A Washington DC Rally for Somali Unity
One People; One Country
Washington DC, January 14, 2007 (NSPU News) - A large peaceful demonstration was held today at two locations in Washington, DC: The United States Department of State and United States Capitol Hill, to protest the visit to the Nation’s capital by politicians from the secessionist enclave in Northwest Somalia, led by Colonel Dahir Rayale, a former officer of Siad Barre’s dreaded National Security Service (NSS). The peaceful demonstration, attended by hundreds of concerned Somali-Americans and Somali-Canadians from many States and Provinces was organized by the Coalition for United Somalia (CUS), which represents many different grass-roots organizations. Leaders from the CUS- affiliated organizations met with State Department and Congressional staffers and presented documents and information debunking the secessionist agenda and setting the record straight.
The rally was addressed by Mr. Mohamed Abdi Hashi, former President of Puntland State of Somalia and other dignitaries. Mr. Hashi who is from Las Anod City, which was recently invaded by Somaliland, talked about the benefits of a United Somalia versus secession and the history of the former British Somaliland Protectorate and how, in 1960, it voluntarily united with the former Italian Somaliland. “Both of these defunct entities are long dead;” “Anyone who wants to resurrect them from the grave belongs to a lunatic asylum!” Mr Hashi stated. Also participating in the rally was the prominent Somali Playwright and Human Rights advocate, Dr. Osman Aw Ali, who also addressed the rally and introduced his speech with these moving words: “Somalia might have been without an effective government for many years, the country might have been subjected to mindless turmoil, the people might have been torn apart along clan lines in the struggle for power and resources, but despite all these negative reputations, there is one strong positive countervailing national quality: unwavering support for the unity of Somalia is the one thing that united Somalis before independence and that continues to unite them today; with the sole exception of a misguided minority in the northwest corner of the country whom we should reach out and persuade them to abandon their misguided and destructive project.” Participants carried placards and signs denouncing secessionism and affirming the Somali Republic's national unity and territorial integrity. The peaceful rally was covered by a number of media, including the BBC and VOA; and having accomplished its goal, ended in a peaceful orderly manner; with the crowd chanting: ONE PEOPLE! ONE COUNTRY! SOMALIA IS ONE; SO IS THE USA! |  |
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