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Interpeace & Somaliland’s Presidential Election

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Hargeisa, 4 August 2009 (Somalilandpress) – There has been a lot of statements, press releases, commentary by all and sundry on the repercussions of the expulsion of the Interpeace representative from Somaliland and the implications of this action on the Presidential elections scheduled for 27th September this year. Clearly this is watershed, or defining moment (to use President Obama’s favourite term) for Somaliland’s successful experiment in developing, establishing and maintaining an indigenous, representative democracy in Africa.

The consequences of the actions taken by all parties at this critical time, i.e. government, opposition parties, press and foreign donors, will determine the relative ease or difficulty of Somaliland’s path to political maturity and true multiparty democracy. Having said that, it is equally important for the political actors mentioned above to understand, and factor into their calculations, that the success of Somaliland’s experiment in representative government is not due to their perspicacity or their actions, but to the genuine wish of the people of Somaliland for peace, national reconciliation and self government. Indeed, to some extent the population of Somaliland have maintained the stability and reconciliation that underpins the peace of their country, in spite of the machinations of the political class.

Who is Interpeace & What is/was Their Mission?

Interpeace was established in 1994 under the name of War-torn Societies Project (WSP) by the United Nations “…to help divided and conflicted societies build sustainable peace.” In 2000, the WSP was re-formed as an independent NGO based in Switzerland under the name of Interpeace but with strong links to the UN, which continues to play a crucial role in the organisation’s activities (the UN has a Management Services Agreement with Interpeace and charges the organisation management fees [US$129,403 in FY2007]) and with which it maintains a partnership under the sobriquet the Joint Programme Unit (JPU).

Interpeace is headed by a Governing Council including some well known international diplomats, e.g. Nobel Peace Prize winner Martti Ahtisaari of Finland, Paddy Ashdown of the UK and Mohamed Sahnoun of Algeria, and populated by senior UN staffers/ex-staffers. The organisation is managed by a group of well qualified, development professionals from within and outside the UN, its related organisations and international NGOs.

On the face of it, Interpeace is like many other NGOs with laudable aims, notable and respected international figures on its Governing Council, and with a wide-ranging remit to conduct research and promote its lofty aims among the wretched of the earth. I am sure that the organisation does good work in many of the countries in which it operates, or has operated, e.g. Eritrea, Mozambique, Rwanda, Burundi and Liberia to mention a few in Africa.

Cursory review of its financial statements also depict the usual picture of a certain type of international NGO, with some 94% of its revenues coming from governmental contributions and some 73% of its expenses attributable to staff expenses and their travel. Only 9%, or US$1.25 million, of total expenses is spent on workshops, professional services & reporting (which presumably include the cost of the external auditors [KPMG] who are not cheap). When one examines Interpeace’s activities, it is clear that their central mission is to conduct research on conflict resolution, peace and reconciliation and promote same in countries where there is, or has been, civil war or violent, internal conflict. In what Interpeace terms the “Somali Region” the organisation started operations in Puntland in 1996 where it established the Puntland Development Research Centre (PDRC). In 1999 it came to Somaliland and established the Academy for Peace & Development (APD), and in 2000 it went to Mogadishu to establish the Centre for research & Dialogue (CRD).

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The principal result of the organisation’s activities in the “Somali Region” to date has been a 111 page publication entitled “Peace in Somaliland: An Indigenous Approach to State-Building” which is billed as “…a chapter in a forthcoming publication representing the findings of the peace mapping study.” Whatever Interpeace’s own view of Somaliland’s independence may be (and it is perfectly understandable and non-controversial if it does not coincide with that of Somalilanders’), it is clear that the focus of its study is macro in nature, i.e. covering all of the “Somali Region” as they characterise it.

The local NGOs that it has established in each of Puntland, Somaliland and south-central Somalia undertake the basic research and documentation (written as well as audio-visual) underlying the peace mapping study, while the Interpeace cadres design the scope and methodology and write and edit the final publication. This reminds me of the arrangement whereby Somali postgraduate students used to (and maybe still do) undertake the research that underpinned the scholarly papers and books of their “regional expert” professors at European universties.

