Somaliland: Ruling Party MPs Disrupt Parliament Session
Members of the ruling party parliamentarians violently disrupted the normal session of the parliament today. The UDUB members of the parliament who are the minority, were said to be fearful of possible sanctions against Riyale administration. Just over a week ago the parliament passed a bill ruling unlawful a decision reached jointly by president Riyale and the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to suspend the voter registration list.
The parliament gave the president and the NEC a week to comply with the ruling. That week ended August 20th without any response from Riyale.
Several UDUB MPs broke furniture and damaged other equipment as the normal sessions of the parliament were to begin. The Speaker of the parliament, Mr Abdirahman M. Abdillahi (Cirro) later announced the formation of a subcommittee composed of members from both sides to look into the complaints of UDUB MPs.
The Speaker said after holding talks with all sides an agreement has been reached that will allow the normal parliament sessions to continue.
Mr. Cirro, asked whether he was going to take appropriate actions against the MPs who violently disrupted the session and damaged equipment in the hall, said “He is offering to talk” to the MPs in question. “If that does not bring order [to the parliament], the law will be followed”.
“Their behavior is visible to the constituents from where they were elected.” he added.
Other MPs expressed revulsion and condemned the actions of the UDUB MPs.
Mr. Ahmed A. Kijandhe, a KULMIYE MP elected from Hargeisa region, accused Riyale of being behind the actions of the UDUB MPs. He said the actions of the MPs “is part of and follows the interruption of other lawful institutions in the country including the National Election Commission”. He added “these attempts to disrupt the parliament will fail”.
Mr. Kijandhe’s blame on the president, follows a recent reported meeting Riyale and some of his ministers had with the UDUB MPs.
3 Responses to “Somaliland: Ruling Party MPs Disrupt Parliament Session”
August 25th, 2009 saat: 10:57 am
Where are the police who should detain and charge these animals with vandalism? Where are the courts to convict them? Where are the constituents to condemn their actions? It saddens me to see how few criminal elements including Riyale can destroy a whole nation’s prospects of peace and democracy without any serious attempt to stop them.
August 25th, 2009 saat: 2:42 pm
[...] minus the lists, has provoked a series of domestic protests. Violence has broken out even in the halls of parliament itself, pitting administration loyalists against the opposition. Opposition leaders are threatening [...]
August 26th, 2009 saat: 2:40 pm
waa wax laga xumaado in mpda wadan ku marka laga bato ay sidii caruurt weelka daadshan.