Somalia Posted May 18, 2012 A military court in Hargeisa, the capital of Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland, has sentenced 17 civilians to death for attacking an army base over a land dispute. An armed group of almost 30 civilians belonging to the same clan attacked soldiers at the camp on Tuesday, claiming the army had built on land they had owned for generations. A firefight ensued, during which three soldiers were killed, Somaliland’s Defence Minister Ahmed Haji Ali told the BBC’s Somali Service. Twenty-eight people were arrested and held overnight, and the military trial was held the following day. An attack on Somaliland’s military carries a mandatory death sentence for adults, the military court’s chairman told the BBC. The court convicted the 17 on Wednesday, saying the defendants had confessed to the attack. Riot police dispersed dozens of people who marched through Hargeisa’s streets on Thursday demanding their release, the Associated Press reports. Suldan Yusuf Muhumad, a clan elder representing the defendants, told the Voice of America that the court’s decision was made so quickly it did not allow justice to take its due course. A former British colony, Somaliland broke away from Somalia and declared independence in 1991 when the country’s central government in Mogadishu collapsed. It is far more stable than the southern and central regions and holds regular elections, though the international community does not recognize its independence. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Somalia Posted May 18, 2012 BBC NEWS A military court in Hargeisa, the capital of the self-proclaimed Somaliland, has sentenced 17 civilians to death for attacking a military base. The death penalties were handed down the day after the attack in which seven people were killed, a Somaliland official told the BBC. An armed group carried out the attack, claiming the military had built on land that they had owned for generations. Somaliland has escaped much of the violence that plagues Somalia. Swift case A group of almost 30 armed civilians belonging to the same clan attacked soldiers in the camp on Tuesday, leading to a firefight in which three soldiers were killed, Somaliland's Defence Minister Ahmed Haji Ali told the BBC's Somali service. After being arrested, 28 people were held overnight - and the military trial held the following day. Five minors were also given life sentences, after seven people - including three soldiers - were killed, a Somaliland official told the BBC. Three people were acquitted, and the trial of three others postponed because they had been injured during the fighting. The civilians had confessed and an attack on Somaliland's military carries a mandatory death penalty for adults, the chairman of the military court, Yusuf Farah, told the BBC. The BBC's Mohamed Mohamed says activists in Somaliland are likely to raise questions about the swiftness of the case - and whether the civilians had been properly represented. If the death penalties are carried out, there could be a backlash from other members of the clan involved and they may even resort to violence, our correspondent says. Land disputes are common and often complex in Somaliland, he adds. Somaliland unilaterally declared independence in 1991 after the overthrow of Somali military dictator Siad Barre. It is relatively stable and holds regular elections, which have seen peaceful transfers of power. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18101584 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
