HARGEISA, 2 September 2009 (Somalilandpress) – Whenever there is a political standoff in Somaliland all the doom mongers crawl out of their sewers and start telling the world that this latest political confrontation is the one to signal the end of the Somaliland State! But is it?
It is hard to find many places in the world with the unique arrangement and problems that Somaliland has. To millions of people, it remains an important part of the Somali Republic. To millions of others, it is a sovereign and independent nation. This is why whenever the democratization process in Somaliland hits a snag it attracts comment from supporters and opponents inside and outside Somaliland. The supporters of Somaliland are almost always domestic whilst the opponents are mostly external. In other words, the pro-unity camp resides mostly in Somalia whilst the pro-independence camp hails mostly from Somaliland.
Now Somaliland has a new crisis! It seems that the president of Somaliland has ejected an organization that was helping the country with voter registration and other issues to do with the democratization process. It is reported that the opposition parties are outraged by the actions of the president and have refused to take part in the elections that are due to take place on the 27th of September 2009! It is understood that their anger stems from the fact that the elections were postponed three times already and that one of the major reasons for these postponements concerned the need for voter registration! We’re told that the parliament (or at least its Somaliland equivalent) has disagreed with the president’s decision but that members from his party have disagreed with the parliament and were consequently suspended. We heard that the president ordered the police to surround the houses of parliament and ensure that his evicted members be forcibly reinstated and allowed to take part in debates relating to the elections. We understand that the opposition parties have mobilized their supporters and that demonstrations have taken place in various parts of Somaliland (but mainly the capital and houses of parliament).
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The events and situations related above are all true and clearly confirm the political impasse taking place in Somaliland. However, no one was killed, no buildings were burned and no property was destroyed (save a couple of chairs in the parliament chamber). The way these events have been reported however is what causes many to believe that the end is nigh for Somaliland, but is it?
It is an election year in Somaliland. All political parties are positioning themselves in the most aggressive way possible. All parties want and hope to win. Therefore, the mud is sure to by flying, the accusations dispatched and the insults overflowing. The opposition talks about the secret service history of the president whilst the government supporters retort by mentioning the greed of the eighty-year old opposition leader. The opposition badmouths the president’s wife and talk about her alleged interference in government business, whilst the ruling party sneer at the political immaturity of the opposition. Furthermore, one group accuses the president of being a Somali mole whose ultimate aim is to sneakily return Somaliland to Somalia, whilst the other accuses the opposition leader of having covert dealings with the Somali Republic! In short, both sides are waging dirty political campaigns and spreading negative rumors about the other. Yet, again, nobody died!
The above was all about the internal squabbles in Somaliland and how a rumor and counter rumor is the order of the day there. However, this internal rivalry and political horse trading is also, unwittingly (or maybe indifferently), feeding the external pro-unity hyenas! Now observers from Garowe to Mogadishu to unpronounceable places further south are all (prematurely) declaring the death of the State Of Somaliland! Where in the past they would lay into the entire idea of Somaliland and insult its people, they now, having imagined a glimmer of an opportunity, are praising Somaliland and giving it brotherly condolences for a dream that was not fulfilled! Worse still, they patronizingly offer advice on the best way forward and how Somaliland and its people shall only prosper by returning to the Somali fold!
The pro-unity minority crowd are themselves divided between the government of Somaliland and the opposition. They are unsure of which of the two has the more fertile ground. On the one hand, there is plenty of mileage in referring to the president’s history as an ex- employee of the former Somali dictator and a dictator in the making himself! They can not pass this delicious opportunity to sneer and scoff at a people who defeated one dictator only to be assaulted with another of their own! On the other hand, there is much to be said about an opposition that seems to be outmaneuvered and outgunned. The sentiment seems to be something along the lines of ‘this man is going to bring you and your country down. Come and join us in the South and we shall overcome him by virtue of sheer numbers’.
Then there is the Free Press game. Apparently, the Ogre of Hargeisa has banned Free Press and like many African dictators before him, he is keeping his poor people in the dark! But does any country really need free press in the age of the Internet and satellite TV? Could the president of Somaliland ban the BBC for instance?
The best argument the pro-unity crowd have is the one about an elite group of Somalilanders holding the country hostage to their whims and opportunistic fancies. Yet this was said of the first president of Somaliland. It was said of the second president. It is said of the current president. It is said of the leaders of the opposition. It is said about many of the Somaliland businessmen. The first and second presidents are gone but Somaliland remains. The current president will sooner or later go and Somaliland shall remain. The leaders of the opposition will, in the future, be replaced by new leaders and yet, Somaliland shall continue to be.
Somaliland resisted against all the odds. It resisted against the former dictator Siad Barre with all his power and the support of the outside world. It resisted against a deadly civil war that has devastated Somalia. It resisted against the terrorists and their sympathizers. It will continue resisting everything that is against the humanity, democracy and injustice.
There is a Somali saying “When there is a disagreement, the stupid person thinks it is fighting”.
As long as nobody dies may the hyenas laugh, the opposition wags their fingers and the president rewrite the constitution. It is all good clean fun and it adds to the maturity and progress of Somaliland.
Boston, Sept 01,2009 (SomalilandPress)-Hello to my dear readers from the US. I have safely arrived back in Boston and I would feel incomplete if I did not publish a final article of “A Trip to the Unknown” for SomalilandPress.
