Hiiraan Online
Monday, July 11, 2011
Mogadishu, Somalia (HOL) - The Somali government is forcing its lawmakers to ratify the controversial Kampala accord that paved way for the resignation of the immediate former Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Famaajo, a cross-section of lawmakers told the local media on Monday.
Some members of the bloated Somali parliament said the government is usurping their constitutional mandate by forcing them to ratify the agreement which they said is against the country’s embryonic constitution.
"The Kampala agreement is against the spirit and letter of the country’s constitution. When we have seen that the government agenda was force us to ratify the accord, we raised confrontations yesterday” said Abdi Abshir Dore a Somali lawmaker
“The parliamentary speaker said he will use the security agents to harass and intimidate the opposition members if we don’t approve the agreement by today (Monday). We are telling them that we are ready to die by all means”
A heated parliamentary discussion on Sunday failed to approve the Kampala agreement architected by president Sharif, speaker Hassan and Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni.
Lawmakers on Sunday threatened to impeach the speaker of the parliament Sharif Hassan through a vote of no-confidence in a 420 member sitting after the executive persuaded the MPs to approve the bill.
Somalia’s opposition parliamentary members strongly opposed the draft which they claim that it entails controversial articles that violates democracy and political tolerance.
They strongly argue that the agreement is a deliberate move designed to repress oppositions and intimidate opponents and serves the interests of few individuals within the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG).
Some vocal lawmakers said they will not ratify the agreement vowing to stay opposed to the articles of the accord even if they will be intimidate or not.
“We don’t expect the two Sharifs to force us to approve a controversial agreement. The agreement does not serve the interest of the nation and that of people” said Abdi Dheere
MP Bood Abdalla who is in the line of the opposition members said they will not change their stand regarding the agreement whatever force the government will use against the MPs.
The 10-point Kampala agreement is yet to be fully endorsed by parliamentarians. So far only Farmaajo resigned within days after it was signed on June 9, to break the political deadlock between President Sheikh and speaker of parliament Sharif Hassan and establish a road map for national elections as well as a new constitution.