REPORT OF WORKSHOP ON POSITIVE INTERACTION BETWEEEN THE POLICE AND CIVILIANS IN BOSASSO, GARDO AND GALKAYO

REPORT OF WORKSHOP ON POSITIVE INTERACTION BETWEEEN THE POLICE AND CIVILIANS IN BOSASSO, GARDO AND GALKAYO

PROJECT NAME	POSITIVE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE POLICE AND CIVILIANS
FUNDED AGENCY	SIDA OF SWEDEN
SPONDORED	DIAKONIA
IMPLEMENTING AGENECY	KAALO AID AND DEVELOPMENT

Introduction

Since the collapse of the central government in 1991, Somalia has been subject to widespread violence, clan conflict and instability. This prolonged clan or group conflict led to the rise of Al-shabab, a radical Islamist movement which still maintains control some southern parts of Somalia and mountainous areas of Puntland where they launch guerilla attacks to the main towns, particularly Bosasso and act sporadic killings in the other main towns in Puntland. Puntland is a region located in north-eastern Somalia, with capital of Garowe in which leaders in 1998 declared it to be an autonomous state. There is a huge threat of Al-shabab terror group and sea piracy to Puntland security which has great impact on stability of the horn. Criminal groups conduct kidnapping for ransom and piracy. The judicial system which is foundation of governance includes the police, the courts, and prisons are very weak. Therefore, there is great need for support to law enforcement institutions. There was also mistrust between the police and civilians that encouraged all crime actors to dare carryout missions such as killings, robbery, rape and all human rights violations.

KAALO, who is a partner of DIAKONIA held Workshops on positive interaction between the police and civilians in the towns of Bosasso, Gardo, and Galkayo which are aimed at improving the relationships between police and the public, a relationship that is currently widespread with distrust. The police were panelists in workshops, making presentation about the work they do, how it affects the public and the challenges they face. The discussion result understanding between the police and the civilians and agreed to improve their working relationship.

Each workshop targeted 60 persons from the police, internally displaced persons (IDP), clan elders, community representatives, local nongovernmental organizations, international nongovernmental organizations, local authorities, media, and private sector representatives. The total number of the people participated in the workshops are 180 persons.

The workshops resulted understanding and acceptance between the police and civilians with establishment of committees working for trust building and creation of positive environment allowing the two parts to work together to ensuring the security.

KAALO held a workshop of this type in Garowe last year 2012 in which its impact has currently reflected from ensuring the security of Garowe town. Very positive interaction between the police and civilians created and cooperation between the two sides on crime combating get to the highest level.

Civilians participated in the workshops were selected from the communities with the consultation and recommendations of the elders, local authorities, women organizations and other prominent figures in the communities. The members from the police were selected with the approval of their higher ranking officers.

Objectives of the workshops

To enhance understanding and trust building between the police and civilians
To promote democracy and human rights protection

S/N	Location or town	Duration of the workshop	Number of participants
1.	Bosasso	8^th -10^th April, 2013	60
2.	Gardo	13^th -15^th April 2013	60
3.	Galkayo	20^th -22^nd April 2013	60
		Total number of participants	180

Sequences of workshop sessions

S/N	Topic	Methodology	Responsible
1.	Greetings and reciting Verses from Holly Quran	Reciting	Part. & facilitators
2.	Introduction	Introducing among participants	Part. & facilitators
3.	Opening remarks	Speeches	Mayors
4.	Introduction of workshop objectives, funded agency, sponsored agency, implementing agency.	Explanation	Facilitator
4.	Police’s perception towards the people VS people’s perception toward the police	Group work & group presentations	Police, civilians & facilitator
5.	Crucial debate, between the police and civilians	Handling debate	Part. & facilitators
6.	Police duties	Presentation	Police
7.	Acknowledgement (acceptance)	Brainstorming	Part. and facilitators
8.	types of crimes, types of perpetrators, & victims,	Group work & presen.	Part. and facilitators
9.	Ways dealt with crimes & main actors of solving problems	Group work & presen.	Parti. & facilitators
10.	How do the police want the people to work with them & how do the people want from the police to provide them security services.	Group work & group Presentations	Parti. & facilitators
11.	Recommendations on how to build trust between the police and civilians	Brainstorming	Parti. & facilitators

Workshops Opening Ceremonies and Remarks

Workshops opening remarks began with greetings, verses from Holly Quran recited by one of the participants, then introductions, after that KAALO’s facilitators took the floor to explain the objectives of the workshop, funded agency, sponsored agency and implementing agency. This photo below shows Noor Shire, the facilitator explaining importance of the workshops for the security and stability of Puntland which demands for the police and civilians work together prior to the creation of positive and friendly working environment. After stating these explanations the facilitator gave the floor to the government authority that was opening the workshop.