I suppose the trip home is most fresh in my mind, so let me start with that. In my first article, I explained that I planned to fly to Hargeisa with Air Ethiopia as I had heard negative rumors about flying to Hargeisa with Daallo. Well, Air Ethiopia has been unofficially renamed “Air Inshallah”, and it seems that Daallo is in fact a much more reliable alternative for traveling to Hargeisa. Should I have the chance to return to Somaliland in the future I will most likely look for a flight on Daallo, complete with the chickens and lack of air conditioning. What matters is knowing you will arrive. When passengers showed up at Egal Airport on Thursday as scheduled, we all checked in our bags, received our boarding passes, and after waiting for some time were finally told that the flight would not be leaving today, but should hopefully leave tomorrow. When tomorrow came, nobody knew if the plane would leave or not and we were told not to go to the airport unless summoned, and that it may leave Saturday but the status was uncertain. With help from my dear Somaliland family and to make a long story short, the Air Ethiopia flight left eventually, more than a day later than expected. In the US, such a situation would leave everyone in an uproar, completely enraged and screaming and probably threatening to sue whoever would be willing to listen. But in Hargeisa, we all just went home and agreed to try again tomorrow. Nobody attempted to get a refund or even a free meal. I had brought some sambusa with me to the airport, expecting to have to wait, and in typical Somali fashion other passengers dug right in, sharing my food without even asking permission. One woman had tea, and we had a remarkably pleasant time waiting for the mystery flight. When the plane finally took off and successfully landed in Addis, the other passengers and I shared heart-felt goodbyes and exchanged email addresses.
Upon arriving in the States, one difference I noticed right way is the abundance of entertainment options that welcome you here. From movies to clubs to BBQs to sailing, I feel excited and overwhelmed by the possibilities of how to spend my free time. In Somaliland, I have to admit that social opportunities are lacking. Since there are no regular dance or music venues, no movie theatres or big sporting events, one of my favorite sources of entertainment (and I assure you I’m not alone on this one) was attending weddings, especially at Panorama. I learned about some great Somali wedding traditions, such as preparing dates that are wrapped in meat (muqmad) which the bride’s family offers the groom to open as a symbol concluding the wedding ceremony.
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One magical thing about being in Somaliland, at least for me, was the general and contagious sense that if basic needs were met, anything else was extra. When things did not work out as intended, you knew it would be okay and work out eventually, that you were just following the natural path of the world. And it didn’t matter anyway, as long as you and those around you were safe and healthy. This made things that might just be expected elsewhere, from tea to clean clothes to fruit juice to fresh water and good company, gain extra value so you really appreciated them. I have been trying to cling to this attitude despite my physical relocation, but I can feel it slipping away from me as I merge again with this fast-paced society. Just yesterday I was driving here in Boston and I went the wrong way. I could feel my blood pressure rising with frustration as I drove around aimlessly. Then I remembered Hargeisa, where driving around aimlessly was one of my favorite past times. Why does doing the very same thing seem suddenly so different?
As I write the last lines of my last article, having already left the country, I just want to extend a deep and sincere thanks to the many people who have helped make my stay as wonderful as it was. The hospitality extended to me was incredible, the attitude contagious, the experience priceless. I hope to return to Somaliland soon. I also send my encouragement to the people of Somaliland and all of Somalia. I hope that peace becomes your faithful friend, that the scheduled elections yield positive results, and that the country moves in a positive direction, whatever that may be. Ramadan Karim and thank you for reading.
There are numerous individuals and groups who endeavor constantly and tirelessly to undermine the inevitable recognition of Somaliland. These individuals/groups are predominantly from Southern Somalia—the most dangerous place on earth. As rationality commands, these Southerners should have spent their time and energy cleaning up their mess and putting their home in order. Instead, they waste their precious time and energy opposing the inevitable recognition of Somaliland by publishing countless baseless articles; convening hall meetings; attempting to lobby unproductively on the parliaments of their respective country of domicile; becoming excited and energetic whenever they hear the slightest disagreement between Somaliland’s parties; wishing and hoping to witness the demise and destruction of Somaliland. One of his political cartoons, the unbiased, intelligent, and renowned artist in our time, Amir Amir, depicts vividly and succinctly this predicament. Mr. Amir drew a political cartoon portraying a group of Southerners riding a buss on fire while apposing and criticizing Somaliland’s independence. This moving political cartoon demonstrates brilliantly the lack of vision and priority of the Southerners.
Every Somalilander astonishingly wonders why Southerners waste their precious time opposing or criticizing Somaliland when their home becomes a slaughterhouse; when their boys and girls are dying in every minute on the streets of Mogadishu and elsewhere; when murder, rape, hunger, disease, and malnutrition becomes part of their daily living. The answer to this question reflects not only the Southerners’ inability to reshuffle their priorities, but also their loss of vision, which resulted their enduring tribulations and predicaments. Furthermore, this blatant lack of vision and priority generates the inability of the Southerners to create peace in their midst for the last 18 years, let alone to construct a viable and functioning governing system.
Failing and exhausted, Southerners should have spent their time and energy unearthing the secrets and expertise of Somalilanders. Put it bluntly, they should have learned from Somalilanders the means and the measures needed to acquire in order to create peace, stability, tranquility and functioning governing system. Somaliland irrefutably succeeded not only to create a functioning governing system, but the first democratic state in the Horn of Africa: the president of Somaliland is elected by a popular vote; their parliament is elected democratically; there are three contending political parties; there is a free media; their disagreements are resolved peacefully and democratically, not by assassinations, murder and suicide bombings as Southerners. If Southerners failed miserably and painfully to create peace and tranquility, why don’t they learn from Somaliland? The answer to this question demonstrates further not only their lack of vision and priority, but their confusion and bewilderment. That is, they fail to realize the framework and the solutions that Somaliland provides for them.
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We, Somalilanders, feel the pain and the suffering of our brethren, Southerners. There is no one single Somalilander who enjoys the agony of Southerners. However, when one reads an article written by a Southernerer criticizing Somaliland, or encounters such individuals, one wonders what is wrong with our brethren? I say, nothing is wrong with them. They simply lack vision and priority, which creates and reinforces their confusion and bewilderment. Therefore, I would advice every Somalilander to appreciate this horrible reality that our brethren are facing and be patient with them. Whenever you encounter a Southernerer who is criticizing Somaliland, you need to realize that s/he is simply confused, dazed, and desperate.
