Press Release
23 June 2008
Interpeace and its Somali partners (the Center for Research and
Dialogue – CRD, the Puntland Development Research Center –
PDRC, and the Academy for Peace and Development – APD) are
deeply saddened by the assassination of Engineer Mohamed Hassan
Kulmiye, Director of CRD’s satellite office in Beletweyne,
Somalia. We extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to Engineer
Kulmiye’s family, friends and colleagues and share with them
in their grief.
Engineer Kulmiye has played a vital role and worked tirelessly for
peace in the Hiraan region and Somalia as a whole. He effectively
started up CRD’s peacebuilding operations in the central Somali
region of Hiraan, establishing CRD’s first satellite office
in Beletweyne. Over the last two years, Engineer Kulmiye and the
CRD team were able to engage the different key actors and community
leaders of the Hiraan and central regions and unify them towards
peace. The Peace Caravan CRD led throughout the Hiiraan Region last
year, the Mudug clans peace agreement and the Mahas and Elbur social
successful reconciliation interventions were a wonderful demonstration
of both his commitment to peace and the impact his efforts had.
Interpeace will not be deterred by this cowardly act. We will continue
to support the efforts of the Somali people -backed by the goodwill
of the international community -to secure peace, stability and rule
of law in their country. Interpeace remains absolutely committed
to support our Somali colleagues in bringing long-lasting peace
to the Somali region through our Somali peacebuilding programmes
and the support to our three partners on the ground. This work is
the legacy of Engineer Kulmiye, the late Abdulkadir Yahya and other
fallen colleagues and friends whose commitment to peace cannot be
derailed by the mindless, despicable acts of the cowards that hide
behind the gun. The long-term commitment Interpeace and our partners
have to the Somali people can only be possible through the courage,
tenacity and hope that resides in each and every Somali who truly
believes in peace. This is how we will remember our brother, Engineer
Mohamed Hassan Kulmiye.
The tragic deaths of Engineer Kulmiye and other heroes of peace
in the Somali region are solemn testaments to the extraordinary
struggle of the Somali peace activists, the civil society, the media
and the entire community that work on the front-lines of peace.
They are courageously walking the path towards a peaceful settlement
and the start of real recovery for the Somali people. The only way
forward for the Somali people and international community is to
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE. In honor of Engineer Kulmiye and other fallen
peacebuilders, we must redouble our efforts to ensure that such
a PEACE is realized.
For further information, please contact:
Interpeace
+ 254 (0) 20 3754 167
+ 41 (0) 22 917 87 11
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