Radio Mogadishu Voice of the Great Somali People (in Somali) — 1100 GMT

Mr. Mohamed Farah Aideed, the chairman of the Somali National Alliance (SNA), who is also the chairman of the USC (United Somali Congress), today issued a decree addressed to politicians, tribal chiefs, elders, young people, women, (word indistinct) and religious leaders of villages, districts, and regions controlled by the SNA, as well as district and regional leaders, the SNA military commanders and security forces.

The decree number SNA/XG/G/512/94, which contained various directives, read as follows:

I take pleasure in sending you warm greetings based on a great deal of confidence.

In his decree, which was also addressed in the form of a reminder to the vice chairmen of the SNA and chairmen of the SPM (Somali Patriotic Movement), SDM (Somali Democratic Movement), SPLU (Somali Party League Union), SSNM (Southern Somali National Movement) and SAMO (Somali African Muki Organization), the USC secretary general, the SNA internal affairs central committee and the SNA supreme committee for defense, Aideed also said he had received a lot of complaints from the villages, districts and regions where some Somalis were guilty of injustice, robbery, apartheid, attacks, creating insecurity, failing to respect each other, corruption, looting, murder, rape, depopulation, causing division among the Somali people, lack of support for each other, blocking development, and other offenses.

Mr. Aideed reminded those he addressed of the SNA struggle based on peace, unity, development, freedom, equality, brotherhood, respect for and practice of the Islamic religion, cooperation, peaceful coexistence, and respect for Somali sovereignty and human rights, whether political, social, military, economic or other.

Therefore, he ordered the SNA officials to convene meetings in their respective areas to be attended by SNA army members, the security forces, the police, and prison forces and give them instructions to correct the above-mentioned wrongs in line with the above-mentioned SNA principles. He said he believed that a concerted effort should be made to eradicate injustice and other misdeeds which God forbade in Islam. Instead, people should abide by what Islam taught to be right. He said it was important that people were organized and made aware of and informed about programs which they were supposed to consult and implement.

He said it was also important to hold open debate and consultations on ways of opposing foreign interference in Somali internal affairs because, as Somalis, we should sort out our affairs and be on guard against foreigners attempting to divide us and play us off against each other.

Mr. Aideed said he had particularly received complaints, which he had since confirmed, from SAMO supporters. He said their assets, acquired through physical and mental effort, had been looted. He directed that his decree should be read aloud to all people at village and regional levels and all orders contained in it should be implemented by correcting the misdeeds mentioned above.

The decree said anyone violating the directives would be brought to court. People led by chiefs and wisemen should defend the SAMO supporters’ personal and property rights. He called on them to form progressive groups drawn from social organizations and the security forces to counter any problems that might arise.

Finally, Mr. Aideed directed the SNA leaders and representatives to present him with accurate information about the situation of the people and the extent to which they had implemented his directives. He also asked them to convey his greetings to people of all ages and ranks whom he wished (word indistinct), health, and enjoyable work.