MOGADISHU-(Somalilandpress)—In a new drive to oust Islamists officials of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia [TFG] and those of Ethiopian troops last night held lengthy talks in Beled Weyne, Hiran Region [central Somalia].
The meeting discussed plans to attack Bulo Barde and Jala Laqsi which are also in Hiran Region.
Officials from both sides agreed that they would launch joint attacks on these towns as government forces are reported to have suggested that Ethiopian troops take the role of disarming the groups that are currently in the town and also arrest their remnants.
Ethiopian officials are planning to deploy their troops all the way to areas that are near Middle Shabelle in order to assist the TFG forces as agreed with senior officials of the TFG.
Sources close to the meeting told Somalilandpress that the army general leading the Ethiopian forces in Hiran Region asked traditional elders to work towards the attainment of peace in the region, adding that there are many people who are currently subjecting the residents to a lot of suffering.
By this, the Ethiopian officials were referring to groups that are opposed to their politics in Somalia.
Rivals of the TFG and Ethiopian troops are also planning to launch a counter attack in Jowhar, Middle Shabelle [southern Somalia] according to military sources.
These attacks are being planned by the top strategists of Hisb Al-Islam and Al-Shabab who are want to defend themselves against the attacks from Ethiopian troops who have crossed the border into Somalia and are currently in control of Beled Weyne.
HARGEISA, 31 August 2009 (Somalilandpress) – Since declaring its independence from Somalia in 1991, Somaliland has set up its ownGovernment institutions, written its own laws and constitution, and held credible elections. No government in the world has yet recognized Somaliland’s independence and for 18 years the territory has been left in legal limbo—a country that does not exist. During that time Somaliland has gone a long way towards building security and developing democratic institutions of governance.
Somaliland is unrecognised state that managed holding three elections peacefully without registering the voters; among those elections, the first presidential election includes, which its results was ruled by the court verdict. It was believed that Somaliland finished a clannish based political process and moved to ballot based power climbing. This political system promotes individualistic participation and diminishes collective representation based on the clan. Also the introduced democratic model didn’t omit absolutely for the traditional governance system which is based on clan values and it is final product of combination of tradition, religious and western democratic governance system. The new system was expected it would have been improving the overall governance mechanism in the country as well as socio-economic indicators.
Since the last parliamentary election, a number of political and electoral related disputes were observable and gradually they were increasing and escalating. The conflicting parties polarised new tactics that enables them precede the arguments from their own perspectives; It was reported that Somaliland witnessed more then ten electoral disputes variant from one to another but have common factor of pursuing each one’s own needs, concerns and interest. from the first arguable decision between opposition and ruling party was related to the nomination of a new electoral body, since then the conflicts wasn’t de-escalating until recently over the abandonment of voter registration lists and the expulsion of Inter-peace staff person from the country. On the other hand, this tension is the worst, it happened at crucial period while Somaliland presidential election was due to happen in two months time.
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However, the existing pre-election disputes and political conflicts attracted the eyes of the local and external stakeholders. These tensions are being perceptive to Somaliland stability is in dangerous, rather then expecting it was improving socially and economically. Since last parliamentary election was held peacefully, Somaliland witnessed a wave of political dispute which was involved by political parties and ruling party, NEC or donor agencies. However, the election related disputes could happen at any stage in any place of the world Regardless the strength and weakness for particular state. But, the consequence will vary over the states; the volatile states like Somaliland will likely having severe consequence rather then established countries;- it would have been a threat to rule of law, governance structure, peace and stability and human right record. If not taken proper measures at righteous time, for Somaliland it wouldn’t be possible maintain its stability as well as the process of democratisation. The repetitive and escalated arguments are symptoms predicting incredibility of the elections that lacks fairness and freedom.
What are the current election related problems in Somaliland?
Somaliland witnessed number of election related crisis. Key stakeholders were playing an influential role for the existence of the crisis. Precisely, Key stakeholders lost their faith in the process of democratic governance and they failed to integrate the framework of governance system with human right, democracy and peace context. The escalation for the current crisis were contributed by the ineffectiveness and weak institutional capacity regardless to Executives, legislatives and judiciary and also opposition political parties, they operate under poor governance conditions
In this case, Somaliland electoral stakeholders are identified all interesting parties that have either have direct engagement or indirect involvements, Donors, Somaliland Governments, Political parties, citizens, civil society organisations, supreme courts, legislatives, international observers etc. therefore, except the international observers which engaging the elections at voting day, but all other above groups have contributed the disputes escalating that endangers the stability and the rule and law.
Somaliland Government and ruling party
I deliberately focus on this article the contribution of donors, political parties, NEC, legislatives, supreme courts and Somaliland governments to the escalation of the electoral based conflicts. First I should start looking down what the Somaliland government has contributed to the current political crisis?
Somaliland government failed to frequently hold periodic elections. The current government’s term expired and was extended accordance to a provision in the constitution that is disputable. During its mandate, it arrived into power through consensus reached by key stakeholders which was mediated by elders and intellectual people from Somaliland. It should be praised for the losers accepting for court verdict as well as consensus built and substituted it for surviving peace in Somaliland. The government of Somaliland was to be there to serve not to rule, it presently seems that it encoded vice-verse; it is there because of to rule not to serve. I am trying to identify the role played by the Somaliland government and its ruling party for the escalation of the election based conflicts?
If the responsibility of the current problem is to be divided for its stakeholders the government would receive the big portion. This reflects to my beliefs, I know that for other stakeholders aren’t pleading guilty free. Enlightening how significantly the government should be blamed for the existing political crisis particularly on voter’s lists. The constitutional responsibility for the government includes holding periodic election at every five years once. This means that the financial, Technical and logistical arrangements for the elections should be available in order the elections to be hold periodically. It is constitutional, it wasn’t stated that international community should contribute financially and technically to Somaliland electoral process in order to be conducted a periodically. There isn’t a way that Somaliland government should avoid to be blamed that it failed to conduct a periodic elections without relying on the financial support of the international community.