Mr. Hassan Abddalla, Bosasso Mayor who was invited to open the workshop but had been busy and was not able to participate in opening ceremony but phoned the facilitators and participants encouraging them to give great consideration to understanding the objectives and aims of the workshop in which he said that he was very pleased with the workshop topics of “positive interaction between the police and civilians”. The Mayor said that Bosasso is multicultural town where many and different crimes take place every day which are difficult for the police to control without the support of the people, so he urged the people to take part in keeping the security of the town.

Mr. Mohamed Said Hoggamolaror, Gardo mayor opened workshop. In his opening remarks he stressed the importance of the workshop to civilians and police to getting them to work together for ensuring security of the town. He said that this type of workshop had never been conducted in Gardo and hoped its outcomes would lead the creation of trust building between the police and civilians then the security of the town will be improved.

Mr. Ahmed Ali Salad, the mayor of Galkayo town opened the workshop. He colorfully spoke the magnitude and significant of the workshop for the security of the town which is the main issue of the people. He said that Galkayo is one of most vulnerable town in Puntland regarding security and peace. Mr. Salad said lot of different crime cases take place in Galkayo every day. Killings, kidnappings, robbery and rape are most common crimes that happen in Galkayo. He hopped that this workshop will help to ensure the security of the town as the police and civilians support each other in crime combating .

The three Mayors thanked to SIDA, DIKONIA and KAALO for funding, endorsing and implementing the project respectively. They requested to get more projects on positive interaction

Usually the workshops started with reading/reciting verses from Holly Quran by one of the participants. When the introductions among the participants and facilitators completed facilitators used to make made introduction of the workshop objectives, funding organization, sponsoring agency and implementing organization and explained the sequences and procedures that the workshops would be followed.

Since the objectives of the project were to build confidence and trust between the police and civilians by establishing a positive and friendly environment that allows the civilians and the police to work together, it was important to explore the perception of one to another. The police and the civilians were asked to present their perceptions towards the other.

Civilians’ perception towards the police

The police do not respect the people; they turn their back when we call them to help us. They hate us, they are enemy.

· They are corrupt and bribe takers, they are part of the security problems

· The police torture prisoners and make abuses against the people both if they are in prison or in the streets;

· The police detain the people illegally, and there are prisoners who have never been taken to a court since they were arrested, they meet no lawyers or legal get support;

· The police rape women in the prisons and take part in raping girls outside of the prisons like other gangs and gunmen.

· The police do not carrying out their duties at all, they are just stick in the offices or at corners of streets for bribe collection or supporting thieves and robbers to get share.

· The police make power abuses when they are in the offices and they give special security services who offer them some money or khat (stimulant chewed green leaves).

· The police do not know anything about the law or the country constitution, their recruitment is based on clan militias, therefore they are not real police but legitimized gangs.

· When you call the police for help they do not come to you or crime site immediately, they come late and when the perpetrators ran away, therefore they do not want to come to face to face with wrong doers because they are friends.

· No one from the public wants to report and inform the police any case they have come across, because the police publicly tell the names of people who give them information, they Lack of secret keeping, therefore this puts the informer into risk;

· Police do not listen to when the people try to report them problems;

· They release detained suspects in return of money.

· There is no working relationship within the police, they do not respect each other, and there is a lack of obedience among the police members.

Police’s perceptions towards civilians

· People support criminals by hiding them in their homes; they give perpetrators money, and facilitate them to escape; people fight for the release of the perpetrators while captured and put in jail; they attack the police stations and prisons killing innocent guards to release criminals; therefore, they said there are civilians who could be described criminals regarding to their actions which are against to security building.

· The police get no any support from the civilians when they are running after perpetrators or suspects; or carrying out case investigations.

· The police obtain no support from the civilians when they need help to capture suspects or want to help a victim to take to hospital for medical treatment;

· The civilians do not believe or recognize that the police are their security service providers.

Heated discussions and meaningful debates between the police representatives and civilians started from there. Complains and blames to each other came to surface. The temperature raised and fell; the behaviour of the police and people participants changed showing aggression and attacks among them. That was very interesting because everyone was telling the truth and reality on the ground. The facilitators were always trying calm and cool down the situation to avoid frictions that lead the whole things to fall apart.

