|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Last Updated: Jun 14, 2010 - 8:03:37 PM |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
What Is The Right Way Forward For Somaliland?
8 Mar 8, 2008 - 6:58:17 AM
|
Because of my writings, I get lots of electronic mail from Somalis and foreign friends which I acknowledge here my profound appreciation. Most of them carry good and positive sentiments. Needless to say, from time to time, I also receive hate mail. Anyone who deals with people or issues which concerns people will no doubt confront bitter reaction. That is the nature of things. Even the prophets used to encounter some resentment. I would like to share here one such reaction. A clannish individual who resented my love for our people in Somaliland has, not long ago, sent me an email entitled: Mind your business! It was a rant warning me to stay away from the affairs of the North. This is ironic. It is like telling an Englishman from Devon that the English in Cornwall was none of his business. We cannot be Somalis if the affairs of Somalis are not our business. The people in Somaliland are Somalis and the land they inhabit is the land of Somalis (Somaliland). For that simple reason, Somaliland is my business.
Personally, I believe in our nationhood, common identity and common destiny. There are 6.5 billion people on this planet. Only 10 million are Somalis. Unlike many nations populated by different ethnic groups, Somalis should appreciate the fact that we are of the same stock, speak the same language, practice the same religion and sect; share one culture, heritage and a common history. Individuals who are driven by clan-based interests do not influence national opinion. Such things require foresight. We need to narrow, not widen rifts created within our society. Let us not forget that such rifts are the creation of unprincipled individuals who tend to benefit from them. It is a disservice, if not treason to encourage hatred within one's own nation. The Almighty did not create mankind to hate one another let alone people from one nation. We need to confront persons whose enterprise has become hatred. It is the role of the educated generation to fight evil and strengthen the common bond of our people.
We live in an age where the whole of Europe is coming together as one nation. Constructive unity is beneficial to those who embrace it. It is true, things have fallen apart and our nation is nowhere near the unity which can bring people of the same stock together. However, past experiences should not make us cynics but better judges of things. The division and disunity of same people is untenable. There was no wall stronger than the Berlin wall which had to come down. Next time when unity arrives, there is no need to look back and miss the opportunity. That day, unity will not be a turn off but a golden opportunity. The reason which could not keep the Germans apart would bring Somalis in Hargeisa, Mogadishu, Kismayo and elsewhere together. Unsavoury leadership can complicate things and make people lose hope. It is one thing to say, 'let us unite when we have a truly national government', but who said unity is a curse?
In the 1980s, in Somalia, there was a military government in which Somalis from all communities were in its army and public service. We cannot blame any clan for what has happened in the North. In the 1980s the then government was battling insurgency (first in the North and later in the South) which were trained and armed by the then Marxist government in Ethiopia which did not hide its disdain for Somalia and its intention to finish off Somalia. Unfortunately, this is not how some individuals will see it. In this world there are those who blame — not the individual who has done wrong, but his clan or ethnic group. There are those who blame all Muslims when a Muslim does something bad. Clannish Somalis are wrong to blame whole clans for the actions of individuals. This is guilt by association.
In the North, individuals who were carrying out orders were from different communities, including from the North itself. Governments everywhere combat insurgency and culpability of wrongdoing may not rest with governments alone. Even the present government in Somaliland will fight anyone who challenges its authority. We saw President Mohamed Ibrahim Egal himself combat insurgency in Somaliland during his reign. Precious lives were lost as a consequence. In August 1991 on live television, we saw the shelling of the Russian parliament by Russian tanks under the order of Boris Yeltsin, the then ruler, in order to flush out rebellious parliamentarians and their speaker Ruslan Khasbulatov.[1] Such examples are many. Our purpose here is not to justify the action of those in authority, but merely to examine parallels by comparing our experiences with other nations. However, we are neither condoning nor dismissing the adverse significance of such actions. The loss of the life of one Somali is very tragic. But such sentiments can only be valid when we all matter to one another and care about one another.
We are not the only nation which has had to suffer, but no nation had to dismember as a result. Destruction and the loss of precious lives were not confined to the North alone. Worse atrocities have also taken place in the South and the precious lives of many Somalis were lost. But, we cannot blame any clan for the carnage which has taken place in the South. No doubt clans were used, but it was individuals who were behind the atrocities. In the South, Somalis who were wronged have moved on. They are neither asking for a different country nor are they seething with anger. It is time to forgive what has happened between Somalis. But lessons should be drawn. We should never allow hateful individuals to whip up emotion and fan the flames of animosity among Somalis. What we need is to move on and draw a line under the difficult past.
