Hiiraan Online
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
In a press statement released by the US government expressed concern over what it calls the TFG’s role in stifling peaceful political discussions and silencing its critics. The US had evidently took this issue with great worry, although the state government had not indicated the steps it will take concerning the matter
“The TFG reportedly blocked the parliamentarians’ travel because it opposed their participation in the workshop, which had been organized to discuss modalities for holding elections for the Parliamentary Speaker and TFG President later this year” read part of the statement from US Nairobi embassy following the drama at Mogadishu airport.
“The United States reminds the TFG of the commitment it made to the United Nations Security Council to enhance reconciliation and complete the transitional tasks which include completing the constitutional process that will end the transitional period and bring sovereignty and legitimacy back to Somalia”
More than 40 MPs of the bloated Somalia Transitional Parliament were on Monday rejected to travel from Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu to various destinations. In the statement the embassy said majority of the parliamentarians were en route to an elections’ Workshop in Nairobi while some others were on a separate mission to an event in Ethiopia’s capital. They also included a group who were departing on personal travels.
Reliable sources indicated that several of the MPs were threatened with weapons including three who were said to have been physically assaulted in what seems to be a move that drastically affects the image of the Somali government.
No official communication has since sufficed from officials of the moribund government concerning the incident; neither was there any apology extended to the members of parliament who were embarrassed and humiliated.
The humiliation at the airport for Somalia’s political leaders will seemingly be a political leverage for the government’s antagonists who will use the shameful incident to preach against the western-backed authority of Sheikh Sharrif.