February 06, 2007 - 13:21
An open letter to President Riyaale: Set Haatuf journalists free 
Mr President, Somaliland has become known as the "country that can", an oasis of democracy in desert of instability, Africa's shining example". These titles have not come about by a chance; it is the result of combined efforts of successive Somaliland governments, including your present administration, and sweat and hard work of ordinary Somalilanders who love freedom and democracy. Somalilanders are proud of these hard earned and well deserved names. You must also be very proud of this great achievement. This will go down in the history books and your name will invariably be associated with it long after you are gone.
Mr President, Somaliland's wilful imaging of herself as "an oasis of democracy and freedom" has lately suffered huge setbacks. The news wires world wide reported the unlawful imprisonment of the three Haatuf Journalists. All of sudden, our country, the African nation that can, is too close to be discredited as a "banana republic" led by a lone driver, albeit a dictator. Freedom lovers world wide are watching the Haatuf Saga with caution. In particular, our friends are certainly questioning incompatibility between the unlawful arrest of our Journalists and the democratic ethos our nation claims to be advancing in search for international recognition. The Haatuf affair has already cast a doubt over our democratic credentials; a price which we can ill afford to pay at this critical juncture of our history. Mr President, Somalilanders would want you to be remembered as a defender of freedom; and not as the man who shot freedom in the foot and in the process, killed this nation's chance of international recognition.
Mr President, this country stands justice for all as her very claim of existence as a nation depends on it. The unlawful imprisonment of the three journalists works against all that Somalilanders aspire to. Without actual advancement of just cause our claim for thus becomes suspect, cosmetic and only self-serving.
Recall the Samsame affair - that badly managed case of the teenager from Puntland. Somalilanders stood shoulder to shoulder with this young girl. They did so out of love for freedom and not - as the politically naive would have us believe - dislike towards their government – your administration. If anything is learn from her case, it should underline our people's resolve, love and determination to defend freedom. The Haatuf affair has all the hallmarks that characterised Samsame's case and caused a national embarrassment. If anything, it should be it and all that was wrong about it. It walks like it, talks like it and above all, as an unpalatable as it is, certainly tastes like it. The truth is no amount of political spin, no press conferences or presidential press releases on your behalf or otherwise will make it tastier, talk better, or turn its ugliness, which stares right into faces of all Somalilanders, up side down to beautify it even an iota. It will remain as ugly as when it first appeared, even uglier without the unconditional and immediate release of the tree journalists arrested.
No Somalilander with conscious would drive a pleasure from Haatuf's deliberate mud slinging at the shining reputation of our Firs Lady, Huda Barkhad Adam. Somaliland's first lady deserves far better treatment than that dealt to her by Haatuf. Haatuf's attempts to drag Huda and some of her close relatives at the centre of their allegations have but gained them the scorn and disgust of anyone who truly cares about this country. And had it not been your government's interference, I have no reason to believe that Somalilanders would have continued to allow their daughter to suffer at hands of Haatuf's sleaze. Whatever merit or demerit Haatuf's allegations carry should be a matter for the courts to decide. Those of us, who love Huda dearly, as much as we believe in defending the freedom of others, should settle with the outcome of the courts. But the courts should be let free of your government's manipulation; they should not only be transparent but seen thus. Mr, president no one should be above the law including you and your family. You should set an example for others to follow in defending the freedom of all.
A number of prominent Awadalites have recently written publicly about the current Haatuf saga. The list of open letters todate stands uncountable and just to name some they include among others, Dr Mohammod H. Tani, a freedom fighter, a man who knows what it is like to be taken away one's freedom. Somaliland's leading journalist, Bashir Goth, whose word has an international reach, has set special banner at his website, Awdanews Netowrk, calling for the unconditional release of the imprisoned journalist. Dr Abdishakur Sh. Ali Jowhar, a man of wisdom who is certainly at home in measuring this country political mood as the pulse of his own patients. Although he has gone step further in recruiting our clans name for better cause in his call for your administration to reform. His basic message carries the same truth and related pain we have all felt despite the emotionally charged voices from some corners. Mr President the combined weight of these men of wisdom and their considered views on this unpalatable affair should mean something to you, hear their voice of reason and take their advice.
Mr President, do the right thing and release the three journalists straight away. Democracy is under test in our country and you must show the world that Somaliland is a champion of freedom; that the names she has rightfully earned thus far are but what she is truly made of, that this land is the land of the free and that she deserved to be recognised thus internationally.
Abdirazak Musse Kamil
Cardiff –
abdikamil@hotmail.com
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