AMNESTY
INTERNATIONAL URGENT ACTION APPEAL
PUBLIC AI Index: AFR 52/003/2005
UA 127/05 Prisoners of conscience/ Fear of torture/ 18 May 2005
Incommunicado detention/ Possible extrajudicial execution
SOMALILAND Up to 100 demonstrators from the Gaboye minority group
Killed: Khadar Osman Dhabar (m), late 20s, married with 3
children
Following
a peaceful protest up to a hundred demonstrators from the Gaboye
minority group are held incommunicado without charge, either in Hargeisa
central prison in the capital of Somaliland or in unauthorised and
secret police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) detention centres
where they are at risk of torture. They had been protesting at the
shooting of Khadar Osman Dhabar by a police officer.
On 13
May, Khadar Osman Dhabar died in Hargeisa hospital of numerous bullet
wounds after being shot on the night of 11 May in the street by a police
officer. Details of the incident are still unclear but it seems that the
shooting incident occurred when two police officers approached Khadar
Osman Dhabar and his two friends in the Hawl Wadag area of Hargeisa. One
of the police shot him, knowing the three were members of the
discriminated Gaboye minority, against whom human rights abuses are
frequently perpetrated with impunity.
Later on
the 13 May, in an unprecedented and peaceful protest, a large crowd of
Gaboye and sympathisers went to the central police station and
president’s office. They were calling for justice following Khadar Osman
Dhabar's death and for their human rights to be respected. They were
confronted by armed police who used live ammunition against the
non-violent demonstrators, mostly shooting in the air and without
causing any fatalities. However, they did beat and arrest several
hundred demonstrators, including children and women. Many have now been
released.
Other
Gaboye were later arrested in police raids on Dami village on the
outskirts of Hargeisa, where most live in harsh conditions. Many have
fled or are in hiding, wanted by the police for alleged involvement in
the demonstration, criticising the government and calling for protection
of the human rights of the Gaboye minority. Amnesty International
considers the detained demonstrators and others arrested later to be
prisoners of conscience who are imprisoned on account of their peaceful
opinions and defence of the human rights of the Gaboye minority.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Gaboye is
the collective name in Somaliland for different occupational minority
groups (Musa Dariyo, Tumal, Madiban and Yibir) who number some tens of
thousands of people and suffer severe discrimination in this nomadic
pastoralist-based society. They are also found in Somalia. They
experience exclusion on account of their occupations as hairdressers,
metal-workers and blacksmiths, leather-workers and shoemakers,
herbalists and ritual specialists – services they traditionally perform
for the “noble” Somali pastoralist clans. They are customarily not
permitted to inter-marry with the pastoralist clans and thus have no
clan protection in the form of vengeance or compensation for murder or
other crimes. They equally have little or no protection in the state
system of administration of justice, which is controlled by clan
members, and in practice have little or no access to education or other
economic and social rights. Although attitudes to minorities are
improving, with two seats reserved for minorities in parliament, and
several Somaliland human rights organizations working with minority
associations to defend their rights, the minorities benefit little from
the human rights guarantees in the Somaliland Constitution and laws.
Cases of arbitrary detention, kidnapping, rape, torture and killing of
Gaboye with impunity are still reported in Somaliland as well as
Somalia.
The
self-declared Republic of Somaliland which is not internationally
recognized, was established in 1991 after the overthrow of the Siad
Barre government of Somalia. The north-western regions broke away to
form Somaliland within the borders of the former British Somaliland
Protectorate.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as
possible, in English or your own language:
- calling
for an impartial inquiry into the killing of Khadar Osman Dhabar and for
the police officer responsible to be brought to justice if the killing
is found to be unlawful;
-
appealing for the immediate and unconditional release of the detained
Gaboye demonstrators and others arrested later, for guarantees of their
safety and that they are not being subjected to torture or
ill-treatment;
-
appealing for the detainees to be allowed immediate contact with their
families, legal representatives, medical doctors if needed, and
representatives of humanitarian organizations;
- urging
the government to establish an independent inquiry to investigate
arbitrary violence and discrimination against the minorities, and ensure
that members of minorities have access to justice and equal treatment
before the law, in accordance with the UN Declaration on the Rights of
Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic
Minorities.
APPEALS TO: There is no postal service to Somaliland and fax
messages may be difficult. Copies of letters can be sent to the only
diplomatic missions (not recognised) in UK, USA and Italy asking for
them to be forwarded. Where possible please send appeals by email.
President
His
Excellency President Dahir Riyaale Kahin
Fax: +252 213 8324 or +252 252 3848
Email:
sl_victory@yahoo.com (sl_victory@yahoo.com)
Salutation: Dear President
Minister
of the Interior
Mr Ismail Aden Osman
c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs or The Presidency (as above)
Salutation: Dear Minister
Minister
of Justice
Mr Ahmed Hassan Ali Assowe,
c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Presidency (as above)
Salutation: Dear Minister
Commander
of the Somaliland Police
Mr Mohamed Egeh Elmi,
c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Presidency (as above)
Salutation: Dear Commander
COPIES
TO:
Minister
of Foreign Affairs
Ms Edna Ismail Aden
Fax: +252 828 3271
Email: slforeign@hotmail.com
Salutation: Dear Minister
DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS:
UK: Mr
Osman Ahmed Hassan, Representative of the Somaliland Government,
Somaliland Mission, 102 Cavell Street, London E1 2JA, United Kingdom,
Fax: +44 207 717 1718
USA: Mr
Saad Sheikh Omar Nur, Representative of the Somaliland Government,
Washington DC, USA, Fax: +1 301 231 5990
ITALY: Mr
Muhiyadin Ahmed Abdi Gabose, Representative of the Somaliland
Government, Corso Unione Sovietica 465, Torino, Italy.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check
with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending
appeals after 29 June 2005.
Waxaa soo tebiyey Eelay
Faafin: SomaliTalk.com | May 20, 2005
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