Be that as it may, and there is certainly nothing wrong with that, although some may prefer that Somaliland academics write the scholarly treatises which rest upon their research and knowledge. The question that needs to be asked is: given Interpeace’s area of expertise and engagement, i.e. conflict resolution studies & peace promotion, how did they get engaged as the consultant to oversee the development, preparation and implementation of the Voter Registration List for Somaliland’s upcoming Presidential elections? It is not clear at all, at least to me, that Interpeace had extensive experience in this particular activity, nor that it had the requisite skills and capability in the computer programming field necessary for the implementation of the project.

In addition, when Interpeace came to Somaliland in 1999, the major internal conflicts in the country, i.e. the inter-clan wars, were over and the country was moving towards multi-party politics. Thus, was Interpeace primary concern to research and document Somaliland’s successful, indigenous conflict resolution methodology, or was it seeking to promote inter-Somali (i.e. Somaliland-Puntland-Somalia) reconciliation through its Participatory Action Research (PAR) methodology that entailed “…building consensual approaches to address the social, economic and political issues necessary for a durable peace” among “…the three partners to engage with each other in collaborative studies and shared projects across their borders – such as this peace mapping study – while managing their respective components of the Dialogue independently” as stated in the preface to their above mentioned publication?

The Presidential Elections – The Way Forward

I don’t have the answers to these questions, but they must be asked and answered. What is clear is that the Voter Registration Project has failed in its primary task of providing a final, agreed and incontestable Voter List by the designated date. It is also clear that while Interpeace may not have been the right consultant to have entrusted with this project, the blame for this failure belongs to many in varying the degrees, i.e. the National Election Commission (NEC) which owned the project, the Government since the project was undertaken in the name of the people of Somaliland, the three political parties since all they contributed, as far as I and many others can tell, was childish squabbling and obfuscation in their varied attempts to secure electoral advantage.

The government and/or the two houses of the legislature must appoint an independent commission of inquiry to get to the bottom of this fiasco and ensure that the Voter Registration Project is completed properly, professionally and expeditiously after the Presidential election. Finally, it is clear that the election cannot proceed with a Voter List that is preliminary, contains thousands (perhaps hundreds of thousands) of duplicate and erroneous registrations and that is subject to programming flaws in matching the biometric data to the individual voters. It was right and proper to remove Interpeace from this project.

We are thus faced with the question of what to do about the Presidential elections. In view of the fact that the election has already been delayed several times, the resultant public frustration with the said delays, and in order to maintain credibility in our democracy, the polls must proceed as scheduled. This should not pose any insurmountable problems, after all we have held three national elections (Presidential, Parliamentary and Municipal) that were judged by all observers as free and fair before we ever heard servers, biometric programming or delivered our democratic process into the sole hands of Interpeace.

The NEC, three political parties and the two houses of the legislature should get together and agree on the arrangements for holding the elections without a Voter List, as we have done in the past. The fact that voters have been issued with ID Cards pursuant to the registration exercise should facilitate matters. The government, for its part, must make available the funds and other resources (security personnel and other resources that are required) as per the arrangements agreed between the NEC, political parties and legislature.

Conclusion

As stated at the beginning, we are at a defining moment and all parties, government, political parties, politicians and the press, must get off their respective soap boxes and put the interests of the country before their personal ambitions and interests. While this is asking the seemingly impossible from politicians, they should be aware that the voters will sorely punish those that they perceive to be elevating their narrow and naked ambition over the interest of the nation at this critical juncture. Somaliland’s voters are not only well informed and sophisticated, they are also utterly and irrevocably committed to the existence, stability and independence of their country, and woe betide any self-serving politician who either ignores or discounts this fact.