Col. Mohamud Farah Mohamed, police prosecutor from Bosasso, took the floor, using his experience and intelligence expressed his views on the issue of the police and civilians working together in ensuring security, by saying that for the last 6 months the security of Puntland have been appalling and the police obtained not support from the people. In additions to that, he said that he was sure if the people and the police work together the police will hold their responsibilities and civilians will get proper security. The colonel pointed out many problems and challenges against the service the police are supposed to provide the people. He said that there are lots of weaknesses in police performing service provision due to lack of criteria for police recruitment, lack of proper trainings, lack of respect for code of ethics, lack of police uniform dress, less salary, lack of or less modern office and communication equipments. He advised his colleagues in the workshop to stand for effectively working for their civilians, look smart, avoid from using drugs like chewing “khat” otherwise they will not be neat, alert and behave good to the people. He said those people who chew Khat (stimulus leaves) are always needy and want to chew, dirty and ugly with bad behavior. The police need information and reports of the crimes to carryout investigations and capture perpetrators and wrong doers. They cannot ensure security without the support of the civilians. And finally, he passed the microphone to his colleague Col. Abshir Abbas to explain the challenges that weakened the police’s duties performances and holding responsibilities. Col. Abbas said the word “police”, each letter has its meaning: P – Stands for polite, O – Stands for obedient, L- Stands for loyalty, I – Stands for intelligent, C – Stands for curiosity, E – Stands for energetic.

The police members participated the workshops (Bosasso, Gardo and Galkayo) identified the same challenges.

They said there is a Less of salary and sometimes the police do not receive salary more than 6 months; they are not trained properly; the police do not have uniform; they do not have enough vehicles to reach the crime scene immediately; they lack office equipments, like communications tools, computers and other tools which are important for carrying out their duties such as search tools or scanning tools; women police are few in number so they cannot be everywhere to deal with women suspect who need special arrangement; there is no working relationship between the police and public and that is one of the main obstacles that hinder the police from fulfilling their responsibility; There is also clan interferences in the police duties.

Col. Said Hersi Ibrahim, the commander of Gardo police station, spoke honestly and accepted complains from the civilians saying the police do not have any facilities they need for their job. They are not trained; they are not recruited in criteria; one of the conditions for joining the police is that you must have your own gun and ammunitions. The government has not armed the police.

Col. Hersi explained the duties of the police and said all the Puntland police stations have the same challenges. One of the problems he raised was that the people do not contact and report the police if they meet any problem. The Col. Said since he became the commander of the police station he has met no one from the people or from government asking him what he was doing or what the police station was for. Therefore neither the government nor the people weighed up the value of police duties.

All the participants showed very high participation and contributions. Everyone got opportunity to express his/her views and encouraged to feel free. One of good examples of civilians’ expressions was an emotional say by one of the elders participated in the workshop Mr. Dayib Faratol, in Bosasso said that it is difficult to obtain comprehensive understanding between the police and civilians and not easy to create positive working environment until the police receive their rights prior to their salary otherwise they cannot work and serve the people, and reality is that corruption undermines everything. The elder said that the police received no salary for 6 months. Mr. Faratol highlighted that trust building between the police and civilians is very essential to security ensuring and let the police and civilians work together but it could not happen unless the civilians see the police are effectively handling problems and solving them impartially. He said that he had never participated in this type of workshop which he called as the best way for making the people understand each other and work together for their interests and combating crimes.

Batun Mohamud Ainab from Gardo town angrily said that there is big number of thieves in the police and added that it will be difficult for the people to work with them until those thieves are removed from the police. She said those thieves facilitate for perpetrators to act killings, rape and robbery. The participants clapped and encouraged her to continue and say more about the police weakness. “I know many mistakes and abuses that the police are responsible”. She said. The facilitator stopped her from going any further. Batun is an educated woman but getting old, she blamed that local government and several committees that exist in Gardo, highlighting that they do nothing about what they had been nominated for. She called them “useless and rubbish” committees.

The three workshops (Bosasso, Gardo and Galkayo) went on the same topic sequences and methodology. In each workshop the participants were asked to list the common crimes that take place, victims and vulnerable to be victimized, the perpetrators, ways of dealing with and solving the problems, list the crime solving actors.

As the participants stated same crimes happen in Puntland towns (Bosasso, Gardo, and Galkayo). The vulnerable people/victims are the same; the ways the problems are dealt with are the same and the perpetrators are the same. Therefore the followings are the compiled group presentations of the three workshops held in Bosasso, Gardo and Galkayo.

After blames and complains between the police and civilians the facilitator asked both parts if there is any acknowledgement they have to one another.

