Press Release: Somaliland Human Rights Organisations Network (SHURO-Net)
Sunday, 11 November 2007
Subject: Condemnation of Somaliland Forum and Somaliland International Recognition Action Group (SIRAG) biased Press Statements and blind support of the former deposed SHURO-Net Board of Directors.
It is very regretful to read from the internet two press statements that were released by two Diaspora organizations, called the Somaliland Forum and Somaliland International Recognition Action Group (SIRAG), both of which have condemned the Somaliland government over it’s routine participation in the opening of every Extra-Ordinary General Assembly meeting of a civil society organization and witness the legitimate changes of their leadership, as well as the legitimate elected new leadership of SHURO-Net.
It is also very sad to understand about the great length to which the two biased press statements has went to blindly support the versions of the former deposed board of directors of SHURO-Net without looking onto the other side of the coin, and on how matters has really happened.
Thus, without indulging in outright condemnations of unchecked informations, we would like that through investigations should be given to how things fell apart.
In other words, the Somaliland Forum and SIRAG organizations should become tolerant and either read the following statement that outline our version of changes and how they have occurred or otherwise become impartial before leveling your outright judgments:-
The outcomes of Extra-Ordinary General Assembly Meeting for member organizations of Somaliland Human rights Organizations network (SHURO-Net). Held on 24th October 2007 at Ambassador Hotel, Hargeisa Somaliland.
The Extra ordinary General Assembly meeting for 34-member organization of Somaliland Human rights Organizations network (SHURO-Net) whose names are attached herewith (see ANNEX 1 conducted on 24th October 2007 at the Ambassador Hotel Hargeisa.
The Extra-Ordinary General Assembly meeting was officially opened by the H.E. Yussuf Isse Talabo, the Deputy Minister of Justice as usual of such meetings and after the participants self introduction and chairing committee and ground rules set up the participants discussed about the wrongly use of the value and name of SHURO-Net.
The founding members of the Somaliland Human Rights Organisations Network (SHURO-Net), stated:
When we realized that the current Board of Directors of SHURO-Net have failed to implement strategic objectives and aims as per the constitution;
Having acknowledged that SHURO-Net turned into political affairs � which was prohibited the organisation’s day to day activities instead to being non political institution and impartial;
Having same vision, that the current SHURO-Net is working to implement the political interest of one political part, while the character of SHURO-Net is a private, voluntary, non-governmental, non-partisan and non-profit making organization, which strives to empower the public, promote, reinforce and safeguard human rights and fundamental freedoms in Somaliland, and be neutral at among political parts;
When we realized that the current BODs of SHURO-Net are deliberately violate against network’s internal rules and regulations (constitution), while they automatically abused the General Assembly power authority of firing (withdrawal) and the approval of the new membership, so far, we learned 13 new members illegally approved by the current BODs SHURO-Net while they debarred other four founding members of network.
After having the current BODs of SHURO-Net failed to organise the annual membership meeting in due its schedule period (which was dated in December 2006) at the same time, we noted they failed to conduct the regional membership coordination meetings during the last two years, in accordance the SHURO-Net’S mission, which is to strengthen and ensure coordinated efforts, share resources, information and collective action among human rights defenders and organizations to fully fulfil its role in protecting and defending victims of all human rights violations and promotion of fundamental freedoms without prejudice based on clans, race, language, religion and opinions through human rights awareness and education, advocacy, lobbying, victim support mechanisms and systematic monitoring and documentation of human rights violations.
Furthermore, we realized that the current BODs of SHURO-Net is unlawfully mismanaged the overseas trainings and seminars donated to the SHURO-Net, because they secretly send to Sudan one member which they select on the basis of hidden political agenda;
For that reason, till known, the current BODs and the management team of SHURO-Net weren’t distributed the copies of constitution of network, which was amended and approved during the 3rd GA meeting of network held on 28-29 December 2005, according to this, without the amended and approved and singed constitution by the lawful member organization of SHURO-Net presented at 3rd GA meeting then the legitimacy of both the BODs and the SHURO-Net is under question mark;
Furthermore, the participants contracted on the recently human right violation cases raised by our network are inequitable and unjust by the current leadership and agreed that they are unhappy about the current situation of the network, participants from the regions as well as other member organizations in Hargeisa affirmed that they have never receive any communication messages from the SHURO-Net since the previous 2005 General Assembly, so they have shown that they are not in high spirits with and the way the current leadership members perform in accordance with international and regional human right standard, therefore the participated 33 member organizations of Somaliland Human Rights Organizations Network (SHURO-Net) in this extraordinary meeting are jointly settled the importance of reaction and intervention for the promotion of human rights and organizational mandate of human rights protection and promotion for all Somaliland citizens.