In short, holding elections is neither rocket science, not is it new to us, so let’s get on with the job of governing ourselves and hold the election. Posturing that it is impossible to do so in the absence of magical presence of Interpeace, or an incomplete and fatally flawed Voter List (as confirmed by Interpeace itself) is untenable and will not be accepted by the vast majority of Somaliland citizens. Therefore, to those who say that we can’t hold the Presidential elections on 27th September as scheduled, we reply with Obama’s famous, triumphant riposte “YES WE CAN”.

Ahmed M.I. Egal
04 August 2009
egality@gmail.com

U.S. Dismayed with Somaliland Developments

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Monday, August 03, 2009 (SomalilandPress)-The United States government is profoundly dismayed with the recent developments in Somaliland, particularly the decision by President Riyale and the National Electoral Commission to discard the recently-completed voter registration list.

We believe the list forms a sound basis for use in the elections scheduled for September 27. We have directly urged President Riyale to reconsider his decision.

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Is Somaliland suddenly sliding into an abyss?

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Aug 03(Somalilandpress)- This young country has seen difficult times in the past but there is nothing like the arcane situation that it suddenly found itself in the weeks leading up to the elections. With the presidential elections already delayed twice and so much at stake with regards to the stability and the international stance of this country, we are suddenly sliding down to an abyss and the options are running out.

It was recently that a friend of mine had the privilege of taking part of a conference held in Cardiff  last week by the ethnic groups living in Wales (UK) and among the dignitaries was David Miliband, the UK Foreign Secretary who was asked a question about the UK aid to Somaliland. Intriguingly he did not give much detail other than the 40% & 50% ratio for Somaliland and Somalia respectively but he went straight to the current issue of upcoming elections. He said ‘the presidential elections have been delayed several times in the past two years and now it looks as though it is going to be delayed yet again by the mismanagement of the government’. This is just an indicative of how the international community is concerned about the direction that the country is heading to despite its historical successes in democracy and rule of law.
In its short history since reclaiming its independence Somaliland has prided itself of working democracy albeit in its infancy but in a troubled region. It has come from a long way of establishing of a ratified constitution, a rule of law and government institutions who are representative for its people. It is a model that impressed and won many friends in Africa and elsewhere.

Unfortunately this success story is now being put at risk by an incompetent president and his lousy government who is showing a complete disregard to the interest of this nation. The history will write about Riyale and his tenure but more importantly he has the choice today to either let things take its course without becoming a hindrance himself or bring about destruction to the things that has been built over the decades.

The elections are now only few weeks away but everyday comes with ever more depressing news and the new events that are unravelling. The late announcement by the NEC (National Electoral Commission) to go ahead with the elections without registered ballot system was the most disappointing of all. And to make matters worst the government decided to expel the representatives of Interpeace from the country, after all they were there since 2004.

As it became apparent there was no consultation with the other national parties such as Kulmiye and UCID whose members are in the NEC. This exposes the division among the NEC and how the government is playing with the very division among them.

Now both the Houses of Parliament and Ghuurti have expressed their joint concern over the decisions taken by the NEC and the government’s handing of expelling Interpeace. This is a commendable act from the two highest institutions in the country and despite the view of some handful members (Haji Abdi Waraabe etc) the great majority of the people are with the view taken by the Leaders of the two Houses.

There is no doubt that we are heading to an uncharted territory and to very troubling times of uncertainty and continuing disillusionment over the government’s mismanagement of the upcoming elections. Aside from the elections it is worth noting that the Ceelbardaale fiasco can transpire itself a challenge to our security and stability and in many ways we are where we are on this issue because of an incompetent president who does not want to resolve the issue. If he does as some people would say, there was a clear verdict reached by the Select Members from the Ghuurti House, which was endorsed by him at the first place.
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It is about time that the breadth and the depth of this nation’s leaders and intellectuals come together for one single joint purpose. That is safeguarding the national interest of this nation in terms of its security, stability and rule of law. The incumbent leader cares less about this and that is evident of his recent conduct in pre election decisions of the disqualification of the voter ballot registration system and the failures in the Ceelbardaale resolution. No wonder his family are now in Europe for possible political asylum after securing Djiboutian passport. But perhaps what he does not know is that the world has changed since Charles Taylor, Mabuto Sessiko et al.

