Document #1149525
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
According to an article published in the
Indian Ocean Newsletter (14 July 1990), the Somali Manifesto
I was reportedly issued by the Council for National Reconciliation
and Salvation (CNRS). The signatories allegedly included "lawyers,
businessmen, sheikhs and elders, and former ministers, diplomats
and members of parliament" (Africa Confidential, Vol. 31 No.
12, 15 June 1990). The Manifesto, bearing 114 signatures,
reportedly blamed the government for the civil unrest in the
country, human rights violations, mismanagement, and ethnic rivalry
(Ibid.).
In response to the Manifesto, 46 of its
signatories [this is at variance with other newspapers/newsreleases
which report 45] were arrested and "charged with crimes that carry
the mandatory death sentence" (The Independent, 14 July
1990). On 15 July 1990, 45 signatories were found "not guilty"
and released for lack of sufficient evidence (The Xinhua General
Overseas News Service, 15 July 1990). For detailed information
please refer to the attached documents.
The attached documents are:
Somalia: Manifesto Number Two", Indian Ocean Newsletter, 14
July 1990, p. 6.
"Somalia: Dissent", Africa Confidential, Vol. 31 No. 12, 15
June 1990.
"Somalis Risk Death Sentence", The Independent, 14 July
1990. p.34.
"Somali Capital Calming Down", The Xinhua General Overseas News
Service, 15 July 1990).
A copy of the Manifesto.