The voter registration task is like a project which has several progressive cycle that needs before passing the next cycle the first one should come into finishing ; if one cycle isn’t finished or omitted before it get finished, it wouldn’t be possible for the project achieving its goals. Vice verse, if one cycle is considered has more significance then others the project will fail. Therefore, it wouldn’t be possible for Somaliland government argue that the production for the voter’s list isn’t reflecting to free and fair election while the process was abused at initial stage before the government’ eyes. It failed to ensure and monitor that actual registration tasks are in compliant with the objectives of the registration. Therefore, if the registration has failed produce a list that is fair, because it is a mistake that was done in the process of registering the voters.
Why the government shouldn’t abandon the registration process while it was reported multiple registering is undertaking or underage registration? The same is true for the NEC why they don’t suspend temporarily for the tasks of registration after Sahel? Why Sahel wasn’t considered as pilot for the project and should be reviewed by all key stakeholders for the outcome before they go into other regions? Why inter-peace shouldn’t be expelled from the country while the staffs of the registration company were withdrawn from Somaliland? Why presently they are expelled? If all these interventions weren’t taken, they are indicator showing that registration failed at initial stage not its final stage of production of final lists. It is the responsibility and duty for the government safeguard the interest of the country as the president currently emphasising that abandonment in the registration safes from Somaliland fall post election conflicts.
If the above measures were taken at its convenient time, by now, we would have fair registered voters and accurate lists that allow us hold a credible presidential election. Somaliland then becomes a model for the post conflict countries. The people analysing the political conflicts in Somaliland argue that the current problem isn’t based on efficiency or effectiveness of the voter registration project, they say it is conflict of interest between opposition political parties and ruling and government party. If the current produced lists was reflective to the interest of government they would have accepted and indicate it as credible and accurate lists, and the same was true for opposition parties.
Therefore, the decision that is abandoned for the lists of registration was irrational and illegal for three main reasons:
It is relevance to a particular project cycle, while the project was deviated from its objectives at initial implementation stage; the Somaliland government didn’t engage the process of rectifying to avoid such problem happen at final stages.
The approach that decision was reached symbolises partiality while the key actors was ignored in the process determination.
determining going election without registering the voters isn’t a decision that was based on public interest as it was based on preferential results that is unfavor for the ruling party and the decision didn’t consider the negative impact that it could have for the entire nation.
To opposition party’s roles and responsibility for the current crisis
Kulmiye and UCID are the only registered opposition parties in Somaliland. The opposition parties are legitimate institutions that have obligations and rights in the political mainstream, without them no democratic system is prevailed across Somaliland. The Somaliland political analysts assert if the institutional capacity of the opposition parties has been stronger then the ruling party, a weaker government wouldn’t have ruled over the citizens. The opposition parties are to monitor over the government that violating the charter, shape public politics and policies, while recognizing and respecting the authority of the elected government. This is possible because of democratic societies commit to the values of tolerance, compromise and cooperation.
The role for the opposition parties in the current crisis
If the current problem is that all key actors losing their faith in the democratic system and weak capacity in their institutions contributed the deterioration of the political circumstance. Therefore what roles have the opposition played in escalating the current problem? The opposition parties have direct responsibility to the postponement of the elections, because, the electoral process are shared responsibilities; shared responsibilities are defined as collaboration between two or more persons or bodies performing the same kind of activity in the creation of the content of an item.
The contribution of each may form a separate and instinct part of the item or the contribution of each may not be separable from that of the other. Therefore, each part should be held accountable for its contribution positively or negatively. The opposition receive their share of responsibilities in three ways; 1- being a part of the primary actors of the conflict, 2- annexing their power desire to the political conflicts 3-The style they manage to the conflicts.
1- The opposition parties either proactively or reactively engage to pre-election disputes, therefore they become one actor in the conflicts. the context of the electoral disputes have an influence to cross-cutting issues that is indistinguishable from one to another, E.g. election schedule, term for the presidency and the power arrival process are integrated issue that if one part deviates from its path, it effects to the second part. In this scenario, if the opposition engage in a dispute it effects to cross cutting issues. Contrary to pre-election disputes; if there has not been a dispute, or disputes are managed positively (win/win situation), the election is not postponed, the term for the presidency will be legitimate and the power is arrived through democratic elections. In this case, neither of the two sides will be blameworthy.
2-The opposition parties are criticised annexing their power desire to the conflicts or the problems, in the above case, the opposition parties often address on the impacts of the disputes instead of the causes and effects of the problems (a power arrival process). This type of concern is interoperated that oppositions are deliberately engaging the arguments in order to topple down the current government undemocratically. E.g. biometric registration lists, Siilanyo was the one preferred an election without registration instead of it is being postponed, as the government endorsed recently going election without registration, the opposition’s position automatically changed to other way round.
3- The style of conflict management: intolerance itself is a form of violence and obstacles to the growth of true democratic spirit. The aggressive style that opposition utilize in the process of conflict mitigation is based on non-charter provisions while they accuse the government mishandling the provision in the constitution. Good example is that the suggestions made by the two opposing sides in resolving the power arrival process; ruling party is suggesting that an extension should be made for the term of the current government, which is based on an article in the constitution restricted to a particular condition that is being unfit to the present situation. The second suggestion is forming a caring government that rules over the country during the transitional period, the second part is not referred from the charter and it is a baseless proposal that needs first to be legalised.
My points of view is, the two opposing suggestions are based on provisions in the constitution, but one of them has a reference in the charter although it can not be asserted that it fits for the present condition, but the next suggestion is wholly unconstitutional and innovative resolution that needs to be legalised, the sad thing is that oppositions that were to monitor the infringement of the charter asserted the one that has not constitutional reference.
Opposition parties should act responsible by showing their supporters and external world for their tolerance during the conflicting period by emphasizing on finding concrete solutions for the causes and effects of the problem, they avoid addressing the impact of the problem instead of its route causes. They should blame themselves that weak government is ruling over the country because of they are not strong enough to compete with the existing weakness that this government posses.
