By Somalilandtimes network

HELSINKI, 16 March 2006--Two prominent Somaliland politicians, a Finnish MP and several Somaliland activists highlighted the progress of democratization process in Somaliland and urged the need to strengthen cooperation between Finland and Somaliland NGOs.

The Speaker of Somaliland's House of Representatives, Abdirahman M. Abdillahi (Cirro), Chairman of the opposition UCID party, Faisal Ali Waraabe, and Dr. Kimmo Kiljunen, Finnish MP, were the three most prominent guest speakers at a seminar organized by the HORN Organization for Peace and Democracy Building in Helsinki, Finland, on 15 March. The two Somaliland politicians, both with Finnish citizenship, were warmly welcomed.

The role of women as agents and actors for social change and economic development in Somaliland was strongly emphasized in presentations made by Ms. Roda Hassan, member of the Turku City Council, and Ms. Amran Mohamed Ahmed, a fine poet and educator, who was announced as the Refugee Woman of the year 2005 in Finland.

Hosted by the Workers’ Educational Association of Finland, the seminar was also attended by representatives of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, a NGOs with cultural and development activities in Somaliland as well as members of the researchers’ network in Somali studies. Many interesting themes were dealt with in a direct, frank and open manner.

Faisal Waraabe spoke about the evolution of democracy in Somaliland from a clan-based system to an ideology-based multiparty system crowned in the parliamentary elections held last September with opposition parties winning the majority of seats.

Abdirahman Cirro drew a comparison between the Finnish parliament, which entered its 100th anniversary, and Somaliland’s three months parliament. He regretted the present situation where there were only two women representatives among the total 82; expressing the hope that by next elections the prevailing imbalance will be corrected by means of education, training and lobbying to raise women's representation to a minimum of 20 percent for women.

Roda Hassan underlined the crucial role and contribution of women to the economy and development of Somaliland. She urged the need to secure funding sources for education and creation of income generating activities.

Amran Ahmed said that permanent peace and stability were the cornerstones for any effort to rebuild and revive society and culture. "The nomads traditional way for survival depended on ‘nabad iyo caano’. Unless the peace is there to stay, there will be no sustainability for all community building efforts. The Somali women are strong but they have long lived squeezed by multiple male domination," She said.

Finally, Dr. Kimmo Kiljunen, who was a member of the International Observation Team to the elections in Somaliland last September and has written an extensive report on the fairness of the election process, said he was delighted by the opportunity given to him to acquaint himself with the situation of the ‘non-existing’ state of Somaliland.

He praised the maturity and the wisdom of the major political parties in guaranteeing the elections to be held in a peaceful manner. Dr. Kiljunen said that the only disappointment was that only two women were elected to the House. He Dr. Kiljunen said that Finland was in a position to support development in Somaliland through the Finnish-Somaliland partnerships and cooperation on institutional and NGO level.

The seminar called for the need to explore initiatives to assist Somaliland in the fields of education, training and other developmental projects.

Source: Awdalnews Network