It was Winston Churchill’s quote that ‘if we open a quarrel between the past and the present we shall find we have lost the future’. We are running of time and options so it is about time that the two Houses draw up a contingency plan for salvaging this nation.

1. The elections are looming and the president knows he has lost the trust of his people and he is ready to do his way at all costs. So for the sake of our national interest the two Houses need to develop a fallback strategy that they can nominate a caretaker president, after all the extended his tenure a couple of times before. Constitutionally this should not be a difficult task to convince the nation.

2. The disbandment of the current NEC members especially its leader who has also lost the trust of his people and national parties alike.
3. The appointment of new NEC members whose skills and experience are the basis of their selection.
4. Setting up a new timetable for a free and fair election through voter ballot registration method and inviting the European as well as the US to help the logistics and its prep work.

Unfortunately this is the only way we can move forward and turn the page of tit-for-tat politics between an increasingly authoritarian style of Riyaale government and the political parties who are being pushed to the limit. Please rise up to the challenge and think what you can do for your country, you know that your country needs you today.

Author: Ahmed Nur Amin
Senior Professional
Cardiff, Wales (UK)

A Peaceful Way Approach to Solve this Genuine Political Confutation is Absolutely Correct Strategy

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Hargeisa, 3 August 2009 (Somalilandpress) – The Somaliland situation was mixed nowadays. There were a rough words and sometimes followed actions which was based on emotion, sending through to the media and other communications. Some analysis indicted there could be a terrible condition ahead for Somaliland democratic process. Also, it was recently when the UCID chairman called locally and internationally to intervene and to slow down the frequency and unpleasant tones coming from government and political parts.

According to the events taking place in Somaliland, one may not deny the reality: there are worried circumstances which are surrounded a sacristy and anxiety. But, on the words of the political science it should be that way when there is a heated discussion between the political parts. In west and the developed world, which was recently included Somaliland when it comes the election and political disagreements, goes through this hot and sticky process.

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The Clinton administration, because of dispute between political institutions, was forced to close the government weeks. In fact, this method is not only unique to the government, but sometimes the political disagreement divides the rule makers such as senators and congresses. The rule and law works when political divergence becomes visible.

The political disagreement that has been started in Somaliland will be destructive because of luck of justice and judiciary system that acts as a go-between the political parts. Taking to the account the united state’s higher court judges, the president appoints them and this scenario doesn’t create a political confusion and military coupe. All political parts use their own political tricks to advance and pursuit the public support when there is a political difference. Off course, the press releases, political desire destructions, and hurting a wounded spots is normal for politics. Day and night there is a fighting going on behind the doors.

Therefore, all parts specially the oppositions the peaceful way approach to solve this genuine political confutation is absolutely correct strategy. A peaceful demonstration is the example of prolongation and continuation of a democratic system and on the other hand it will force the government to come to the negotiation table . Moreover, the way government will respond this peaceful demonstration if they happen, is also sending a signal to the peace lovers around the world.

As always both chairmen of opposition parts declares, Somaliland will not a face a hard time and there will be always negotiations in plan. The approaches will be change when involvement of international community steps up. The delegate from embassy of Britten is always seen in Hargiesa the capital of Somaliland when fever and political high temperature surround the environment. The Unite State of America announces that they will send a legal expert to Somaliland as it happened before. Therefore, there will be a hope in Somaliland all time. Don’t be Sad, Face the nation!


