Hargeisa(Sunatimes)- A press conference was this week held in Hargeisa, Somaliland by members of the Somaliland human rights umbrella group Suhuro-net and members of the Somaliland parliament to discuss the recent false allegations against Qarannews.com by the Somaliland Foreign Minister, Dr. Mohamed Abdillahi Omar.

According confidential reports received from within Somaliland by Qarannews.com, minister Dr. Omar allegedly accused Qarannews.com of having ties to international terrorism and ofengaging in hacking activities. These allegations by the minister cameinto light as a result of correspondencesbetween the minister and a diplomat of the British Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

During the press conference, Suhuro-net spokesperson, Mr. Saleban Ismail Bulaale described the allegations by Somaliland Foreignminister, Dr. Omar against Qarannews.com as been "far-removed from reality".

Mr. Bulaale stated that the minister's allegations are in direct contravention against the norms of civilised nations and against Somaliland's constitution.

According to Mr.Bulaale, spokesperson for Suhuro-net, the minister made several errors which are beyond comprehension considering the stature of the minister and the avenues open to the minister within the Somaliland civil code of conduct.

Mr. Bulaale declared that the Somaliland Foreign Minister, Dr. Mohamed Abdillahi Omar was hasty in making his allegations against Qarannews.com without concrete proof. Furthermore, the minister should have pursued the matter through the Somaliland courts instead of appealing to British Intelligence via the British embassy to investigate a journalists froman independent media because he, the minister, disagreed with the articles printed in Qarannews.com.

Mr. Abdirahman Aw Hog, a member of the Somaliland parliament also participated in the press conference to discuss the allegations of the Somaliland Foreign Minister, Dr. Mohamed Abdillahi Omar against Qarannews.com, its staff and senior editor, Mr. Mohamed Jama.

Mr. Aw Hog stated that the whole purpose of an independent media in Somaliland is to keep the government and other state institutions accountable to the people of Somaliland.

Mr. Aw Hog emphasised that every independent media in the world has to right to provide news service to its readers and subscribers. This, declared Mr. Aw Hog, is a pillar of democracy and Somaliland is no different from any other democratic nation in the world.

The Somaliland Foreign Minister, Dr. Mohamed Abdillahi Omar, has according to parliamentarian Mr. Abdirahman Aw Hog, the right to seek redress on any issues that he, the minister, by consider as incorrect or miss-represented, through the judicial system in Somaliland, instead of throwing around allegations of terrorism!

However, Mr. Aw Hog continued, the minister or any other serious government official should not besmirch or put in jeopardy the safety of a journalistby appealing to a foreign government, however friendly, by making baseless and ludicrous allegations.

Somaliland has a vibrant and free media, and Somaliland websites, such as Qarannews.com are visited regularly by over 50,000 readers on a daily basis spread across the globe, announced Mr. Abdirahman Aw Hog, and it is a sign on a progressive, democratic and accountable society, added Mr. Aw Hog.

In conclusion, Somaliland member of parliament, Mr. Abdirahman Aw Hog, described Qarannews.com as one of the most popular and leading websites in Somaliland and stated that the Somaliland Foreign Minister, Dr. Mohamed Abdillahi Omar's allegations against Qarannews.com will have major implications against the current Somaliland government's dealing with the independent media in the country.

Mr. Aw Hog stated that he would whatever he can to advise the United Kingdom government, including the Prime Minister's office, the Foreign and Commonwealth and the British Embassy, that neither Qarannews.com, nor its staff nor its senior editor, Mr. Mohamed Jama have and or ever had any links to international terrorism or engaged in any hacking activities.

By Roda Abdi