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From Garoweonline.com Somalia
The president of Somalia's Puntland State government has sent his Eid greetings to all Somalis and all Muslims worldwide, while sending a clear message to the public about peace in the wake of Thursday's suicide bombing at Mogadishu airport, Radio Garowe reports.
The president started off his talk with an Eid message of peace and prosperity for the people of Puntland, for all Somalis, and all Muslims around the globe. Eid-ul-Fitr is the Muslims' celebration after a month-long fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, which ends today Thursday. "I pray to Allah that He removes the heavy burden on the suffering people of Somalia and He protects the public from the aggressors," President Farole said. President Farole said he prays to Allah to "restore the unity and brotherhood of the Somali people" so that Somalia can be saved from years of armed conflict, drought and mass displacement. He condemned Thursday's suicide bombing at Mogadishu's airport that killed dozens of soldiers and civilians, including African peacekeepers, as "savagery" and urged the Somali people to work towards attaining peace. READ: Somali suicide attackers hit Mogadishu airport Ongoing trip to Ethiopia and Djibouti Puntland’s leader told the press conference via telephone that his ongoing trip to the neighboring countries of Ethiopia and Djibouti is part of keeping all the region’s governments up-to-date on new developments. "Especially in Somalia, where there is a national collapse and the Somali people have been unable to become self-sufficient, especially in the central and southern regions [of Somalia] but even we [in Puntland] have not been spared the violence although Allah has given us a quick victory," President Farole said, while referring to a Puntland military offensive in Galgala hills to flush out Al Shabaab insurgents led by wanted fugitive Mohamed Said Atom. The President noted that Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, is the headquarters of the African Union and major regional offices for world governments. He indicated it was part of Puntland's role to update all interested parties on developments in Somalia from time to time. President Farole praised the Djiboutian government, saying that it was a "duty" for him to stopover in Djibouti before returning to Puntland, adding: "The Djiboutian government has helped the Somali people over the years and has worked hard to restore peace in Somalia." The jailed journalist President Farole was asked about the case of Puntland journalist Abdifatah Jama Mire, who was arrested last month by authorities and sentenced to serve a six-year term for "inciting violence," according to court officials.
Al Shabaab is an extremist group in southern Somalia that is responsible for suicide bombings, assassinations and attempts to overthrow the Western-backed Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and expel its African Union (AMISOM) allies. Mr. Mire's lawyers have appealed the conviction and an appeals case is ongoing. Most of Puntland's independent media agencies have called on the government to release the jailed journalist. "As you know, the Government has different branches. That individual [Mire], I heard, that he is not the director of Horseed radio [in Bossaso] but that he is among the subordinates," the President clarified. Mr. Mire is identified as the deputy director of Horseed Media, a Bossaso-based independent radio station, although most press reports identify him as the radio's top director. President Farole explained that the different branches of government function accordingly in Puntland, adding: "The Judiciary is independent of the administration, which I head." Puntland's leader was unequivocal on security, saying: "Security will not be compromised for anyone or any party. We are in a time of war and anyone who commits a crime, whether they work at a radio station, or at a court, or for the police, or even for the administration, will be held accountable." President Farole was critical of Horseed Media and its owners, whom he said publish Internet postings that "blame and defame people." READ: Disguising Defamation and Support for Violent Fanatics as 'Press Freedom' [Editorial] Recently, Horseed Media website posted a story claiming that President Farole had personal dislike of the jailed journalist, Mr. Mire, since 2003 when Farole was Puntland's finance minister. But the President rejected these claims. "The lies and defamation they [Horseed Media] post cannot be tolerated. They have written lies and insults full of negativity and which violate regulations and laws of the State [of Puntland]. I have never had any personal misunderstanding with this man [Mr. Mire] and he has not written negatively about me. He was a photographer and did not write stories," President Farole said during the telephone press conference. Galgala conflict Puntland's president said he does not want to speak about "military matters" in Galgala hills, around 60km west of Bossaso, Puntland's commercial hub. The Galgala militants, led by Mr. Atom, are blamed for a string of bombings and assassinations of officials, soldiers and civilians in Puntland. Puntland troops launched a military offensive against the Galgala militants and their hideouts on Aug. 8. The soldiers quickly seized control of three facilities used by the fleeing militants, including a training camp where bomb materials were found. Referring to the militants who are now hiding in the mountains, President Farole said: "Our troops won the war. Any man who hides and troubles the people [with bombings] is desperate for his life…he is a man who cannot else much else." President's message to the public President Farole urged the people of Puntland to uphold and to protect their hard-won peace in erstwhile chaotic Somalia.
The president especially warned the public to be keenly aware about the troublemakers "who hide among the public, inside the refugee camps and even at companies." He asked the Puntland public to "assist the security forces so they can secure Puntland's security, development and stability." President Farole said the public's help "should not be a favor to any particular person, but should be for the interest of the common good so that Allah can protect us from the suffering of our brothers in southern Somalia and may Allah can save them." Puntland, located in northeastern Somalia with shores along the Gulf of Aden and Indian Coast, declared itself a federal autonomy in 1998 and has functioned peacefully since with elections and orderly transfer of power from one president to the next. Puntland is nominally allied to the Western-backed TFG in Mogadishu, although Puntland manages its own affairs in politics, security and the economy.
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