Eng Cayanb
Washington DC

A Troubled Year for Somaliland’s Media

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Hargeisa, 3 August 2009 (Somalilandpress) – Every nation’s information flows through a variety of media system intended for progress and for its people’s guidance. Somaliland media has done a commendable job in the development and community awareness of their country. Radios, Televisions, Web-sites, Magazines and Journals transmit full sense of persuasions, suggestions, criticisms, warnings, advertisements, congratulations and vacancy announcements.

The wide benefits from media means it acts as a public good in development of a nation. The right to receive information and to the freedom of expression is set out in the African charter for Human and Peoples’ Rights and also Somaliland’s constitution. This must be respected by Somaliland government.

The media is an educator and key information source that can promote peace, stability and transparent governance. For example, Somaliland now has 8 private newspapers, two independent private television stations and one radio stations, for one state local radio stations and one television station. This rapid expansion has generated some problems, including inadequately trained journalist, poor provisional standards and week-self regulation. More over, Somaliland government much controlled the private media and remains government owned. The monopolization of media by the government undermines media freedom and popular trust, and creates space of distortion and rumor.

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The single greatest obstacle facing Somaliland media were the illegal arrests made by the government. 27th March 2009, four journalists were arrested by the government. Three of the journalists were released in 8 hours later while the other one was remained in prison, later on Ahmed Saleban Dhuxul was caught by the police at the parliament compound while the house of elders had a session to extend the president’s term in office in the morning 28th March 2009. The detained reporter, Ahmed Saleban Dhuxul was an independent correspondent of Somaliland Space Channel (SLSC) and radio Horyaal.

Mr. Dhuxul was denied access to enter the hall of the meeting while the other journalists were allowed to take part the assembly of the House of elders. He was released after government failed to confirm his guilty to the court.

Interviewed on the phone, one of the released reporters told us Jamahiriya news paper at that time, that his arrest happened at Jigjiga-yar road, where he was taken to the central police station. The reporter, Mr: Liibaan Maweel Shire spent the night at the police station and in the morning 28th March at 10:00 am the police caught Dhuxul and sent him at the police station. He also added that the government has recently increased a systematic campaign against the press. This arrest was condemned by Union Of Somaliland Journalists (USJ) and indicated that the government in recent months arrested a number of journalists like Curad the editor of Yool newspaper and tortured number of them, as the HCTV Camera man who was beaten in Dacar Budhuq district east of Hargeisa.

On 12 July 2009, Mr. Dhuxul and his colleague Sayid were arrested again. The government linked their arrest as they works for a private radio called Radio Horyaal which the government believes that it belongs to the main opposition party named Kulmiye.

On 29th July 2009, at 6:30pm Somaliland police closed down the Horn Cable TV office in Hargeisa. The police later on headed to the studio located east suburb of the city; how ever after a long tedious quarrel and brushes between the reporters and staffs at the studio, the police forcefully arrested the news head of HCTV, Mr. Mohamed Abdi (llig).

Finally, we are criticizing this systematic campaign against the private media. But the question is how can we save our local media?

Submitted by: Farhan Abdi Suleiman

Farhan Abdi Suleiman ( oday) is a student at University of Hargeisa.
Email: oday1999@yahoo.com
Phone: 4401132

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Views expressed in the opinion articles are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the editorial

Ethiopia Jails Canadian ONLF Rebel for Life

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Hargeisa, 3 August (somalilandpress) – An Ethiopian court jailed a Canadian for life on Monday after he was convicted of membership of a separatist rebel group fighting for independence for an ethnically Somali part of the country.

Bashir Ahmed Makhtal, who was born in Ethiopia but had travelled to Canada as a refugee and became a Canadian citizen in 1994, was found guilty last week on three charges related to membership of the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF).

“The court has decided against the death penalty which is the maximum penalty for the charges,” Judge Adem Ibrahim said at the Federal High Court in capital Addis Ababa. “The court sentences the defendant to life in prison.”

Bashir, who left Ethiopia aged 11 and does not speak the local Amharic language, did not react as the sentence was read. His lawyer, Gebreamlak Gebregiorgis, told Reuters he would appeal against both the conviction and sentence next week.