Way forward
Opposition parties should arrive to the power through ballots not violence, before they climb the power they should demonstrate that they are different from the ruling party and their administration by strengthening their internal democracy and improve party’s governance. Then they can easily win in the ballots. I have therefore, several points suggesting for opposition parties improve their weakness to be able to change the current administration they are:-
Develop alternative Dispute resolution strategy which enables proactively resolve the conflicts being reactive to imposed resolutions.
Avoid focusing the power destination instead of political process or arriving the power undemocratically regardless the illegal extension for the term of the presidency that was caused by electoral postponement in the expense of the long term future and stability, tolerance and democratic governance.
Adhere to provisions in the constitutions generally not endorsing particular provisions while ignoring the others
Strengthening governance and democracy in the party level and the tolerance culture horizontally or vertically ( in the party or interacting to other parties)
Increasing and improving the participation level of their supporters to be able to differentiate themselves from the ruling party
opposition parties should be responsible institution that takes government to be accountable through sensitising the community
To be Continued …………………………
Written by Ibrahim Saed Hussein
ibrahimkhadar@hotmail.com
HARGEISA, 31 August 2009 (Somalilandpress) – There have been some scurrilous reports from certain journalistic bankrupt websites that Somaliland “armed forces” have seized the Somaliland parliament. According to this particular website, that only a few days ago reported the false news that the Somaliland President, Mr. Kahin had sacked his very active and able defense minister. For shame, if there is no news, then make it up and then distorted the facts. Of course, that is par for the course in their corrupt locales, after all, once a pirate always a pirate in Pirateland.
First, all the Somaliland Police Force are in charge of the Parliament security. They can only enter the internal offices if they have been requested by the Speaker or the chair of the session in progress.
Secondly, during the recent security operation on Saturday, August 29th, 2009, the police conducted their security patrol with minimum fuss, there were no arrest, and no member of the Parliament was in any dealt that impinged their dignity.
Thirdly, no reporters were beaten or manhandled. It was an orderly patrol that was designed to protect the well-being of the parliamentarians and ensure the safety of all those present at the complex.
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Sadly, Somaliland’s enemies have resorted to fabricating news in order to try and besmirch the nation’s reputation for peace and democracy. In this era of uncorroborated news, in which most of these bankrupt website do not even have a reporter in the locale, lies and fabrications are used to spread falsehood disguised as journalism.
The Somaliland Police Force has always conducted themselves with valour and honour, and has in no way breached their role as the custodians of law and order.
The same cannot be said for the authorities in whom these anti-Somaliland and morally bankrupt websites operate.
The advice to those who are interested in Somaliland and would like to get a balanced view of the situation, based on true journalistic values of balance, research and confirmation, is to avoid reading articles that begin in the following manner;
Somalia: Somaliland or include the phrases such as secessionist or headlines that enclosed in quotation marks, because, it is one hundred percent certain that these kind of articles are propaganda pieces masquerading as journalism, fabricated by anti-Somaliland elements who have neither the resources nor credibility to write fair, balanced and objective articles.
These kinds of websites are akin to the so-called gutter press, in fact, they are much worse than that and everything they write should be regarded as lies and fabrication or at the most taken with a pinch of salt.
Hargeysa (Somalilandpress)- Ciidamada Booliska Somaliland ayaa rasaas oodada kaga qaaday, kuna kala kaxeeyay boqolaal ka mid ah dadweynaha ku dhaqan magaalada Hargeysa, kuwaasoo ka gadoodsanaa Inqilaabkii shalay ay ciidamadu ku qabsadeen xarunta Golaha Barlamaanka, iyada oo maanta ciidamada Golaha ay xukuumadu soo laban-laabtay.
Dhinaca kale shirgudoonka Golaha Wakiilada iyo Xildhibaano laba dhinac ah kala ayaa kulan albaabadu u xidhan yahay ka yeeshay khilaafka ka soo dhex cusboonaaday.
Ciidamo xad-dhaaf ah oo isagu jiray Booliska noocyadiisa kala duwan sidan Birmadka, USP-da iyo ciidamada Qaranka oo iyaga loogu talo-galay inay dalka ka difaacaan cadawga dibada ayaa ka dhex muuqday ciidamadii la keenay maanta Golaha Wakiillada.
Dadweynaha gadoodsanaa ayaa iyagu ku dhawaaqayay erayo ka dhan ah xukuumada madaxweyne Rayaale hormoodka u yahay, iyaga oo madaxweynaha kaga dalbanayay dhawaaqoodaas inuu is-casilo oo xilka isaga dago. Taasoo gayaysiisay inay in ugu dambayntii ay ciidamadu kala kaxayntooda u adeegsadaan Rasaas iyo Budhadh.
Si kastaba ha ahaatee, xaalada wadanka gaar ahaan caasimada Hargeysa ayaa maalmahan u dambeeyay xaaladeeda isbedel wayni ka muuqdaa, iyada oo gidaar kasta iyo goobaha lagu kulmoba laga hadal-hayo dhacdadii Golaha Wakiilada Xildhibaanada ka tirsani ay buuqa kaga dhex abuureen iyo ficilka uu ku talaabsaday Taliyaha ciidanka Booliska Saqadhi oo isagu Golaha Wakiillada ciidamadiisa ku qulquliyay.
HARGEISA, 30 August 2009 (Somalilandpress) – As a young girl, I used to build this beautiful yet fancy life of how my marriage would be, I would create a picture of Mr. Right and alter according to my fancy, how he will look like, behave like, treat me, how he would sweep my feet’s of the ground, how he would fall in love head over heals. How rich he would be and what kind of house or mansion I would live.
This is not something unnatural or out of context illusion by young unrealistic girl. It is something shared by all young girls around the world and from all walks of life and religious. Every girl has set of expectation about what kind of man and marriage she would hope to have. She perfects and polishing as she gets order and most of these fancies expectation gets stronger and more unrealistic as times closes by.