The representatives from the 33 member organizations of Somaliland Human rights Organizations network (SHURO-Net) who have participated this extraordinary General Assembly meeting have discussed, reviewed and approved all the articles of the new constitution for SHURO-Net.
The outcome from the meeting can be summarized as follows:
Approved all the articles of the new constitution for SHURO-Net Approved the new applicant NGOs for the membership of SHURO-Net Nominated new leadership of SHURO-Net (Board of Directors) voted and democratically elected by the members for the coming two years 2008/09 Board of directors composed of 16 persons:
12 persons where 2 persons from each region for the 6 regions of Somaliland 2 persons representing minority people 2 persons representing the people with disabilities
The details of new elected board of directors are as follows:
Names
Mr. Abdilahi Aden Omer ‘Wayab’ - Chairperson - Somaliland Journalists Association (SOLJA) Mrs. Hoodo Mohamed Hassan - Vice Chairperson - Moonlight girls’ NGO based in Borama Mr. Suleiman Ismail Bolaleh ‘Xuquuq’ - General Secretary - HORNWATCH Osman Ahmed Abdi - Member - Activists Network for Disable People Mohamed Aden Folge - Member - Togdheer Voluntary Youth Organisation TOGYOVO Cibaado Diiriye Cartan - Member -Muruq iyo Maskax Women Umbrella in Berbera Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed ‘Carab’ - Member - XAQSOOR Human Rights Organization Lascanod Bare Ali Diiriye - Member - Saaxil Handicap Organisation (SHO) based in Berbera, Saaxil Abdillahi Ismail Jama - Member - Voice of Somaliland Minority Women Organization (VOSOMWO) based in Hargeisa Cabdicasiis Mohamoud Ahmed - Member - Somaliland Youth Salvation based in Borama Mohamed Abdi Abdilahi - Member - Somali Rights Watch (SRW) based in Burao, Togdheer C/qadir Mohamoud Ahmed - Member - Link Youth Voluntary Organization (LAYVO)Lascanod, Ali Suleiman - Member -VAYS Saado Awad - Member - Based in Erigavo ANNEX 1:
SHURO-Net member Organizations and Region:
1. Activists Network for Disabled People (ANDP) Hargeisa 2. Xaqsoor human rights organization Nationwide 3. Women’s Action for Rights and Safety Netwokr (Warsan) Hargeisa 4. Naaso Hablood Handicap Association (NAHA) Hargeisa 5. Disable Children Association (DCA) Hargeisa 6. Tumal Development Forging Organisation (WAAB) Hargeisa 7. Somali Rights Watch (SRW) Togdheer 8. Togdheer Voluntary Youth Org. (TOGYOVO) Togdheer 9. BARAAKO Toghdeer Development Org. Togdheer 10. Horn of Africa Human Rights Watch Committee (HORNWATCH) Nationwide 11. Somaliland National Disablity Forum (SNDF) Nationwide Umbrella 12. Minority Women Org. (ISIR) Awdal 13. MOON LIGHT Girl Organisation Awdal 14. ACARO Youth orgnastiaon (ACARO) Awdal 15. Somaliland Human Rights Ass. (SOHURA) Awdal 16. Tawakal Women Organisation Hargeisa 17. Link Youth Voluntary Organization (LYVO) Sool 18. Voluntary Youth Activists Org. (VAYS) Saaxil 19. General Voluntary Organisation (GAVO) Saaxil 20. Alxayaat charity Foudation Saaxil 21. Saaxil Handicap Organisation (SHO) Saaxil 22. Muruq iyo Maskax women Unberrala Saaxil 23. Somaliland Sport and culture Organization (SOCSA) Hargeisa 24. Tumaal Development Foundation (TDF) Hargeisa 25. Social Awareness and Progressive Intervention (SAABI) Hargeisa 26. Hargeisa Youth Development Association (HAYDA) Hargeisa 27. Hargeisa Handicap Women (HHW) Hargeisa 28. Somali Student Assembly (SSA) Hargeisa 29. Minority Voluntary Youth Org. (MIYOVA) Hargeisa 30. Baydari Minority Organization Hargeisa 31. Awdal Development Women Association (AWDA) Awdal 32. Somaliland Women Development Association (SOWDA) Awdal 33.Sabad Development Concern (SDC) Sanaag
For further information be required please contact either Mr. Suleiman Ismail Bolaleh (XUQUUQ), the secretary general of SHURO-Net, email: , Telephone 25224411317.
Halkan ka dhageyso