Chain of Protests Against Somaliland Atrocities
Biyokulule Online
March 06, 2011

In the last few weeks, a chain of protests were sparked after the outbreak of Hargeysa-orchestrated clan wars caused the death of many civilians in Cayn region. 

And yesterday`s simultaneous demonstrations held in London (UK) and Buuhoodle (Somalia) are part of chain protests against warlord Silanyo and Premier Cameron`s Government. 

In chilling cold weather, several hundreds of British-Somalis took part in the demonstration in London to protest against �Somaliland� aggression in Cayn region. They converged on the Prime Minister`s Office at 10 Downing Street. They called for the immediate cessation of Hargeysa`s clan-based hostilities against the people of Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn (SSC).

The protesters were carrying banners and placards inscribed with anti-Hargeysa Administration slogans. Some of the posters read: �Somaliland militia is torturing SSC civilians�, �Somaliland militia out of SSC land�, �British taxpayers` money is used to subjugate the innocent people of SSC by the junta of the so called Somaliland�. 

The speakers at the rally pointed out that the SSC regions were part and parcel of Somalia. Since the demise of the Somali Central Government in 1991, the inhabitants of the SSC regions have had little and/or no access to international aid for economic development; however, they have maintained peace with their neighbours. They stressed that the SSC population was fighting against the Hargaysa Administration`s expansionist plans and that they refused to secede from Somalia.

Somalis belonging to different spectrum and political affiliation staged this impressive but peaceful protest against the atrocities being committed by the Somaliland militia in the Kalshaale-Meygaagle-Hagoogane area.

A number of Somali-British and International media who witnessed the demonstration were able to gauge the depth of the feelings regarding the issue of Hargeysa aggressions against the SSC regions. Although the event served as a support and morale booster for the SSC people and its self-defense forces, it would also be helpful in bringing the sad plight of the SSC people to the attention of the International Community.

As many observers are aware, the Kalshaale massacre was one of the atrocities that Silanyo`s Administration committed in the midst of its campaigns of intrusion into SSC regions; and it was also a world-shocking tragedy produced by the Isaaq-dominated Hargeysa Administration.

Last month, Hargeysa militia stormed and captured parts of Cayn region and they began massacring and detaining many Dhulbahante nomads. With brutal and callous force, Hargeysa militia killed more than 50 people, by shooting, burying alive, and burning them.

With such irrefutable truth, Hargeysa Administration is trying to distort and obliterate it.

Protestors shouted: �Kalshaale massacre is a historical truth�. They also said in an excited way: �The Kalshaale massacre symbolizes SSC people`s sufferings. SSC people will never forget it, and it is part of SSC people`s memory � Denying historical truth challenges SSC people, and the SSC people will never tolerate it � Silanyo cannot crush the SSC self-defense forces despite aggressive attempts.�

The protestors demanded from the British government to give up their dual standard on the Somalia issue and Human Rights and take immediate action for the end of atrocities held in SSC regions.

Buuhoodle Protest

Waving Somali flags and carrying posters emblazoned with words of condemnation, the protesters burned several secessionist �Somaliland� flags. They showed a strong disapproval against the high degree of cruelty being perpetrated on the people of SSC by Silanyo`s Administration and condemned the inaction of the International Community.

Buuhoodle protesters were also shouting words loaded with anti-British slogans. In their angry words, the organizers of the protest said that not only the British government was acting as a silent spectator but it also promised that it will triple its aid to Hargeysa Administration.

Many of the speakers underlined that their people were being killed and maimed by ammunitions paid for by the British taxpayers.

Clearly, Buuhoodle protestors want to tell the world that British taxpayers` money goes to killing innocent people.

Protestors expressed forcefully their opposition towards the British Government and underlined that British Prime Minister David Cameron shoulders the largest share of responsibility for the violence and terror perpetuated upon them by the Isaaq-dominated Hargeysa militia. They said: Premier Cameron`s expenditure of taxpayers` money on lawless regional warlords in Somalia will ensure more anger from British taxpayers, sparking demands of accountability and probably punishment in the near future.

Cameron`s Government should spend its time and money on exporting its deepest values, freedom and democracy, instead of funding clannish leaders that promote conflicts and engaging itself on frivolous clan wars raging in �Somaliland�.

Hargeysa clannish Administration relies on sources of funding as varied as Western NGOs activities, drug (khat) trade, and hawala trade-based money laundering (Dahabshiil enterprise etc). Therefore, Roobdoon Forum promises to make major strides in choking off the funding of Silanyo`s Administration, trying to challenge, first and foremost, all the loopholes sprung from in the name of aid.

In Laascaanod, tensions had been running high since the occurrence of Kalshaale massacre. On Saturday afternoon, hundreds of participants in a demonstration, organized by anti-Hargeysa intruders, formed a rally and chanted �we do not want occupation� and �Allah is great�. Hargeysa militia with technicals rushed into the scene to break up the demonstration.

The militia fired shots at the crowd, killing at least one civilian; and subsequently, the demonstrators responded by throwing stones to the militia. It is not the first time that Hargeysa militia brutally crushed anti-occupation demonstrators, killing of women and children.

Finally, these coordinated demonstrations in London, Buuhoodle, and Laascaanod vigorously called for an immediate end to the occupation of SSC regions and the complete, urgent, and unconditional departure of secessionist Hargeysa militia from these regions. These huge demonstrations revealed the hidden power of the SSC people.