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Grievances
against Bossaaso Police Misconduct
By
Roobdoon Forum
roobdoon2000@yahoo.ca
As we are talking now, someone, somewhere
in an African country is being thrown into prison cell, being
beaten up, tortured or being interrogated on trumped up charges.
Hundreds more up and down the continent are being subjected
to other forms of inhuman treatment in the hands of the police,
army or secret police [1].
Comment made by a member of an NGO at the eleventh session
of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
(ACHPR) held in Tunis, Tunisia.
Sheekh Aduun, director of the Bossasso radio affiliate of
the private STN network, and Awale Jama, an editor at the
station, were freed yesterday without charge, according to
STN director Omar Nur Guutale in Mogadishu. They had been
jailed since June 30 in connection with the station's reporting
on the mayoral campaign in Bossasso, according to local sources
[2].
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Press Release,
New York, July 13, 2005.
Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of human Rights states
that “[n]o one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
[3].”
When decisions are made to protect the public, strategies
(i.e. means to an end) are consciously or unconsciously employed.
In the case of policing and handling the safety of the public,
the end is the improvement of the security force’s capability
to accomplish its goals. The selection of the strategy generally
involves the establishment of a series of ends, means and
priorities.
We know that policing is a complicated issue, by the fact
that Somalia is in the midst of civil wars, and sometimes
the police itself produces conflict or pursues ambitious goals
that cannot be attained. However, there are two objectives
which all security related institutions serve:
The first objective is the maintenance of law and order –
handling disputes, a family quarrel, and a street disturbance
by teenagers etc. The second objective is law enforcement
– the use of legal sanctions, usually by means of arrest,
to individuals who harm/threaten or deprive innocent victims.
Nevertheless, Bossasso Regional State Security Forces have
lately known not to perform their tasks satisfactorily. Numerous
Puntland media have recently directed criticism at the police.
All of their criticisms are well known and often valid, but
Puntland administration is frequently ignoring the conditions
that are giving rise to these criticisms. The Administration,
for example, is frequently charged for hiring unqualified
policemen who suppress or manipulate crime reports and more
importantly use improper or illegal procedures, including
torturing detainees. The answer to why all these criticisms
are true to some extent lies to two explanations: Torture
seen as a social control mode; and what we call “Duur-joog”
theme – both is complementing each other.
Afflictions in Detention Centers
To control masses that have been bad-administered is not an
easy task. As scholar Matthew Lippman observes, “The
major function of torture today is its use by many regimes
lacking popular support who desire to inculcate a climate
of fear and political apathy in the general population [4].”
In addition, “Torture may also be used to incapacitate
an individual psychologically or physically and thereby render
the individual politically ineffective [5].”
Torture is universally and unanimously condemned in Puntland
Constitution and human convention. Yet, it is still mostly
definitely practiced in Puntland detention centers. Although
Puntland officials continue to condemn all forms of torture
publicly, their deep conviction of human rights does not support
their strong language. Many ex-prisoners of Bossaaso detention
centers (see below) charge against prison soldiers of dereliction
of duties, cruelty, assault, indecent acts, and maltreatment.
In fact, these officials sometimes justify some of the torturing
procedures and contend that killing is worse than torture
– reminding their subjects that killing is rampant in
other parts of Somalia (i.e. Mogadishu environs). They also
insist that torture is permitted when the situation is out
of control – i.e. when the situation consists of “war”
between the central authority and its so-called enemies.
Duur-joog (bad-recruits)
Although explanations vary, the variations of bad-policing
theme in Bossaaso can be summed up as “Duur-joog”
who find their way into the police work through nepotism,
and clan-affiliation. “Duur-joog” refers here
to un-qualified, unintelligent, clan-oriented, rude, brutal,
intolerant, or insensitive men. “Duur-joog” recruits
enjoy expressing their prejudices and crudeness in the name
of the law. Not only do “Duur-joog” fail to do
the right thing/prevent crime, they systematically take pleasure
in to do the wrong thing/actually cause crime [6]. “Duur-joog”
is just one expression of the growing concern over the problem
of policing procedure which has recently accompanied the tremendous
widespread abuses in Bossaaso detention centers.
Bossaaso Detention Centers
When an individual is arrested, he/she is held for trial
in what is known as police cell, a jail, a detention center,
etc. These centers generally serve a double purpose: to keep
those who are waiting trial, and those serving sentences for
minor offences. To mention a few about the minimum standard
requirements, police cells should have good ventilation, proper
food, cleanliness, protection from infectious disease, and
access to counsel and family/friends. On the contrary, there
are extremely serious allegations against Puntland detention
centers and its prison guards; and it can’t just be
ignored. The forum therefore proposes that an independent
judicial commission of inquiry should be appointed, to investigate
Bossaaso detention centers. Such investigation would help
find out what is happening to the detainees. Those “Duur-joog”
recruits who are responsible for such misconduct must be weeded
out of the security forces as a matter of urgency. The liability
should not end with the recruits involved in the abuse incidents;
but the politicians and high-ranking officials who authorized
such acts are equally liable.