The participants from the public said the challenges that do not allow the police to carry out their duties properly may be they are the followings: The police of Puntland are economically poor; they are not trained; Lack of recruitment criteria; the people have more arms than the police; Lack of equipment such as communication tools, office equipments, etc. Lack of transport such as police vehicles; they are small in number compared to crimes and town area; there are no enough police stations in the towns of Puntland.

Participants from the police too acknowledged why the people are not working with them. They presented their points in a logic way saying that majority of the people born during or after the Somali civil war so they cannot understand the duties of the police or law implementation; there are lot of crimes and lack of enough police officers and stations; the civilians have never been mobilized to work with the police; people fear they will be targeted if they report to the police because of revenge due to lack of secret by the police. The police presented that there are weaknesses within the government law enforcement institutions and that affected all public service provisions like security.

The participants said that many different criminal events take place in Puntland. Some of the cases are taken to the police and legal enforcement institutions, while there are many others in which the victims have never received any support or help from the police, justice institutions or any other community institutions.

The participants were asked to list types of crimes, vulnerable people and victims, perpetrators, ways of solving the problems:

Types of Crimes

Most and frequent crimes are planned killings, revenge killings, domestic violence, discrimination, rape, robbery, theft, car accident, FGM, child labour, exploitation, human trafficking, and Kidnapping.

Crime victims

The vulnerable people who are always the victims of problems and criminal cases include: IDPs, women, children, youth, girls, business people, unarmed people, minority groups, etc.

The perpetrators

The people who may take part in crime actions include: Al-Shabab, sea pirates, politicians, unemployed people, drug abusers, armed groups, youth particularly school drop outs, etc.

Ways of dealing with the crimes and solving problems, and actors for solving problems

Puntland people deal with problems or criminal case through three ways of justice systems while each system has its weight in the community. These systems are:

1. Formal Justice System. The police visit the site of crime; register the case and carry out investigation. They capture the suspects and bring the case to the court.

2. Traditional Justice System. In this way the elders from victim and elders from wrong doer come and sit together and discuss the issue striving to reach agreement between the two sides. The final conclusion is mainly to pay compensations the family of the perpetrator to the victim family. This traditional way of solving problems is very strong in Puntland.

3. Share’a Law. Religious leaders solve the problems referring to Holly Quran and Share’a law.

Since the formal justice system is very weak regarding to certain conditions that current exist in the country the traditional and share ‘a law are more powerful and popular compared to formal justice system.

The participants of the workshops stated that most of the reasons for the crimes to happen in urban areas include: drug using, like drinking alcohol or chewing Khat, unemployment and poverty, Tribalism, Politics, Ignorance, Inequity and injustice, arms in the hands of the people, and in the rural areas there are shortage of water and grassing land.

In Brainstorming, as recommendations, the participants were asked on how the police could obtain trust and confidence of the people, so working relationship is improved. Participants from the civilians said the police could be trusted if they greatly consider when dealing the problem in equity and impartiality; when they stop taking bribe; when they show politeness and respect the ethics of police code of conduct; when the police become a role model of the people and stop using drugs like chewing green leaves which are stimulus, because when the people chew these leaves they cannot keep secret at all. They tell information they got and source of information publicly and put risk the informer; the police must avoid any action favors to particulars; the police should implements the law without any deviations.

In every presentation or brainstorming they did, the people blamed the police for their lack of keeping security, but the police made their presentations politely and demonstrate their responses with paying respect to the people. The police were going to work with the civilians for ensuring in condition of: the civilians must respect and be confident to their police; there must be permanent communication and working relationship between the two sides; civilians must inform the police any suspect and report cases they meet immediately; the civilians must capture the perpetrators if they can without any harm.

On their turn, civilians declared to how they are wishing to obtain grantee and ensured security from the police by suggesting the police must be good behaviour people. Trust between the police and people must be built. The police must show honest, hospitality and be soft hearted to the people. The police must be trained to make known their duties and responsibilities. The police must have uniform and recognized signs otherwise it will be impossible for the people to differentiate the police from the normal people. They must be neat, clean and well dressed, polite and role model to the people. There must be police recruitment criteria. Positive working relationship environment must created and permanent contact between the police and neighbor committees must be established. Scheduled meetings between the police and people must take place at every neighborhood. The police must keep secret source of information. Public awareness is also one of the important steps that will facilitate to build trust between the two sides.