Ethiopia denounces the ONLF — which wants independence for the remote eastern Ogaden region — as a terrorist group that it says is supported by long-time rival Eritrea.

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The ONLF accuses the Ethiopian military of routinely killing civilians and burning villages in Ogaden, which borders Somalia.

Ogaden is eyed by foreign oil and gas companies who think its huge deserts might be rich in mineral deposits.

Analysts say the region’s location between the border and Addis Ababa makes the Ethiopian government reluctant to give it up after a long history of hostilities with Somalia.

Bashir — whose grandfather was an ONLF founder — was arrested in 2006 crossing into Kenya from Somalia after Ethiopian forces invaded Somalia to oust an Islamist movement that had taken control of the capital Mogadishu.

The 40-year-old says he ran a second-hand clothing store in Kenya and often visited Mogadishu to buy clothes. He says he was fleeing the fighting after the invasion.

Bashir’s family says he was subsequently detained in secret in Ethiopia for more than two years and denied consular visits. Canadian officials have attended his trial hearings.

Human rights groups have criticised the trial and say the prosecution failed to produce any credible witnesses. Bashir’s supporters say he was arrested because of his family’s ONLF links. They say he was never a member of the guerrilla group.

The Ethiopian government denies his trial was unfair.


Reuters

Puntland president vows to recapture Sool, Sanaag and Cayn from Somaliland.

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Garowe (SomalilandPress)-Puntland president Abdirahman Farole spoke about recapture Sool, Sanaag and Cayn during his speech at the 11th anniversary of Puntland State of Somalia establishment in Garowe. President Farole told the audience at the anniversary ceremony that his government will not longer allow Somaliland to govern any land that belongs to the people of Puntland. Per Mr. Farole “I promise the citizen of Puntland that I will recapture our land from Somaliland at the earliest time possible”. The main subject during his speech at the anniversary ceremony was all about recapturing the disputed land from Somaliland.

This was the first time that the Puntland president has directly spoken about his government’s intention on recapturing Sool, Sanaag and Cayn. Somaliland troops took control of Las Anod the capital of Sool region two years ago and majority of these three states are now govern by Somaliland.

Somaliland is due to hold its presidential election in September 27 in which residents of these disputed states are registered to vote.

An Eye for an Eye a Tooth for a Tooth

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We live low and dishonest times, where false propaganda comes fast and furious, but anyone who try to normalize the position that Awdal is in today needs a reality check. Because people of Awdal are in a state of shock and it is shame to hear that some of us (Awdalistes) speaking on same intensity about peace and stability as to those other part of NORTH SOMALILA who their own people had committed such a crime but yet expecting the families of the victims to share a dream of a stable country that has never existed in the real world.

I have believed in Somaliland for a very long time and I honestly thought people in that area can find the middle ground for their differences without bloodshed but I have to admit with humility that I was completely wrong like many other Awdalistes.

And I am sorry to disappoint the dream lovers of all sides, but things had changed and nothing is going to be the same and it is time for the few Awdalites who trying to normalize the situation for the sake of their own interests, to realize that the grievances and concerns of Awdalites can not be ignored or concealed any longer.

No one in their right mind should ever contemplate to advocate the idea of Awdal being part of an independent country called Somaliland, because that dream seems to be died with the four innocent men who were being slaughtered by the Isak militia who now moving freely between towns .

And I would like to say to those who are acting like nothing had happened in Awdal. Yes, there is no war going on right now what we used to called Somaliland and yes there are no more victims being slaughter by the Isak dragons, but the absence of these aspects only exist because Awdalites failed to act so far.

The highest crime that humans can commit is to kill another human being and the most horrible inequality and injustice that state can implement is to ignore its citizen’s blood which has been shed unlawfully, so in all aspect the so call Somaliland failed to live up to its expectations and as far as the reality concerns the current status quo in the so call Somaliland territory is not viable for other clans except the Isaks who behaving like they own the country and everything in it.

