By M.A. Egge
The Ethics, Arbitration and Supervision Committee of the Electoral Commission continue their disciplinary measures as it has once again meted its punishment for erring political parties, public and party officials who have been flouting the laid down regulations and indulging in acts contrary to the code of conduct for organizations and parties as per cue.
The latest hammer comes down on the Presidency Director General Mr. Mohamed Abdi Bile who have been found guilty of blocking other political parties and organizations from accessing the public City Square and ironically allowed only the ruling party KULMIYE to conduct its campaigns.
This goes against the Presidential Decree that directed the state to avail all public gathering spots such as the arenas, gardens, squares etc to be available for the competing parties in the elections.
The committee thus fined the DG 20m SL/Shs for the misdemeanour on Tuesday.
They also fourthwith suspended the ruling KULMIYE party and the main opposition one, WADDANI, from conducting campaigns during the nights.
This comes after the Sunday ruling by the committee that KULMIYE, WADDANI and KAAH were fined 100m, 50m and 50m respectively for various reasons.
So, too, were the Minister of Youth and Sports Abdirisaaq Farah Muse, Sec General of Kulmiye Party Faisal Abdirahman Madar, Chairman Kulmiye party campaign committee in Maaroodi Jeeh region Mustafe Kodah and Mohamed Abib Ismaan Siikawi who is a member of the Hargeisa local council.
While 10m SL/Shs was imposed on the minister, the rest of the KULMIYE officials were fined 5m SL/Shs each.
The Disciplinary Committee at the same warned once again that political parties and organizations should desist from holding campaigns in El-Afweyn; following a decision they had reached on earlier in the campaigns as they totally suspended political activities in the area in the initial ruling.