I left Hargeisa, the capital city of Somaliland when I was only 8yrs old, my family moved to one of the gulf countries, my father was engineer and I had three siblings. As the only daughter, I was given most of the attention and got away with having best of everything. As the gulf war took place, my father decided to take us to Egypt. Once there my parents made sure we all get the best education that can be found in Egypt. Since my mother was not educated enough she made sure I give 100% to my studies than doing chorus at home. But she also made sure on my weekends, I learn how to cook and take care of home.
Just like any girl coming out of puberty, your mother will start telling you that you are a woman and woman are created to be wives and mothers, that their first priority in this world are being homemakers. My mother told the happiness and most satisfying job of the world is making your husband happy and being good mother to your children. She told me education is good in woman’s life as she can take care herself and children incase something happens but not necessary for fieldwork. Because of this, as I get older and turned into young woman, I start building fancy life of what my marriage would be like and mostly important what kind of husband I would be married to.
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Once I started attending university, I was happy that I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to persuade degree, as many of the girls back home did not have that chance. I was also lucky enough to have parents who can afford to show me around the world and give the freedom to make my own decisions. Because I had this freedom, I learnt in early age what you make out of yourself and the choices you make in life are those that curves your future ventures. You will also know your limitation as woman of taking the right path towards life.
When I finished my university, we went back to Kuwait, there I got job with leading company. In this stage every mother wants her daughter to be married and settle in life rather than seeing her working. It is natural instant of parents to see their daughter to be happy settle in her own home. The pressure also comes from out society where once the girl is in her prime time, she should be married. But my parents did not want to force into marriage I was not content with. They want be to have the choice of meeting nice and gentleman who is suitable for me. I had expectations of what kind of man I would marry and my parents were satisfied with that.
From the time I turn 18 years, I already knew what kind of husband I would marry. He would be highly educated, handsome, working with big company or rich enough, understanding, caring, he would be someone who will love me to death and above all, he will be someone who will never allow me to be unhappy for a day.
During one of my trips to other gulf countries, which I used to go to visit my uncles for my holidays, accidentally I met a young man who was friend of my cousin. We became friends and start communicating constantly. I did not had much knowledge about him as it never strike me he could be one day my future husband, but as destiny had, once he proposed to me over the phone, I don’t know but there was something nice about him and I said yes, I told my mother, she was happy first that I finally found someone I am happy with but once the news reach my father that is when the tide turn, my father was furious and angry that I could be marrying this guy or even thinking about it.
Why was my father angry? This man was totally the opposite of the kind of husband I was hoping to marry, that he was uneducated, did not have a job, he was not from wealth of family. My father could not understand why I would throw myself into hell.
I was adamant as I believe I was happy and have high expectation of my marriage. It would be happy once, we could work together, build life and home that will suit our expectations. I will have the perfect marriage as we are in love with each other and nothing else matters. Finally my parents had to given in and bless our marriage eventhough they knew otherwise.
First year of my marriage was blissful and full of love and happiness, my husband promise to give me best of everything, to work harder so he could show me how much I meant to him. He was so full of promises, I was happy that I made the right choice of marrying him. I also thought since he is trying hard to sustain career, I could continue to work and support our new family.
As time goes by, it became apparent we are two different people. He did not want to fulfill any of the promises he made in the beginning, he was not willing to improve and persuade high education, he was not willing to work as I was already providing for the family, we already had child and I was working full time job while he was lazing around and hanging out with his friends.
I could not share this with my family, as I was ashamed of their we-told-you-so accusation. More over I was angrier with myself believing all the expectations that I had before my marriage and while in the beginning could just all come together and relying on fancy life that I could have perfect marriage where there will not be any hole or gap. I also realize that no one is perfect and nothing is ever 100% guarantee.
All the dreams and illusions we built as young woman are all false and unrealistic. Marriage is never perfect what consist of the compromises and sacrifices we made to keep our home together. I also realize that as wives we gave more than we get. I end up being the bread earner, a mother as well as the homemaker, a job and responsibility, which was, supposes to be the husband’s.
The more my life gets challenge, the more I grow up to be matured and stronger person. I was thankful to my parents to give me the education that helps me today to have the financial security to take care of my family and children. I learn to be independent and decision maker, I learned to face the world and take up any challenges that comes my way, I learn to be the best of my career and turn out to be someone my parents are proud of.
When was getting married, I was naïve and innocent woman who believe marriage is all about the man being the steering wheel of the marriage, that everything about marriage would turn out to be perfect. The husband takes care of everything and women are just the homemakers who would not have day to worry about anything.
My mother was wrong when she said education is secondary and woman’s place is her home, that used to be the old times. In today’s world it seems woman’s place is in the workforce especially in the Somali communities. Large number of women are out of their houses supporting their families and children while the men are chewing around and ignoring their prime responsibilities of being the bread earner and taking care of their families. It seems it is becoming trend even young men to find women who is working and can support herself and the family.
The only concern is that many of these women are not educated enough to find the right kind of job and end up doing businesses that are not suitable for them or bring harm and danger to them. As for me I am glad I have all the right tools to life comfortable life and not worry the financial security for me and my children. I am so glad that I went through this experience I was destined to.
I hope all the young girls of my sisters would not believe there is such thing as perfect marriage but more of preparing for the unknown and unprepared ventures that will come their way once they enter into the marriage, they will be ready and strong enough to handle an unexpected events and responsibilities that comes with marriage.
D A Hassan
Hargeisa, Somaliland
____________________________________________________________________________________ D A Hassan is a regular contributor to Somalilandpress and will be writing about the relationship. She has an extensive knowledge in the issue and will be helping young generations understand more about the relationship issues.
