Riyale's Order To Close Parliament A Setback For Somaliland
Heavily armed police and military units have cordoned the parliament building and surrounding areas. The police were ordered to enter the building later and close the offices of the MPs and the parliament building itself. Several MPs who refused orders to leave their offices or the parliament building were forcibly removed.
Earlier the MPS heard the legality of the proposed impeachment of the president and the vice-president from parliamentary legal adviser in which he confirmed that the MPs followed the correct legal framework during submission of the motion for a parliament hearing.
However before the parliament session could proceed, one pro-Riyale MP produced a loaded gun and threatened the speaker and the deputy speakers before the police confiscated the gun. The armed MP, Abdirahman Mohamed Jama (Abu Xoog), who should have faced dismissal remains free and is unlikely to face arrest from the police under Riyale's orders.
As a result of the security incident the parliament leader decided to close the session and informed the MPs that the hearing will commence on Saturday. Within minutes however the police entered the parliament hall and ordered everyone out of the building.
Riyale's interior minister confirmed that he ordered the closure of the parliament for an "indefinite period" for what he termed "security reasons". This appears to be a premeditated plan by the minister and at least the armed MP to disrupt the normal sessions of the parliament while the impeachment motion is on the table.
The speaker of the parliament's house later told reporters that he received news that police visited his house while he was away. The speaker, flanked by his two deputies, spoke about how today's events "portend ominous consequences" for democracy in Somaliland. They vowed to carry on discharging their duties to the nation as MPs.
President Riyale who controversially stayed in power after his 5-year elected term ended in May 2008, has the Guurti extend his term until October 29 2009 by which time an elected president must be in place. The election that was slated for September 27 is unlikely to be held after Riyale decided to suspend the voter registration list.
The order to close the parliament is among a series of grave actions taken by Riyale lately that present severe setbacks for the democratization process and the long term stability of the country.
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