No one in their right minds or anyone who has functioning heart can ever accept to be part of a group that think they have the fate and the destiny of others in their hands.

We all know that the current Awdal decision makers failed to create any political venues which Awdal could seek refuge if things won’t work out as we were hoping for. But the question is, aren’t there any other able people inside or outside the so called somaliland?

Farhan Adan Warsame a patriotic Awdalites wrote on Saylacnews and Saylacipress Baaruuda qiiqdiyo hadaan BM lagu raadin gobonimo banaan lamagama helo bar iska taal-taale . I believe these words are in every Awdalistes mind but there is something in our blood which is dragging us back. But let us remember that the people we asking to treat us as an equal partners believe that they owe nothing for anyone else in fact they believe they own us.

So as it seems we Awdalistes have only one choice and that choice is to struggle against injustice which has not been put upon us a powerful government but rather a clan administration which we could match its strength.

And I believe it is also worth to mention that how we are being divided by this giant killer call somaliland and the classic example of our divisions appear most Awdal websites that suppose to spread Awdalistes message who are sticking to what they know most which is deviding Awdalistes in to so call party political lines.

This sort of behavior will not serve justice for any Awdalistes and it is time to say NO to the very few people who are trying to manipulate us by speaking behind unknowin characters.

Let us remember no leader of political party or a president has so far condemned the slaughtering of our people, but still we see on Awdal websites delivering meaningless propaganda campaign which carry the messages of those political belly dancers from Hargeisa. And some of the websites are even seem to give more attention to the imprisment of two Camellboy journalists while the blood of their brothers still wet on where they had fallen
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On the other hand Awdal which is the victim of this cruel crime is being condemned through the Hargeisa and Buroa media, and its unfortunate the lack of respond and the impotence of all sectors in Awdal population.

We Awdalites seem to adopt a culture which is alien to our land and that culture which is narrow-mindedness should no longer be tolerated by health minded Awdalistes.

And finally I know many Awdal websites will not publish my opinion and that is because their arrogance and ignorance will lead them to believe that my opinion is no longer serves for what they believe, and it is up to them but we Awdalites should not shy Away by telling the truth. And we should seek justice for the sake of our own survival.

Cabdale Farah Sigad

sigad12345@yahoo.co.uk

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Views expressed in this opinion article is solely of the author and does not represent that of the editorial.

Freelance diplomats Lend a Hand to Would-be States

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Hargeisa, 2 August 2009 (Somalilandpress) – Western Sahara and Somaliland may not have much in common, but they share the same predicament: all are unrecognised states striving to capture international attention.

Enter Independent Diplomat – freelance diplomats who offer their assistance to such nations-in-waiting. They have scored a notable success helping Kosovo win independence from Serbia – but critics say they can only accomplish so much without involving governments and should not pretend to have more influence than they do.

The non-profit group, comprised of former diplomats from a variety of nations, stands ready to help would-be governments navigate the complex system of national bureaucracies and international organizations designed to accommodate established nations.

‘Very often government or international officials will refuse to talk to our clients, or if they talk to them they’re reluctant to give them the information they need,’ said Nicholas Whyte, who heads the Brussels office of the nonprofit group.

‘And from our clients’ side, they are often inexperienced in dealing with international bureaucracies precisely because nobody talks to them,’ said Mr Whyte, an Irish international affairs expert.

With offices in New York, Washington, London, Brussels and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the organisation provides its clients with guidance on how to approach foreign governments or international organizations such as the United Nations or the European Union.

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The group played a role in helping Kosovo gain independence from Serbia. The province had been under international rule since the war ended in 1999 until declaring independence last year, and has been recognized by about 60 nations so far.

‘We received great assistance from them at a time when we needed it most,’ said Ilir Dugolli, Kosovo’s representative to the EU.