If we do not emerge from subterranean clannism into the upper grounds of nation, we will never have a credible government, let alone a state. Even on the Internet individual Somalis are serving clan interests. Some bandy the conflict waged in Las Anod in October 2007 as if Somaliland was Ethiopia and Puntland was Eritrea. The people of Las Anod share kinship with Somalis in both Somaliland and Puntland. Somalis in Las Anod have the right to enjoy their dual kinship unhampered. Far from being a success, the invasion of Las Anod will hinder and not help progress in Somaliland. It is silly to mistake Somaliland for Ethiopia and Eritrea for Puntland. Puntland and Somaliland are both Somali territories populated by Somalis. Let us see things in perspective. Yet again, thousands of Somalis had to flee and endure suffering as a result of another unnecessary conflict. The conflict over Las Anod should have been avoided at any cost. In the past when foolish things happen, only the very young would take to the streets. The exuberance of children has never been a problem. Unfortunately, it is now adults who rejoice. Foolish actions brought about by petty men in positions of power should be rejected, not rejoiced.
Public opinion is a priceless commodity. Since the early 1990s, the people from Las Anod and its wider area were split down the middle. Their allegiance was torn between Puntland and Somaliland. Half of the people were supporters of Somaliland. Anyone who raids another's area gets scorn, not flowers. Another silly idea is the concept of 25 Las Anod folks paraded as prisoners of Puntland. It is never a good idea to parade folks from another community as prisoners. Such things have adverse consequences for inter-communal relations. Needless to say, the people of their area will not see them as prisoners of Puntland. They will see it the humiliation of their own folks. How is this going to help healing? Our nation is in desperate need of national healing. It will not help anyone to rejoice over the victimization of fellow Somalis.
There are countless grievances held against past governments. These are legitimate grievances. Many Somalis believe that government positions were distributed unfairly. No government should practise favouritism which will undermine confidence in governing itself. A government should be fair and judicious. A vibrant, stable and prospering Somalia can only come into being when Somalis from different communities work together side by side. Equal opportunity is the corner stone of a just state and justice is the foundation of a strong society. The nation we strive for should pride itself on the practice of equal opportunity. Equal opportunity is an important pillar in governing. It helps in the creation of a stable society. It is a binding factor in social cohesion. When the state is practitioner of equal opportunity it yields dividend in the form of the support of its public. This enables governance to do its job and deliver. Favouring anyone will only endanger important commodities such as stability and social cohesion. No-one should doubt the ultimate owner of a government is its public and no government is wiser than its own people. The public will always know who is given what and why. In the new society we strive for, all our people should feel the government is theirs, there to benefit all and benefit from all.
It is very natural people to go after something using only the heart. To discuss the issue of secession let us use both head and heart. Let us not shy or shudder from engaging honest debate. We are not against our brothers and sisters in Somaliland. But we have valid argument against secession. I believe history will prove us right and those who advocate secession wrong. Perhaps we see what they are not seeing. For starters, some of us can see the bigger picture. Our nation has a thousand times more educated people than in the 1950s. If the dream and aspirations of less educated Somalis of the 1950s were one of unity among Somalis, what does that make us? Has education, travel and all sorts of privilege made us less aspirants than those in the 1950s? For 40 years (1950 to 1990) the Somali people have bemoaned why the colonialists have divided us into five parts. Are we now, (educated Somalis) campaigning for the splitting of the two parts which make up the Republic of Somalia? Have we not lost the plot? There are those who see in their interest the dismemberment of our nation into separate clan entities. Our future generations will ask and rightly so, why we did not take a strong stance against our division into separate entities.
We appeal to the good sense of all our people to see the bigger picture. We cannot forsake our own nation in order to prop up an individual to keep power. This is myopic. We cannot weaken our own nation for any reason — self-interest or otherwise. We know the adventure in Sanag by Dahir Rayale is opportunistic, short-sighted and self-serving. We know the aim is to whip up emotion and secure popular support in the coming election. Personally, I have no problem understanding individuals who want secession out of alienation. I must admit, I have trouble understanding those who support secession merely because President Rayale is from their clan (sub-clan). We know our people very well. Once an individual becomes the ruler not all but many members of his clan take matters personally. This is one of the bad habits of the Somali people. But this has to change. The presidency does not belong to anyone. It belongs to all the people. Dahir Rayale Kahin is an individual. Leaders come and go. That is the nature of power. The question is: what will such individuals do when one day Dahir Rayale moves on and another leader takes over? Will they not once again become stern advocates against secession?
Puntland is suffering because of chronic maladministration crisis. There is only bad news coming out of Puntland. The government in Puntland is incompetent and detached from its people. The people there are left to fend for themselves. There is a lot a government can accomplish for those under its rule. What is the point of having a government if it is not to impact the lives of its public? The leadership in Puntland is in a mess. One's currency is one's face and one's legacy. We urge the leadership in Puntland to put its acts together. It is never too late to do the right thing.