HARGEISA, 29 August 2009 (Somalilandpress) – On July 11, 2009 four prominent Somaliland citizens were kidnapped from a public highway and later on massacred in a tribal ritual. On August 6, 2009 Ali (Marshall) Gulaid died in a car accident on his way to Berbera.
I dedicate this article to the loving memory of the 4 victims of the Somaliland’s 7/11 whose murder will unite a nation to defeat lawlessness
Ugly Revenge is the nomad’s mantra. For him an eye for an eye is insufficient, too little, too late. He wants two, three, four eyes for the one his kin lost. He wants it today before the dead is cold. He wants it done in much more excruciating pain, in much more disgustingly inhumane manner as those eyes “taken” from his own. This is what I call the hyperinflation of hate that turns the hearts of men and women dark, hard and cold. This is the raw emotional material that hate groups of all societies mold into genocide and mass murder. It is explosively volcanic with the added potential of viral spread. It is here that the process of dehumanization of the “other” finds a fertile soil and grows to its nightmarish potential. The vector that carries this raw material is the ugly tribal revenge seeker.
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It is with this background in mind that I first address this most extreme fringes of my people who has become possessed by the demons of vengeance and who dream of basking in its blooded glory. I speak directly to those who murdered Ali Aw Omar and those who plan to murder other Ali’s in the never ending cycle of tribal revenge and counter revenge.
To these hate mongering tribal fringe I say: if your heart is already taken, and your soul is a prisoner to the master of darkness (Shaitan), if he has already locked up your ears and my words feel remote, inaudible, naïve, simpleminded and cowardly, in this case pray with me the two Rak’at of Salaat al Al-Istakhara (the prayers and supplication for guidance and counsel). Allah (SWT) is the most strong, the most wise and the most powerful, He will deliver you from the clutches of the demon. He will open your ears to me and soften your heart to my words.
And now that you have purified your soul think with me:
When you murder a traveler who is an innocent non-combatant, when you orphan the children of a farmer tilling the dry parched land for few grains to sustain his family, when your spear of vengeance pierces the heart of a man who has never done anything wrong to you or to any human or to any of God’s creatures….. When you engage in such a dastardly act knowingly, willing and deliberately do you still remain a Muslim? Read with me these ayaat (Quranic verses) before you answer:
“4:93 (Asad) But whoever deliberately slays another be¬liever, his requital shall be hell, therein to abide; and God will condemn him, and will reject him, and will prepare for him awesome suffering.” Sadaqa Allahu Al Cadiim.
And I ask: When you torture a man, when the screams of pain of those who has fallen prey to your tribal frenzy pleases your heart, in that most awful of times are you really human or an animal in the shape of a human?
When you seek out and ambush the old, the weak and the unarmed in your despicable frenzy of tribal sacrifice do you feel brave like a lion? or are you merely a despicable scavenger?
To the scribes of tribal vengeance, to those who whisper death in the silence of the night, to those who preach and incite hate, to those who organize gangs of psychopaths to spread murder and mayhem upon the earth, to those high priests of the Gods of Vengeance I say: Do you think distance will absolve you from the crimes that you conceive, encourage and perpetuate? Do you realize that your tribal ancestors are Mengele, Hitler, Pol Pot and most emphatically not Sh Issa, Sh Samaroon, Sh. Isaaq, or Sh Darood. Do you realize that you are a stain on the good name of all human kind?
Psychopathy is a disease that exists in all human societies. And everywhere the murdering psychopath is hunted down and brought to justice. Except in our own society where we turn a blind eye to them. We give them shelter. We feed them. We incite and encourage them to “kill the other”. We secretly celebrate “their manhood” and on we openly support them by denying that these crimes even took place; just like holocaust and genocide deniers everywhere. We give these murderers and psychopaths the power of life and death in our society. Consequently we condemn ourselves to eternal misery in this world, and eternal hell on the other. And then we wonder why are we so far behind the rest of mankind in all areas of man’s endeavors. Think about this the next you hear in Gabilay “ Walee waa nin rag ah” (that is a man’s man).
The matter is simple. A crime has been committed. A most terrible crime. The perpetrators of this crime are known. They must be brought to justice now. This is how you tame wild tribes and force them to make peace not war. We must disown these murderers. We must ensure that they don’t literally get away with murder.
And on the other hand those who hear whispers in the dark about future attacks of terror should denounce them and warn the nation about it. This is how we gain back our humanity and our pride in ourselves. This how we become a good Muslims. This how we could build a nation. And this is how we can defend ourselves collectively from the criminal fringes of our nation.
A psychological Fracture
The murder of Ali Aw Omar and his colleagues pose an existential question for all of us who like him travel that vital road to be part of the nation that we are helping to build. Can we be safe in our own country? Should we be resorting to traveling in armed conveys in our own backyard? Should we be looking for alternative ways of survival. These are surely rational questions that demand honest answers. This murder has caused a psychological and physical fracture in the this young nation of Somaliland. It would be no exaggeration to conclude that the impact of this murder and the impact of the response to it by the current administration and those that follow it will determine to a great degree the fate of Somaliland as a viable state.
But at this point in time the people of Awdal find themselves in the unenviable position of finding a rational answer to an irrational proposition. A Somali proverb maintains “nin aan waran kaagu gelin, weedhaadu ma gashu” (those who have not felt the pain of your spear, cannot grasp the wisdom of your words). It is a proverb like many other Somali proverbs that has a tribal cutting edge to it. It defines the “us” and “them” and in the raw terms of violence and volatility. And so the default course of action of a tribal group in defending its members has always been to resort either to tribal murder revenge or to build up tribal militia and prepare for tribal wars.
The times are different though. And by now we should all realize that there are no tribal solutions to the issue of the security and safety of the citizens of a state, none whatsoever.
We have already considered and debunked tribal revenge murder as a rational option for achieving the safety of a tribe. Indeed just the opposite is always true. We have shown, to those who have been blinded by the emotions of the moment, the immoral nature of this most horrible of all options. Let this be clear to all and sundry. Anyone who participates in tribal murder in any shape or form has forfeited his faith, and his humanity in the service of the ancestral god-the tribe. He is not one of us. He is the enemy of all of us.
