2.a.).
Somaliland authorities also arrested, detained, and denied a fair trial to Khatumo state supporters for political reasons. In August, Somaliland forces arrested 19 Khatumo supporters from Sool region, who remained imprisoned in Burao, Toggheer region, at the end of the year.
g. Use of Excessive Force and Other Abuses in Internal Conflicts
Killings: Somaliland used military force throughout the year to suppress supporters of the self-declared Khatumo state (see section 1.a.).
b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association
Freedom of Assembly
The federal provisional constitution provides for freedom of assembly, although in practice this right was limited. A general lack of security effectively limited this right in many areas.
On June 12, Somaliland forces disrupted a conference organized by Khatumo state supporters.
Other Conflict-related Abuses:
There were multiple reports that humanitarian access to the contested territories of Sool and Sanaag, between Somaliland and Puntland, was restricted. NGOs reported incidents of harassment from local authorities in both Somaliland and Puntland.
c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
The provisional federal constitution prohibits torture and inhuman treatment. Nevertheless, torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment occurred. The Monitoring GroupViolence and Harassment:
Freedom of Association
Somaliland authorities prevented civil society from participating in meetings related to the federal process, which it perceived as undermining Somaliland independence claims.
d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons
Somaliland prohibited federal officials, including those of Somaliland origin, from entering Somaliland. It also prevented traditional elders in Somaliland from traveling to Mogadishu to participate in federal government processes.
Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including:
Freedom of Speech and Press
The provisional federal constitution provides for freedom of speech and of the press. Somaliland subjected journalists to violence, harassment, arrest, and detention.
Freedom of Speech: In Somaliland persons often lacked the ability to criticize authorities without reprisal, particularly to criticize officials’ alleged corruption, their capacity to deal with security matters, and their mental and physical fitness to govern. For example, in Somaliland, Minister of Interior Ali Mohamed Waranadde prohibited opposition parties from conducting a national dialogue conference, calling it illegal without presidential involvement.
Somaliland abused and harassed journalists with impunity. on Somalia and Eritrea reported it received a number of allegations of torture committed by NISA officials.
Somaliland authorities beat journalists. Somaliland,arbitrarily arrested journalists
According to the Somaliland Journalists Association, local authorities systematically harassed and arbitrarily detained journalists. On July 14, Somaliland military forces arrested Adam Mohamed Karaama, a correspondent for Universal Television, in Sool region and detained him without charges for 10 days for allegedly publishing a story accusing Somaliland military forces of committing extrajudicial killings.