03/05/2014

In remembrance to the late Egal who passed away exactly the same day as today twelve years ago in South Africa,  I hereby share with fellow Somalilanders’ ‘a food for thought’, a wisdom from President Egal’s unique mind. Egal was the founding father and the architect who engineered the modern day democratic Somaliland. He served two terms between 1993 to 2001 as a president of post conflict Somaliland when his died a hospital in South Africa.

Among the key achievements Somaliland attained during his tenure and under his thoughtful  and visionary leadership included, but not limited to, the drafting, approving and referendum of the constitution, demobilization of militia, disarmament, foundation of political parties, printing of the Somaliland Shilling, institutionalization of government ministries, and and unprecedented effort towards shaping Somaliland’s contemporary relationship with neighboring countries and International Community. His contribution is admired not only by Somalilander but outsiders as well. Matt Bryden of the ICG referred Egal “ as an institution not a mere politician”. In here recently published book,  Getting Somali Wrong,  BBC’s Mary Harper admits that president Egal’s personality was crucial to Somaliland’s rise from the ashes.

These quotes and excerpts come from letters and documents written by the late president himself during 1993/2001 period to different actors in the region and the outside world in order to present the cause of Somaliland. It a reflection and a special insight to the courage, determination, mindfulness, and hard work done by this legendary leaders. The issues covered in these documents and the quotes presented here cover a wide range of international issues affecting Somaliland sovereign in one way or another. Key issues include, terrorism, international aid, regional secuirity, recongnition of Somaliland, expulsion of UN envoys, world lordism, peace making/keeping, failed “Greater Somalia” notion, international relations and many other interesting topics. We’ll try hard to compile 50 quotes by publishing 7 to 10 quotes during the next the 4 weeks.

The ultimate reason behind this minute task is to reflect the ups and downs of Somaliland recent history and highlight the price that we’ve paid to be where we are today. Another key objective is to celebrate not only Egal’s leadership but his pride, confidence and decisiveness in the face of many opposing forces and in the context of fragile and weak Somaliland. Last but not least, we try to give our readers an information that will help them compare and contrast  Somaliland current policy posture with its recent foreign policy engagements.

On the impact of dictatorship on Somalilanders

1.       “In the awful years of the brutal dictatorship of Siyad Barre, not only the physical structure of the country but the moral fabric of our society was undermined and subverted” (Egal, 1995)

On Nuclear and Weapons of Mass Destruction

2.       “What the international community desires is a nuclear weapons-free world. Until that is achieved, the only other alternative is a balanced nuclear deterrent. There can be no halfway house where the world would become hostage to or two nuclear powers” (Egal, Letter, 1995)

On African Peace, Stability and Regional Countries (Africom)

3.       “It is the purpose of this letter to assure that the majority of African leaders are pained by what is happening in Zaire, and alarmed by the altitude of the Goverments in Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda…. Lastly, we, in the republic of Somaliland, would be prepared to contribute 500 (five hundrend) soldiers and their officers fully expreinced in the handling of chaotic situations like those that are now happening in Nothern Zaire to  United State’s lead peace force. (Egal, A letter to US Sectretary of State, 1996)

On Egypt, Somalia and Somaliland Sovereignty

4.       “…During my visit with you in Cairo, I though I had explained fully our gut feelings towards Egypt and our true affinities with the Arab World. I also thought, I have truthfully and withouth hypocrisy explained our irrevocable decision to the leave the union with Somalia and chart our own course for a separate sovereign existence. Should Egypt decide to abandon us, to ignore our sentiments and affections, then your Excellency, you should do so with the knowledge that this stand of ours and the formation of the republic of Somaliland are for the present irreversible. We have to rethink our future relations with our neighbors, our brothers and all the members of the international community according to  their responses to these aspirations of ours.” (Egal, Letter to Egypt’s Foreign Minister, 1997)

5.       “..As I did Cairo, I once again appeal to you and through you to President Husni Mubarak to re-evaluate your policy on Somalia and to relate that policy not to a theoretical preference, but to the practical realities in Somalia and Somaliland” (Egal, A letter to US Sectretary of State, 1996)

On Aid, UN and International Agencies

6.       “..the UN Agencies at their inception were far different from the conglomerates into which they since developed. UNICEF and SCF were exclusive patrons of children whom they have exhibited as deprived lovable human beings but NOT the distressed circumstances of starvation which now fills the screens and the public relations media. FAO who was conceived to pioneer green revolution in the third world is now limited to the peripheries of the agro-animal husbandry crusade…. OXFARM is no longer the altruistic fighter against the famine. All, however, film famous actors appealing for donations and legislators are funded with tours abroad in exchange for glowing testomonials.” (Egal, Somaliland Council Minister’s Policy Statetement, 1995)

 Hamse A. Khaire (hamse.khaire@gmail.com)

REF: HW/1/311 /14                                                                                                                          23/04/2014

Public Release: Somaliland-018

SOMALILAND PRO-DEMOCRATIC AND HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT’S POSITION LETTER:

How corruption in Certain Somaliland private media is undermining fragile democracy

We, the undersigned pro-democracy movements in Somaliland, comprising of independent civil society networks and umbrellas ranging from human rights defenders and minority rights lobbyists, the disabled people’s activists, wish to present our findings and position on the dispute between the Government of Somaliland and pravite owned Haatuf Media Network (HMN).