The issue of Somaliland concerns all Somalis. Let us ask the question: Is there any connection between Kosovo and Somaliland? The Kosovans are Albanians, while their nemeses, the Serbs, are Slavs. The Kosovans are Muslims while the Serbs are Orthodox Christians. The two nations are different in culture and language. They have no common bond. After decades of oppression, the Kosovans were ultimately subjected to ethnic cleansing. In February 2008 when Kosovo declared independence, the US, the European Union and other nations had to recognise Kosovo because there is a lot at stake. It was the US and the European Union which have been propping up and running Kosovo since the war with Milosovic in 1999. It is not possible to take Kosovo back to the Serbs. The peace and stability in the Balkans also depends on freeing Kosovo from the clutches of Serbia.[2] We know there is no national government in our country. But this is a temporary situation. The right way forward for Somaliland is not secession. It would be myopic and ill-advised to go down this path. If our people in the North dismember themselves from fellow Somalis, one day they too will divide amongst themselves on clan lines. Nobody is forcing no-one. However, when the time comes, all we need is to live together in a way which will benefit all.
Seldom will anyone encourage the break up of their own nation. Why then are some foreigners encouraging the break up of our nation? If you meet such persons just ask them one question: Would you want the break up of your own country? The answer will invariably be: hell no! How can then such persons be friends? If you stop someone from jumping off a cliff, at that moment, it is possible that person may look at you as his enemy but one day he will know that you were his true friend. For that reason a friend is not the one who stops you to do what you may regret one day. In 1945 the last thing the people in Europe wanted was unity with Germany. Today, 51 years after the establishment of the union, the last thing the Europeans want is unity without Germany.
Those who encourage our division and dismemberment are our enemies — not our friends. I have only a cold message for foreign individuals such as Dr J. Peter Pham. Vietnam is South and North. But they are all Vietnamese. The question is: Who has ratified the union between South and North Vietnam? In case Dr. Pham didn't know, the union between Somalis has been ratified by their common blood. You cannot insult the intelligence of the Somali people. A true friend does not encourage anyone to commit a serious error. What the Somali people need is accountable governance which serves all the people. As to whether the US wants to dismember one-nation Somalis, Dr. Pham should take a look at UN resolution 733 which was passed on 23 January 1992. This resolution reaffirms the sacrosanctity of the territorial integrity of Somalia. The US was one of the main countries behind this resolution. The wisdom is, people of the same stock are best served to be together and look after one another.
We welcome the United State's pledge to aid Somaliland. Our nemesis has been clannism which brought about misrule and untold misery. Once the country has a government we can be proud of, the burning issue of Somaliland can and will be resolved. There are many ways the issue can be addressed. However, we must stress that unity cannot be achieved by force or by empty persuasion. The most ideal system for Somalia is: Self-administering regions within a democratic union. Under this system, locally, Somalis will elect their own governors, mayors and administrators. On national level, once the new state has been built, the nation will go to the polls to elect its own national leaders and politicians.
We have a duty to our nation which we cannot take lightly. Somalia is at the moment a polarized country which requires a modicum of peace and stability to embark on nation building. Somalia is a virgin country rich in natural resources and minerals. It has dynamic and industrious human resources and a fledgling global Diaspora. It has unspoiled tourist attractions and the potential to become one of the best holiday destinations. What Somalia lacks is leadership. What it needs is honest and incorruptible leaders to develop and tap into her myriad resources. Once it has the right leadership, Somalia can become a bastion of peace and prosperity where foreign nationals flock to work and invest. Pre-independence Somalis were neither wrong nor naïve to envisage a better common future. The country simply never got the kind of leadership which would make those dreams reality. We Somalis have a choice to make. Loath one another and remain in limbo or band together and strive for a better future similar to the one envisaged by our forefathers.
Somaliland is my issue as well as the issue of every Somali. Let us not delude ourselves. It is not for other nations to dismember our nation. Somaliland was a Somali territory before, during and after becoming a British protectorate. We cannot blame one another or blame faultless unity for our troubles. What the nation has been lacking is the right leadership which can heal, bring people together and build a nation. We welcome the sound leadership of any Somali. We will welcome if that person is from the North. Nonetheless, leadership is out of merit and competence. The burden of a nation in ruins is to say the least, Herculean. It will no doubt require the best leadership available. The US Senator Barrack Obama who is contesting the 2008 presidential race is not arguing, since all the 43 US presidents were white, let the next (44th) president be black. Rather, he is putting his stall out to lead his nation by ability, vision and competence. We are not advocating the misfortune of our people in Somaliland. What we want is their beauty and goodness. We strongly disagree if that beauty and goodness is their secession from the rest of country. I contribute this view of mine to the national debate. This is my honest opinion which no doubt, I share with many nation-loving Somalis. You may disagree with me, but I would love to hear your argument. That is the nature of freedom of speech to which we should all adhere and uphold. Anyone who has a different take may do so without bitterness to add to the dialogue.
Notes
1. The worldwide media.
2. Independence is the
only way forward for Kosovo.
Abdullahi Dool
Hornheritage@aol.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
