Islamic courts direct Somali businessmen to not deal with enemy

Feb 2, 2007 (MOGADISHU) Somali Islamist militia warned businessmen from collaborating with the transitional federal government saying money taken from them goes to colonialist forces.

The Somali Union Islamic Courts in a radical move has issued a warning to Somali business community prohibiting flight companies, export import businessmen, and hotels restaurants owners from dealing with the Somali government or the Ethiopian forces.

The Somali Islamists exonerate, in a statement posted at the UIC website Qaadisiya.com, those involved in essential requirements such as food and fuel etc.

Companies and business people can use ports and airports where the enemy is not robbing the people. If they do not do that then they will be regarded to be the same as those who feed the enemy, the courts said.

“This is not the time to pursue personal gains at the expense of the general good of freeing our country and our people from the enemy.”

“Anyone who puts their personal interest before the interest of the people and the country will be deemed to be the same as mercenaries Abdullahi Yusuf and Ali Gedi and we shall treat them as such.” The statement said.

The violence in Somalia could delay the planned deployment of African peacekeepers, who are supposed to fill the void left by departing Ethiopian forces and help the government maintain its tenuous grip on power.

Ethiopia, whose continued presence is deeply unpopular among Somalis, says it does not have the resources to stay and already has begun withdrawing, presenting the possibility of a dangerous power vacuum.

(ST)