Posted on 11/17/2006 6:41:01 PM PST by traumer
The Islamist group which controls much of southern Somalia has banned the popular stimulant khat, a day after protests in which one person died.
Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said khat was a bad influence. Many Somali men, especially gunmen, spend hours chewing it each day.
He also warned squatters to vacate public buildings they have occupied.
After 15 years of conflict, many ministries are full of people who have fled fighting in their home regions.
Eyewitnesses say one person was shot dead by Islamist fighters on Thursday following protests over khat shortages.
About 60 khat vendors burnt tyres and threw stones in protest at shortages of the drug since a ban on flights to Somalia from Kenya, where most khat is grown.
KHAT Stimulant, making the user more alert and talkative Appetite suppressor After a few hours, it produces a state of calm A chemical found in khat could boost the power of men's sperm Long-term use can bring on insomnia, heart problems and sexual problems Can bring on anxiety and aggression
"From today onwards we have banned khat in the areas we control," Mr Ahmed said.
"Dealers found in possession of khat will pay 7 million Somali shillings ($500) and the khat will be burned. This substance is badly influencing our people."
The Islamists have burned two big khat consignments flown in this week to make up for the lack of Kenyan khat.
Kenya imposed the flight ban because of security fears.
There were six flights a week from Nairobi to Mogadishu and services to three other towns and many more khat flights each day.
The BBC's Hassan Barise in Mogadishu says a dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed on the city following Thursday's protests.
'Reconstruction'
Mr Ahmed's call for squatters to vacate government buildings is seen as an attempt to restore normality to the shattered nation.
Families living in former Somalia Airline building Some 800 families live in the old headquarters of the national airlines "Such buildings would be part of Mogadishu's reconstruction and we call for people to vacate the premises for common interest rather than considering their personal advantages," he said.
But some question where people could go to.
Shelters made from plastic sheets and pieces of cardboard have been erected in the grounds of many public buildings.
Offices, too, have been taken over, with several families sharing a single room, in which the windows and fittings have long since been broken or stolen.
The Islamists have taken control of most of southern Somalia since seizing the capital.
Many Mogadishu residents have welcomed their rule as they have brought law and order to the city after years of anarchy.
In some parts of the country, Islamists have been closing public cinemas and, according to some residents, enforcing strict dress codes.
There are fears of a regional conflict starting in Somalia, as Ethiopia backs the weak interim government based in the city of Baidoa and its rival Eritrea is accused of arming the Islamists.
Hey, here's hoping for a bloody war between the moosies and the khat-heads. I thought the Somali warlord's armies lived on that stuff.
IE: he is taking over the khat business.
Be interesting to see how that pans out. Khat is their alcohol and something Somalis dont part with easily.
I wonder if there will be a movement to legalize medical khat. :)
Almost like one of our "smoking bans".
The Kenyans drug cartels wield a good amount of influence over Kenyan policy regarding Somalia. Will be interesting to see if the central Kenyan government moves in either direction here. Khat farming is also the only cash crop available for many substinence farmers in east Kenya. Those planes of khat heading to Somalia bring in estimated US$300k A DAY for the drug cartels, in a region that is otherwise dirt poor. Well have to see if the Kenyans put up a Colombian drug cartel fight, or accept the end of an era like American tobacco farmers.
It's ok for islamists in Afghanistan to grow the world's largest heroin poppy crop for ultimate sale to the kaffirs, but woe to the Somalis that indulge in a little khat.
I am trying to figure out who is MOST OPPRESSIVE...Communists or Islamics ???
I fear the smoking bans are going to lead to violence.......the antis are getting far too cocky and think they have carte blanche to do as they wish.
They act like the Taliban/Muslim Extremists by trying to eliminate personal freedoms.
Islamist.,
I keep hearing this phrase in all the reporting where Islamest are taking over, after making war for years.
"Many Mogadishu residents have welcomed their rule as they have brought law and order to the city after years of anarchy."
Notice the term "many" this is the reporters way of saying a “small group of Islamic head choppers.”
We should watch and learn, this is how Islamic take over countries. They make war and then you submit just to get peace. Coming to a country near you.
Look! you have some allies here.
01
They want to ban khat because they're worried about the health effects of second-hand khat.
I've been putting a bunch of thoughts together on this today, but am not ready to totally go with it, but it goes further than just being simialr extremists and encompasses our 2nd amendment rights.
Wow. The class of '06 is a truly conservative lot.
NOT
They do. Asking a khat-head to give up his cheek wad would be like trying to quit smoking, drinking and coffee at the same time.
This is one decree that is gonna fly like a toolbox.
They make war and then you submit just to get peace. Coming to a country near you.
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Yeah, every time I think about the recent election, I see this nightmare....
Look!
NB4ZOT!
NB4ZOT!
Are you going to be zotted today?
"ARealMothersSonForever"... Are you the "Real Mother" or the "Son Forever"?
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