Mogadishu refugees you're not welcome here
Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 10:18 am
BOSSASO, Somalia Oct 22
Dr. Abdirahman Farole, President of Puntland
"Some of these people [migrants] come to Bossaso in order to cross the Gulf of Aden and beyond…but among them, there are some who are sent to destroy us," President Farole warned, adding: "Some of them have military training from foreign countries. Eritrea is one of them. There may be other countries."
Puntland's leader said that there is a "distinction between Somali citizens and ethnic Somalis." He said that the Somali Embassy in Yemen is issuing "go home visa to ethnic Somalis and this is unacceptable."
"Only Puntland natives can return home to Puntland," he said, adding that the government will contact the Somali Embassy in Yemen regarding this issue.
Puntland's leader warned the public to remain vigilant about the hordes of unknown persons flocking to major towns in Puntland. He cited a recent example where Puntland security forces arrested an unknown number of suspects, saying: “We know they were trained and we have arrested them."
President Farole strongly stated: "Anyone who was trained as a terrorist cannot live in Puntland. We will not allow anyone to undermine our security or the security of our neighbors, such as Ethiopia."
He said the UN Secretary-General's Under-Secretary for Human Rights, Mr. Walter Kaelin, visited Bossaso earlier this week to discuss the situation of Internally Displaced People (IDPs).
"We told him [Kaelin] that 'enough is enough.' Puntland can no longer afford to live in danger. We told him that the UN can build a big camp outside of Galkayo," President Farole said, while referring to Puntland's southernmost town that connects the peaceful region with south-central Somalia, most of which is ruled by insurgents.
He noted that the unchecked number of persons who enter Puntland daily as IDPs or economic migrants pose serious security threats to Puntland, including terrorism and other dangers.
Dr. Abdirahman Farole, President of Puntland
"Some of these people [migrants] come to Bossaso in order to cross the Gulf of Aden and beyond…but among them, there are some who are sent to destroy us," President Farole warned, adding: "Some of them have military training from foreign countries. Eritrea is one of them. There may be other countries."
Puntland's leader said that there is a "distinction between Somali citizens and ethnic Somalis." He said that the Somali Embassy in Yemen is issuing "go home visa to ethnic Somalis and this is unacceptable."
"Only Puntland natives can return home to Puntland," he said, adding that the government will contact the Somali Embassy in Yemen regarding this issue.
Puntland's leader warned the public to remain vigilant about the hordes of unknown persons flocking to major towns in Puntland. He cited a recent example where Puntland security forces arrested an unknown number of suspects, saying: “We know they were trained and we have arrested them."
President Farole strongly stated: "Anyone who was trained as a terrorist cannot live in Puntland. We will not allow anyone to undermine our security or the security of our neighbors, such as Ethiopia."
He said the UN Secretary-General's Under-Secretary for Human Rights, Mr. Walter Kaelin, visited Bossaso earlier this week to discuss the situation of Internally Displaced People (IDPs).
"We told him [Kaelin] that 'enough is enough.' Puntland can no longer afford to live in danger. We told him that the UN can build a big camp outside of Galkayo," President Farole said, while referring to Puntland's southernmost town that connects the peaceful region with south-central Somalia, most of which is ruled by insurgents.
He noted that the unchecked number of persons who enter Puntland daily as IDPs or economic migrants pose serious security threats to Puntland, including terrorism and other dangers.