Seven years ago when the Somaliland security forces rounded up the owner of HMN, the editor-in-chief of Haatuf Somali newspaper, Ali Abdi Diini, and the HMN Awdal correspondent, Mohamed Omer, the Horn Watch organizations spared no effort to stand by them and pressure the government to unconditionally release them. The Organizations, at the same time, succeeded to spirit away to safety a fourth suspect on the government list, Mohamed Rashid, finding him asylum and living means in the neighboring country of Ethiopia.

In 2007, the Somaliland impartial human rights defenders were fully satisfied that HMN was responsibly dispensing its media commitment honestly and to the letter, and that the corruption scandals they exposed had no ulterior motives and was in line with their exercise of independent media obligations in a democratic, pluralistic society.

Today, HMN and its owner have not earned the unequivocal support of the Somaliland human rights defenders and pro-democracy activists. Following a comprehensive investigation we carried out to identify the bases of the dispute between HMN and the government, we found out that the owner of HMN used the media facilities under his disposal for personal gains which is a clear departure from the principles and obligations governing the protection of freedom of expression thus understandably losing the unstinted support of local human rights groups.

Unfortunately, it has become clear to pro-democratic movements in Somaliland, following its in-depth investigation of the matter from all possible angles, that the current disagreement between the government of Somaliland and HMN was borne from a sustained defamatory coverage against Somaliland Minister of Energy and Minerals as retaliation for a perceived opposition to an expressions of interest that the HMN owner and his brother-in-law, Mr. Yussuf Abdullahi Omar, submitted to the government which according the Somaliland Ministry of Energy and Minerals did not measure up to government standards required for active involvement pertaining to the grant of concessions to petroleum exploration blocks. The principal company, Boule Mining Group[i], through a letter signed by one Audrey Richardson, “Corporate Secretary”, appointed Mr. Omar, to submit an Expression of Interest to secure Petroleum Exploration and Development Licenses within Somaliland[ii]to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources on their behalf. The communication between the Ministry, on one side, and the appointee with the owner of HMN, Mr. Yussuf Abdullahi Gaboobe, was confirmed to the human rights investigators by respectful individuals who tried to arbitrate the issue on behalf of HMN owner and his brother-in-law.

Following the rejection of the aforementioned Expression of Interest by the Ministry on technical grounds, the HMN owner started to continuously and intentionally publish highly defamatory material and slander against the Somaliland Minister for Minerals which grossly violated his constitutional rights without a shred of evidence accompanying it. The HMN coverage had the potential to yet have catastrophic consequences on the newly introduced natural resources exploration programs and their exploitation.

It is noteworthy that not a single other newspaper has taken up the HMN hue and cry of the past five months.

The rest of the independent media in Somaliland are of the belief that the HMN owner largely sided with the government protecting own personal interests.

Getting actively involved in business and broker-ship relating to the oil exploration initiatives in Somaliland, attests to the fact that the HMN and its owner have turned their backs on the impartiality and objectivity associated with independent media  and the constitutional exercise of a freedom of expression.

The Somaliland human rights defenders are gravely concerned that one of the leaders of Somaliland independent media can use his resources for personal vendetta tools which can set a highly questionable example for the more impressionable ranks presently practicing journalism in Somaliland.

On the same token, the Somaliland human rights defenders are equally disturbed that little some newly established human rights organizations speaking in the name of human rights and media in Somaliland are deliberately covering up actual facts surrounding this issue from the public obviously fulfilling agendas of their own.

In conclusion, we, the pro-democratic and human rights movements in Somaliland, believe that the HMN case can be tried in a civil court. Prior to this, we urge the government to lift the ban from HMN on condition that it acts responsibly and with propriety within the realms of the rights set forth by the Constitution of Somaliland.

On a similar vein, we ask the residents of areas where the oil exploration affects not to claim sole proprietorship of consequent resources and to see the programs on their true, national perspective.

Somaliland Pro-democratic and human rights groups strongly advise the Somaliland government to submit all oil and minerals exploration agreements with foreign firms agreements to parliament for ratification in order to foster an environment of transparency, unity and cooperation on national issues.

Furthermore, we call on the Somaliland government to uphold the Declaration of the Human Environment adopted by the Stockholm Conference stated in part that:

“The natural resources of the earth must be safeguarded for the benefit of    present and future generations through careful planning or management, and that the capacity of the earth to produce vital renewable resources must be        maintained and wherever practicable, restored or improved.”

We call all Somaliland stakeholders on all matters relating to national resources, to jointly create an environment in which all Somaliland citizens get the profit underlying the country’s oil and minerals exploration and development projects in an equal manner.

All interest individuals/institutions for detailed information about this case can contact: xuquuq@gmail.com, hornwatch@yahoo.com, Tel. +252-63-5147777.

Suleiman ismail Bolaleh

Speaker of Somaliland Pro-democratic Movements