Mogadishu Domestic Service radio (in Amharic) 110O GMT

Abd ar-Rahman Husayn of the Somali Embassy in Addis Ababa is under strict guard by Ethiopian armed soldiers. The Ethiopian Government accepted him as a Somali diplomat and granted him the required visas to Addis Ababa. Suddenly they changed their minds and claimed that he is an Ethiopian. We would like to remind the Ethiopian Government of something else:

In 1884 a son was born at Gara Multa in Harar province to an inhabitant of that district. This son grew up under Egyptian rule which represented the Ottoman Empire. The son grew up, renounced the name Tafari given him by his father and called himself Haile Selassie.

The fact remains that Haile Selassie was born and grew up in Somaliland. They say Abd ar-Rahman was born in Ethiopia. Reports from Addis Ababa reveal that life in Addis Ababa is unsafe and painful. Secret police are at the heels of every person.

Nationality and citizenship are well respected in Somalia. Nationality is a matter of personal choice and not something to be obtained with gun and threats.

Haile Selassie, having been born and grown up in Somaliland, is a Somali by birth and can enjoy a safe and fully democratic life here as a Somali national if he wishes.

He will find life very much easier than in Ethiopia.

He will find that the police are friends and protectors of the citizens and not their enemies.

He will find the military is here to protect the country and citizens against foreign invasion and not to torture civilians.

He will see a government working on public opinion, serving the people according to the opinion of the majority and helpful to refugees who seek peace in the country.

Perhaps Haile Selassie will one day enjoy the generous treatment given to refugees by the Somali Republic.

Kingship is out of date, and it is better that he should seek Somali nationality and a peaceful life in the republic before it is too late.

_{FBIS-FRB-62-203, 17 Oct. 1962, pp. I17-I18}