Politicians Fozia H Yusuf, Ibrahim Dagaweyne & Ahmed Sandoon presented case to chief JusticeBy: Yusuf M Hasan

HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – The Consortium of Parties has submitted it member's case to the chief justice in Hargeisa.

The consortium which is made up of five parties which were disqualified as viable contestants in forthcoming local council elections handed their joint case to the chief justice sitting at the high court in Hargeisa. The five disfranchised political groups of NDB, UDHIS, GURMAD, JAMHURIGA and HORYAL jointly presented their case against the Political Parties Registration & Verification Committee-PPR&VC.

In their case the political groups accuse the PPR&VC of having acted unconstitutionally when it disqualified 9 groups out of 15 following a nationwide verification exercise. The groups claim that they have documents and audio visual proving that they compiled with all verification requirements as established in article 14.

On receipt of the case documents the chief justice Dr Yusuf Ismail Ali said that he will peruse the documents before making a decision as to its merit for hearing. The chief justice reiterated his earlier promise to the groups that the court will be fair in its judgment of the case as the country's judiciary system is free from executive dictates thus impartial.

The political leaders who presented the case to the chief justice include Mujahidin (freedom fighter) Ibrahim Abdilahi Dagahweyne-UDHIS, MS Fozia Haji Aden-NDB, and Councilor Ahmed Sandoon- Jamhuriga among others.

Since the controversial decision by the PPR&VC the consortium of parties members have embarked on diverse means to reclaim what they term as denied constitutional and democratic rights. These activities include demonstrations by their supporters that have been broken through might of force by security forces in a number of towns in the country. The demonstrations have also seen MS Fozia of NDB, Sandoon of Jamhuriga and Sh Madar of UDHIS spent a couple of hours as guests of the government following their arrest by police in Hargeisa.

During His independence day speech to the nation on 18th May president Silanyo urged the disqualified groups to accept the PPR&VC decision thus facilitate ease of holding forthcoming general elections, citing himself as an example after he accept defeat in 2003 presidential elections that he lost in a margin of 80 votes.

In response to the president's urgings, the chairperson of the consortium of disfranchised political parties MS Fozia H Aden said the groups were treated illegally and will not rest until they attain their quest for constitutional, human and democratic rights which are enshrined in the country's constitution.

She termed the 2003 defeat of current president Silanyo by a margin of 80 votes by former President Dahir Rayale as legal and acceptable because the defeat came via an election, Said she, "our defeat is illegal and unconstitutional because it comes not only before elections are held but before even the date of holding the elections is known"

Despite assurances of an impartial judiciary, the leader of Horyal Mr. Mustafa Abdilahi Jama has termed the outcome of the case as a foregone conclusion as the chief justice is encumbered by political pressures. The Horyal leader said that his group which presented its case to the high court a month ago is yet to receive an answer.

Now that the disfranchised groups have presented their case against the PPR&VC to the court it is hoped that the chief justice will expedite hearing thus settle the dispute once for all, as continued controversy might impinge on successful local council elections not to mention prevalent security