I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning religion and politics a man's reasoning powers are not above the monkey's. - Mark Twain in Eruption
Politicians in Somaliland are making political hay about the crisis in Punt land and its spillover into Somaliland sovereign territory. The intent is clear: connect the governing party UDUB, in some surreal way with the problems in Puntland and by extension suggest that UDUB and, clearly, President Rayyale, have bungled the issue. Showing Somali Landers another reason not to vote for UDUB and President Rayyale.
Obviously, Somali Landers are now quite used to the new phenomenon of "defections", where our politicians can defect to several parties, and indeed, their former principles and commitments simultaneously changing in the same record speed. Somali Landers, struggling to make ends meet every day, are watching these developments in "shock and awe" to use current international political nomenclature. To their morbid amusement, the opposition has taken to convince the electorate that those who have defected to their ranks have based their defections on high-minded and principled objections to the current purge within UDUB.
One important issue that has been a lightening rod for these defected politicians has been the issue of Puntland and the issue of General Ade Musa’s presence in Hargeisa.
To wit, the issue that these defected politicians are calling the "art of the possible" is the entry into Somaliland of military forces loyal to General Ade Musa and Jama Ali Jama. These defected politicians argue a simple logic. They suggest that we should put our heads - not unlike ostriches - into the sand and bury our heads so that we shall not see nor hear any evil from Puntland. Secondly, they posit that since these factions do not recognize Somaliland, we should not pay any attention to their tribulations nor pay any heed to their comments. Our precious leaders in the opposition has even said that unless they recognize Somaliland neither succor nor aid should be extended to these factions fighting for the control of Puntland.
Pace dear reader and see below why the policy of the office of President, the minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minster of Internal Affairs is sound and accurate.
First, Somaliland stands for the rule of law, it is opposed to coup d'état and unlawful rebellion against a legitimate government. That is the basic law of Somaliland and it is also the basic law of its Foreign Affairs. It is also the basic law in its vigilant Internal Affairs policy. That said, Somaliland is also a state with all the accoutrements of a legitimate state. In short Somaliland must behave and act like a state and not like a clan.
The proponents of what has been called by the immediate former Minister of Education, that the state of Somaliland ought not to act in that old and tested, real politic policy of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" is completely erroneous when it comes to states that are democratic.
It should be remembered that the term of office of that brutal nemesis to democracy, Abdillahi Yusuf - a warlord it should be remembered who is responsible for the assassination attempt at Las Anood - had expired as every child knows, and the supreme court of Puntland impeached Abdillahi Yusuf and his administration. The warlord subsequently refused and was chased out by popular insurrection by the people of Puntland only to return with hired guns to reign a new tyranny on the people of Puntland. This is why Gen Ade Musa is fighting the warlord Abdillahi Yusuf. Once we take out the clan calculus one understands the underlying issue. This is not a fight between two sub-clans, but between the forces of democracy and those of dictatorship.
What then should be the position of the State of Somaliland, any child can deduce from the above comments that we ought to support morally the popular aspirations of all Puntlanders - a state in neighboring country Somalia - for democracy and the rule of law. We gain a friend in Puntland, and by extension peaceful co-existence by supporting the forces of democracy there. We gain nothing if we appease the warlord Abdillahi Yusuf who sees elements of cowardice and lack of resolve in Somaliland by his repeated claims over our sovereign territory in every conference and setting that this particularly distasteful warlord speaks.
The Government of Somaliland’s policy on this issue is sound and accurate, the militia in Somaliland should be disarmed and quartered with General Ade giving assurances of not using the territory of Somaliland as a place for military expedition to Puntland during this important election period. The Government of Somaliland must support an active opposition grouping to Abdillahi Yusuf because he poses a clear and imminent danger to Somaliland and its territorial integrity, whilst Gen. Ade Musa supports the aspirations of the people of Somaliland. The government of Somaliland has acted in a proper way by calming nerves and keeping the peace. Ruining the fabric of peace in our neighborhood is easy, mending it however is complicated.
The enemy of democracy and the rule of law is my enemy and the friend of the rule of law and democracy is my friend. Somaliland gains friends by this policy and does not appease a strident warlord.
The opposition ought to pay more attention to these concepts rather than making political hay over sound government policy.
A.M.Ali Hashi "Dhimbiil"
Ottawa, Canada
Dallo57us@yahoo.com
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