Together the police and civilians were asked their recommendations on how to regain trust and confidence between the police and civilians. They responded that accountability should be created; Public awareness should be carried out together by the police and civilians; equity and impartiality should be fully considered; anyone whether from the police or people who commit crime must be punished accordingly; Joint committee from the police and civilians must be established. This committee should improve the relationship and trust between the police and civilians. Meetings between the police and people must be held weekly, biweekly or monthly which are aimed at information sharing, solving problems within the communities and fight criminals; they indicated as important to police training which they said will have great impact to collaboration for ensuring security.

Voter education as mainstream

The final session of the workshops was discussed civic education particularly “voter education”.

After explanations of democracy, human rights and that vote casting is one of the principles of freedom of expressions, the participants were divided into 5 groups while each group was asked to act as candidates for local councilors. They were requested to write their campaigning manifesto so as they attract the people to vote for them. The groups presented their group work and were wonderful and magnificent presentations.

Heated discussions and meaningful debates between the police representatives and civilians led the outcome of the workshop to be fruitful which has enabled the members from the police and the civilians realize importance of building partnership between the police and the community within positive environment and they finally agreed to establish a committee which composes members from the police and civilians. The duties of the committee are to build confidence between the police and civilians. This committee set up its work plan. Before going to the neighborhoods it decided to hold meetings with the Mayor of the town, the regional governor, the Ministry of security and all concerned parties of the government institutions in Bosasso. After that they will begin meetings with the people at neighborhoods trying to obtain the confidence of the people, and make sure that there is a friendly working environment that allows the police and civilians can work together ensuring security.

Each workshop participants of the three workshops (Bosasso, Gardo, and Galkayo) established a committee for trust building between police and civilians. One of the responsibilities of the committees is to hold meetings at neighborhoods between the communities and the police and will discuss improving relationship between the two sides and creating positive environment and elimination of mistrust among the police and civilians.

Achievements of the workshops

Mistrust between the police and civilians eliminated;
Committees for trust building between the police and civilians established;
Both parts acknowledged that civilians cannot get security service from the police without their support, and the police cannot carry out their duties without creating positive environment and working relationship with the people.
Mutual understanding and acceptance between the police and public reached;
Police and civilians agreed to work together for ensuring security;
Each part accepted their weakness and decided acknowledgments.

Lessons learnt

· We have learnt that police officers are willing to make broader partnership with community members, but they lacked skills to build partnership with the community.

· We also learnt from the workshops that there seem to be lack of factual awareness on police and communities working together.

· It was noted during the workshops that there are many people particularly the elders do not know that GBV, FGM, forced marriage child beatings, domestic violence are crimes and human rights violations.

· We share these issues with the participants of the workshops and agreed that all activities to security building are related to human rights protection.

Closing Workshops Ceremonies

Hajji Mohamed Aden, one of the elders made very attractive speech in which he stated that the workshop came to be held in a proper time when the security was the main issue. He called the participants to work together in order keep security of the people. The elder expressed that this type of workshop was the most important to the people in Puntland.

Mr. Mohamed Said, the Mayor of Gardo town closed the Gardo workshop, in his closing remarks he hoped the participants to continue working together for security building up of the town. He paid many thanks to all organizations that involved the project be held in Gardo.

Col. Ahmed Abshir Farah, one of the Galkayo workshop participants, speaking on behalf of the police, praised the workshop and told that they benefited lot from it. He said they learned more about our responsibilities as police and main advantage we obtained is that the elimination of mistrust between the police and civilian. ‘We will work together honestly’, he said. He thanked to KAALO, Diakonia and SIDA for their roles of the workshop. The colonel promised that the people will obtain reliable security and tranquility.

Mohamed Abshir Gayre, a chief of one of Galkayo neighborhoods, speaking on behalf of the participants brightly made memorable remarks that moved the hearts of everyone attended the closing ceremony of the workshop including workshop participants, facilitators, and the representatives from DIAKONIA and Government officers. He stated that the workshop should be the key of mutual understanding between the police and civilians which will lead to keep security of the people with undertaking the creation of positive environment and improving working relationship of all security concerned institutions. The chief expressed his feelings towards all people and institutions that were involved and made possible the workshop to be carried out in Galkayo. “From the bottom of my heart I like to pay respect and many thanks to SIDA, DIAKONIA and KAALO, particularly the facilitator”. He said.

Mohamud Ali Gumbe, Diakonia Program Manager closed the workshop. In his closing remarks he vividly spoke about the importance of the positive interaction between the police and civilians ensuring the security of the people Puntland. He stressed the objectives of the workshops and said that DIAKONIA and SIDA expect from the workshops to meet their overall objectives towards enhancing security in Puntland. Mr. Gumbe added to that if the civilians and police together build trust and confidence between them and work together they can obviously take security measures and create tranquility and stability for the people.

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