Independent Diplomat’s US$1.8 million (S$2.58 million) annual budget comes from foundation and government donations, as well as client fees. Clients are charged according to their ability to pay, with the poorest paying only nominal amounts.

The group also counsels established nations on issues where they lack expertise, including advising the Republic of the Marshall Islands on the UN climate change process and working with East European countries applying for EU membership.

‘We advise would-be countries, but also regular states where we can add our own expertise to theirs, as long as they are democratic countries that respect international law,’ said Carne Ross, the group’s founder and director.

He said Independent Diplomat adheres to a strict policy of rejecting clients engaged in armed struggle, such as Hamas in the Gaza Strip or Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers. ‘If Robert Mugabe came to us for advice, we wouldn’t help him,’ said Mr Ross, a former senior British diplomat, referring to the Zimbabwean president.

AP

Kenya: Canadian-Somali travellers pay a price

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Kenyan airport official threatened Toronto man with jail. After handing over $50, he boarded flight

TORONTO, August 2 2009 (Somalilandpress) — Seeing a woman desperately stranded in Kenya calls to mind other horror stories for Toronto Somali-born travellers.

“Many people have a very bad problem there,” says Hussein Adani, a former Somali track star and owner of New Bilan restaurant on Dundas St. E.

Adani was returning from a two-month visit to the Kenyan capital of Nairobi in 2000 when airport passport police stopped him.

It was the sort of holdup that has caused trouble for Toronto single mother Suaad Hagi Mohamud, so desperate after two months of trying to prove she is the woman in her four-year-old passport photo, that she went to court to have Canadian consular officials take her DNA this week.

“They have two signs,” Adani said yesterday of the departure terminal at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. “One says ‘Africans,’ the other says ‘Europeans and North Americans,’ ” he recalled. “I am Canadian. I lined up at the second sign.”

When airport police asked why he was in the wrong line, Adani showed his Canadian passport and a visitor’s visa issued by the Kenya High Commission in Ottawa.

“They told me, ‘You will have a problem,’ ” he said. “They told me, ‘We’ll put you in jail, you will have to buy a new ticket tomorrow and your luggage will be gone.’
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“I put $50 in my passport and gave it to the officer,” Adani said. “When they opened it and saw the money, they said, `Thank you.'”

At Nairobi airport, every Somali-born Torontonian knows to expect to pay a bribe, said outreach worker Maryan Ali at North York Community House.

“They take only American money,” she said of the airport police. “They look at the date and ask for the newest, 2000 and up. It is well known.”

Such incidents are on the rise, said Mahad Yousuf, director of Midaynta Community Services. “People are travelling back and forth and asking us for help.”

Calls to the Kenya High Commission in Ottawa went unreturned yesterday. In 2008, Transparency International said the chance of being asked for a bribe when dealing with Kenyan police was 93 per cent.

To make matters worse, relations between native Kenyans and ethnic Somalis remain tense. Since 1991, Somali refugees have been pouring over Kenya’s northern border by the hundreds of thousands and an Islamist insurgency in Somalia threatens the entire region.

As a result, ethnic Somalis in Kenya are treated with suspicion even at the Canadian High Commission, community leaders say.

“The inadequate and sometimes casual attitude of the Canadian High Commission in Nairobi” exacerbates Kenya’s “well documented history of institutional corruption,” said Ebyan Farah, spokesperson for the Ottawa-based Canadian Somali Congress.

For Mohamud, callous treatment has extended to Ottawa’s highest levels.

After she showed a dozen Canadian ID cards, spent weeks persuading Canadian consular officials to take her fingerprints and won a federal court action to have them take her DNA, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said she wasn’t doing enough. “The individual has to be straightforward, has to let us know whether or not she is a Canadian citizen,” Cannon told media after the federal court decision.

Yesterday, a spokesperson said Cannon had nothing to add.

Mohamud’s DNA swabs are to arrive in a Vancouver lab on Tuesday to be matched with those from her ex-husband and son.

By John Goddard
Staff Reporter

Source: The Star