|
August 17, 2007:
Remembrance Day For Sultan Hurre And His Likes
(SHHRF 0092/2007, 13 August 2007)
(English version)
August 17, 2008 is the fifth anniversary of the heinous
murder of the respected, educated and reform-seeking traditional leader,
Sultan Ahmed Hurre, in Puntland, Somalia. As admitted by Colonel Abdullahi
Yusuf to the High Court of the United Kingdom, Sultan Hurre was killed by
Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf own bodyguards in an extra-judicial execution. This
type of execution was similar to those carried against Colonel Farah Mohamed
Said (Farah Dheere) in 2002 and Abdirahman Aideed in 1984. What these men
shared was nothing else but by being the political opponents of Colonel
Abdullahi.
Sultan Ahmed Hurre is believed to be the victim of
political killing, a policy common in Somalia today. Only a few days ago,
the world was shocked by the evil killing of Ali Iman Sharmarke and Mahad
Ahmed Elmi, two prominent journalists. The latter hosted a popular radio
talks show on Capital Voice, while the first was the co-founder of
HornAfrica media. Both men where loved by their communities. And one year
before, it was the turn of Abdulqadir Yahya, a renowned Somali peace
activist who was killed in front of his family. All these brutal killings
are set in an environment known as political killings.
August 17, 2002 has entered into the annals of Somali
history as the day of mourning for all peace-loving Somalis. It is high time
to condemn political killings. It is high time to say no to get away with
political assassinations. We condemn the death and mayhem in Mogadishu and
elsewhere in Somalia.
It has been reported that in London some isolated
Puntland community members are commemorating the 8th anniversary
of the formation of the current set-up. We believe that this date has been
set coincidentally with the day when the sultan was slain. We ask the
community to observe both the bright side and the dark side of Puntland
history.
We urge all the Somalis to remember August 17 as
Remembrance Day for all Somalis killed for political reasons. We ask you to
express your feelings this day in a different ways. Our slogan is to “stand
against the culture of political killing”.
Sultan Hurre Human Rights Focus (SHHRF)
August 2007
|
