DATE=7/31/2000
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=MOGADISHU / SHARIA
NUMBER=5-46757
BYLINE=LUCINDA GORRINGE
DATELINE=MOGADISHU
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Delegates from Somalia have been meeting at a
reconciliation conference in Djibouti since early May
to try to end more than a decade of fighting. Since
the overthrow of the late military ruler Mohamed Siad
Barre in 1991, Somalia has had no central government
and has been torn apart as rival factional leaders
tried unsuccessfully to fill the power vacuum.
Despite all the years of conflict, there has been some
progress in restoring order in Somalia's capital,
Mogadishu. Lucinda Gorringe has this report.
TEXT: /// STREET ACT ///
The sounds of a busy street in central Mogadishu are
typical of many of the streets in this wrecked city.
Burned out automobiles line the streets, and almost
all the old Italian architecture is destroyed. With
little infrastructure, virtually no police force or
government, Mogadishu has been left to the divided
factions or clans to rule the streets.
Ordinary life has been dangerous, but things have
begun to improve. Two-years ago a strict Islamic
penal code - called Sharia - was set up in one part of
the city. The court it set up succeeded in removing
armed bandits and hundreds of roadblocks that had been
set up by the different clans.
There are now five courts, each one headed by a
different clan and each responsible for a portion of
the city. All are united under the chairmanship of
Hassan Sheikh Mohammed Adde, who says they want to
bring stability to the city.
/// ADDE ACT ///
We do not want to found a government, we (are)
not running to be responsible for this country,
we do not want to be presidents, or prime
minister of the country, we do not want that.
We want to save our people. It is not yet time
to talk about who will be president of this
country. We have to get out of this problem
first of all. And the only way to do this is to
ensure the security of the whole country, and
how to form a government democratically, we do
not want to force people to believe, we are not
a faction, and we are not like other factions,
we are a part of society.
/// ACT ENDS ///
With previous Somalia peace talks having been so
unsuccessful, Shiekh Adde says he is very cautious.
While most people are very supportive of the courts,
faction leader Mohammed Ka-rare-rah Afrah is not
impressed.
/// AFRAH ACT ///
There is no law and order. There is not one
meter of control. They say they make the prison
and capture criminals, but it is not true. In
fact, they increase the criminals because nobody
recognizes them. Nobody recognizes them, they
increase instability and doubts and the problems
among the people.
/// ACT END ///
But most people feel that security has greatly
improved in Mogadishu. Management consultant, Hussien
Maloim Iman, says because of the courts he can return
to the city to begin life again.
/// IMAN ACT ///
Here in Mogadishu and around here, they have a
lot of support, people's hearts. I would say
they face a lot of difficulties. They are
lacking financial support, this in the long run,
although they have been very effective in the
short term, this shortage, they can not
maintain.
/// ACT ENDS ///
The courts have their own militia, which acts like a
police force. The militia is paid by local
businessmen. This is a necessary relationship since
the courts could not survive without the businessmen,
and business is finally starting to take off because
of the increased security. One businessman who
supports the Islamic penal code of Sharia is Bashir
Osman Mohammed.
/// MOHAMMED ACT ///
Every business society has a main responsibility
to invest their money as they can to bring back
the stability and peace within the environment.
That is why, let us say, the business people are
funding for the implementation of the Sharia,
because to get back the security first, and then
when there is security in every environment,
then we can have an atmosphere people can
discuss about their future. I hope if, every
part especially the war lords contribute their
part, there is the only way we can get the
peace, it is the only way we can bring back our
nationhood.
/// ACT ENDS ///
Although there is some concern that the introduction
of Islamic law might lead to Somalia becoming a haven
for fundamentalism, so far there have been few signs.
The sense of security has brought more freedom of
speech and increased people's confidence. Whatever
the results of the Djibouti Peace Conference, many
people feel there is a long way to go before there is
a real consensus in this divided land. (SIGNED)
NEB/LG/GE/RAE
31-Jul-2000 08:36 AM EDT (31-Jul-2000 1236 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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