Raising tribal militia and waging tribal war “to save the tribe” has been the more commonly accepted and often preferred option of a nomadic society in defending its own. Once again we must understand that it is an illusory option; a non starter in today’s world.
Tribal wars are financed by the feeble mechanism of donations, not by robust taxes. It is fought by amateurish militia who left their farms, sheep and camel to wage war for a day or two not by a standing army. These logistical and ideological constraints make tribal wars short, nasty and brutal.
Tribal wars have only a time limited tactical goal of killing many of the “other” and looting their property. The purpose is primarily to gain an ephemeral psychological boost to the self esteem of the aggressor tribe. This lasts only long enough until the “other tribe” regroups itself for a day or two of a vengeful blood bath and recaptures its own injured self image. Tribal war uses the tactics of a guerilla warfare of hit and run. But unlike guerilla wars it has no strategic objective of holding land, creating a state or taking power over an existing state. The end result of tribal militia wars is therefore one of constant, circular, short, nasty, battles that go on and on intermittently for generations in a devastating manner that keeps the whole region in perpetual poverty as trade, farming and animal husbandry come to a stop and as the resources of the tribes involved are depleted by a mini arms race.
Now if a thousand years of Somali history has not convinced you that tribal militia and tribal wars cannot serve the safety and security of any one, if 30 years of war in Somalia that has succeeded only in wiping out the Somali people has not convinced you of the futility and ridiculousness of this option then there is something seriously wrong with your mind and your thinking process. You need to seek remedy for your intellectual blindness. And if your are happy with your blindness you must ensure to take all necessary precautions to prevent it from infecting others around you for it could be lethal to those you love.
Our old deadly ways
With this knowledge in mind it is disheartening and unfortunately expected even if strange that both sides of the Kalabaydh divide have decided precisely that a tribal solution is the only option available to them. The demonization process is in full swing. Objective analysts on both sides of the divide are feeling the heat of being marginalized. Tribal scribes are busy yarning new conspiracy theories, new psychic injuries, new lists of grievances and injustices. Old symbols are being resurrected and recruited for the tribal cause. In Gabilay the SNM flag has surpassed in status and affection the Somaliland flag. It is everywhere. On the Awdal side the blue flag of Somalia appeared out of nowhere after two decades of absence. The naïve may consider these newly dusted symbols as a manifestation of Somali Nationalism and Somaliland Nationalism battling it out in the plains of Kalabaydh. Nothing could be further from the truth. The symbols may be different but they are meant to say the same things: “I am of this tribe and I am seeking out allies that can help me best you and exterminate you in the battles that are to come.” Both symbols are a dagger pointed at the newly minted Somaliland identity for they take the nation backward a thousand years into the filthy swamps of tribal immorality and death.
There are three ideologically related solutions to the problems of insecurity created by tribal warriors, all involve the building of a state that can claim sole monopoly on violence like all states do: A reinvigorated Somaliland State, a reborn Somalia State or a de novo Moslem State of Somalia are the only three options on the table. Choose your pick. Any one from Somaliland has the democratic right to choose any of these options. It is clearly immoral, and manifestly dangerous, to advocate for tribal solutions at this point in the history of the nation and that of mankind.
The people of Somaliland has rejected religious fundamentalism outright. And in 1993 the vast majority opted for a Somaliland State. Most unfortunately the Somaliland state has been weakened by inept administration. The legitimacy of the state has been undermined when the government of the day failed to uphold the laws of the land, as it was sworn to do, when they embarked on naked corruption and open pilfering of the public purse, when they decided that to simply ignore the national consensus and the national constitution, to outlaw the free press, to delay or cancel the electoral process unless they could be assured victory beforehand.
The result of this decay of the Somaliland state is the strengthening of tribal identity and tribal wars with all their gore and blood. This is the problem that lead to the death of Ali Aw Omar and his colleagues. This is the problem that needs a solution that is non tribal and non religious- a political solution.
Making Sense of the Senseless
We need to stop here and make one critical observation. The last time that there was this level of violence in Kalabaydh was in the dark days of 1988-1991. Then, as is the case now, a president was trying to hold on to power illegally by all means necessary. Then, as is the case now, those who were in power thought it was in their best interest to create a deadly vacuum of tribal rivalry and tribal allegiances to find for themselves a space to maneuver. Then, as is the case now, the survival of the nation did not matter in the least to those in power.
It is because of these considerations that I came to believe that the most imminent risk to the life of any Gadabuursi today is the current administration of Somaliland and its pursuit of absolute power. Just as this administration is the most imminent danger to the life of every Somalilander. The massive extent of injustice, corruption and hatred this regime has created is sufficient to lead to the implosion of the state and the death and destruction of the people who live in. The hope of the Gadabuursi and that of rest of Somaliland today rests on the victory of Saylici or the victory of Mohamed Rashid.
A Call to Action
And so my fellow Somalilanders, men and women of all political persuasions, in this darkest moment, when murderers are on the brawl, when the regime failed to provide even the most basic law and order, when available meager resources are being diverted to arm tribal militia just as the drought stricken and hungry dye in isolated huts and in street corners, in this darkest moment when all seems lost, there is one more battle to be waged.
One more stand against tyranny, against the slaughter of innocence. Let the streets of our cities and villages swell with thousands of peaceful marches and calls for change. Let seven days of every week be the Glorious Thursdays of revolt. Let us break the death grip of Rayaale, Cawil and Cabdillahi around our necks before they reduce us all to a crumbling dirt of primitive tribes massacring each other. Let there be a glorious people’s revolution. We will die anyways as we must. Let us choose to fall fighting this good war, for this just cause. Let this be our revenge for Ali Aw Omar.
Dr. Abdishakur Jowhar
(abdijowhar@yahoo.com)
Saturday, August 29, 2009