Local Media
In Puntland, local news-reporting is a costly and risky enterprise
used by local internet websites, newspapers, and local radio
broadcasters. There had been a worrying avoidance of covering
police misconduct by the local media, especially Bossaaso-based
media. The Roobdoon observers who are studying Somali mass
media and its influence on the issues that is sensitive and
noticeable before the public have discovered the lack of freedom
of expression in Puntland Regional State. Admittedly, only
lately we, the Forum, have examined the means of coercion
employed by the “Duur-joog” recruits in maintaining
authority and in furthering the political and economic interests
of the ruling junta.
Unfortunately, the “Duur-joog” recruits in Bossaaso
have been much less studied than the “Mooryaans”
in Muqdisho – although we know now that it would be
rash to assume that they were less important. The high visibility
(via Somali websites) of public reaction against Puntland
security forces has indicated the impression that public attitudes
are predominantly negative. This shared understanding can
have self-fulfilling consequences. In the case of Bossaaso
district for example, since the “Duur-joog” recruits
often view locals as holding more hostile attitudes towards
them, they often take a more authoritarian attitude in order
to assure that actions will be seen as legitimate. Hence,
instances of “Duur-joog” brutality occur and are
covered by the media.
A Journalist’s comments on Human Rights Abuses
in Bossaaso Prison
Waxaa in la xuso mudan xili aan ku xirnaa
Xabsiga Magaalada Bosaso in aan la sheekaystay maxaabiis gaaraysa
120 maxbuus oo iyagoon wax maxkamad ah aan la soo marin lagu
xiray xabsiga Bosaso. Danbiyo kala duwan oo aan jirin islamarkaasna
qof bini'aadam ah aan loo qaban ayay maxaabiistaasi ku xiranyihiin
mudo sanado ah iyo Bilo markii aad weydiisana waxay kuu sheegayaan
ina ay yihiin(rumaan) ama maxkamed suge oo sharcigiisu yahay
in uu xabsiga ku xirnaado 45 casho. Xiligii aan maxaabiistaasi
wada joognay oo ay ogaadeen in aan ka mid ahay saxaafadda
waxay intooda badan igula dardaarmeen in aan tacadiyada haysta
dadka u soo bandhigo. Waxaa dhibaatooyinka haysta ka mid ah
cunto xumo, daawo la’aan, iyo qaarkood oo qaba cudurada
faafa sida TB-da, Malaria, Cholera, iyo waliba aneebiya ama
dhiig la’aanta oo dhammaantood ay la ildaran yihiin
[7].
For few days, he has been detained in Bossaaso detention
center. During his detention period, he met local political
leaders, traders, and criminals with minor offences under
dire condition. And to all, he posted on the internet and
wired a message to concerned advocacy groups about the plight
of the prisoners in Bossaaso.
His name is Cawaale Jaamac Salaad. He is a journalist from
Bossaaso based website: www.biyokulule.com. He is a social
activist who decided on his own will to “report”
the above grievances and message from the detainees, with
the knowledge and support of his Bossaaso community. Mindful
of the political reality of his constituency, Cawaale Jaamac
firmly believes in freedom of expression. In his opinion,
he, neither creating nor supporting any political party, would
unconditionally defend the supporters of human rights. His
work is “highly regarded” by the Roobdoon Forum.
An admirer of Cawaale Jaamac, the Roobdoon Forum, was disturbed
lately over the news that he was harassed and arrested for
days without being found him guilty. Outspoken in our affirmations
on human rights, we, the forum, clarify our position on the
current Puntland Administration: “the Administration
is an assault against human rights, the dignity of the human
being, and God. In Bossaaso detention centers, human rights
are continuously violated by the security forces.”
Roobdoon Forum
Toronto, Canada
roobdoon2000@yahoo.ca
References
[1] Brian Moyo, “Visions
of Brutality,” West Africa, 30 March-5 April (1992):542.
[2] Committee
to Protect Journalist, “Two Puntland Journalists Freed,
But Harassment Continues,” Press Release (New York,
July 13, 2005). http://allafrica.com/stories/200507140633.html.
[3] See also
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article
7; U.N. Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners,
Article 31.
[4] Matthew
Lippman, “The Protection of Universal Human Rights:
The problem of torture,” Universal Human Rights, Vol.
1, No. 4 (Oct., 1979): pp. 30.
[5] Matthew
Lippman, “The Protection of Universal Human Rights:
The problem of torture,” Universal Human Rights, Vol.
1, No. 4 (Oct., 1979): pp.29-30.
[6] See various Somali websites
on police misconduct in Bossaaso in September 03, 2005:
http://www.radiosanaag.com/almukaram.htm
; http://www.dhahar.com/news/0309205.html
[7] See Biyokulule news, July17,
2005: http://www.biyokulule.com/taaran.htm.
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