We never learn!!!
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By Abdulkadir J. Dualeh
Supporters of the various Somali factions are reassured as quickly as they are alarmed.
As the tide of fortune passes over another crest of the wave-like saga of the Somali horror story, there are jubilations on one side, bitterness on the other side. Arrogance and self-assurance on one side; resolve and vengeance on the other side.
Some take delight in recent events and prematurely applaud the apparent outcome favoring their side; others deplore it and denounce it.
We are hearing a Hodge Podge of catchall phrases, which are music to the ears of the mediocre. Use more force. Show no mercy. The military wing should take the lead. Quickly send ambassadors everywhere. Finally, a government is formed. Maintain momentum.
I am not sure whether the people who are uttering these words and phrases are serious people or theatrical merry makers. Perhaps they are former poets and playwrights turned amateur politicians for lack of work in the creative arts and entertainment.
Some of the phrases are original and clever indicating their originators does not lack talent. The word momentum is a Physics word. It conjures up an image of a large, heavy object barreling uncontrollably at high speed and crashing everything in its path. Presumably, this peculiar momentum needs to be maintained to overcome the bent up energy and anger of the supporters of the losing side. The momentum will be generated by making the heavy ministers to run as fast as possible to foreign palaces and the UN office – speed and weight are critical for momentum. With this momentum generated by the fat and fast running ministers, all dissent will vanish.
This is quite an interesting thought process from imaginative minds. Unfortunately, only magicians can accomplish feats of that sort.
The people of southern Somalia have been offered stark and cruel choices. They are asked which method of death they prefer. Would they prefer to be flogged with 41 lashes, or would they prefer to have their brains blown up by 35 lead balls from an AK 45.
In both instances, a judge will, of course, decide the method of death. Not all judges are vile and vituperative maniacs. There are those judges who will sympathize or empathize with the victims, but their hands are tied. The supreme council is already made the decision.
Thirty-five separate individuals with uniforms will dispense the 35 bullet balls. This process is important, in fact critical, because governments do not like to disturb the consciences of the executioners. You see, governments have a heart for the executioners.
Of course, the victim has some rights and free choices. He can exercise the right to accept or refuse blindfolding. His decision on this important free choice will not in any way, shape or form, prejudice his fate. The Government will gladly provide a black cloth free charge. It is the civilized and compassionate thing to do.
So you see: governments function. They go through the mechanics and appetence of justice. Whether the conviction is legitimate or not is really not that important. What is important is the process and appearance.
One last point. In cases of emergency and national security threat, the government cannot afford to wait for the judge to arrive in the morning. It simply takes the individual or a group of individuals in the middle of the night to the outskirts of town and pulverizes their body parts with as many lead balls as necessary to satisfy justice. This emergency fall back option is a necessary and efficient expediency required for defending the country and the people. Corrupted patriots and dissenters must be liquidated in the quickest method possible. National security and the existence of the government take precedence over procedures. We cannot tie the hands of the vigilant police, and saddle them with meaningless procedures.
The victim or victims might say. Wait a minute. I thought the whole purpose of having a government was to provide justice and individual rights to the people. I am one of the people. Where are the people you are defending? I only agreed to this “government” arrangement because I thought it would be any improvement over my primitive but effective security arrangement under the tribal system. I never thought that the government would kill me, will nilly, with fabricated evidence and paranoia.
By the way, we also share blood, race, kinship, and religion. Do not theses relationships mitigate your cruelty?
The government lawyer or public relations officer attending the execution ceremonies, as an observer, shakes his head in disgust and says: my fellow countryman, you have misunderstood the whole concept of government. I knew you were an ignorant fellow. All the public relations lessons I lectured (or harangued) to you did not penetrate your dense skull. Let me repeat the gist of those lessons, one more time, before you depart this earth and face your creator.
Governments are about flags, stamps, a delicate diplomacy with foreigners, meetings, press releases, parades, solemn processions, arcane procedures and protocols.
Foreign aid has to be collected; applications for loans to the World Bank have to be filled; we are preparing a self-pitting speech for the UN general assembly to plead for more corn shipments. We will divert and sell portions of the corn to the open market to raise funds to pay the executioners and the public relations officers, the pillars of the society. The government is busy with all these tasks. It has no time to conduct due process.
The PRO continues the monologue to the victim.
This nonsense about citizen’s rights and justice are abstract ideas. Our former colonizers, the Europeans, have misled you. We are defending the country, our sovereignty and territorial integrity against enemies. Enemies are everywhere. If we blink for a second, if we open ourselves up for a second, they will tear our guts out. You would not like to see that. Would you? It is not pretty. An iron fist and a granite will are necessary to save the government and our sovereignty.
The victim says:
You are abusing your power. Tyranny is evil. You should be destroyed. I wish I had migrated to a foreign land, as so many of my relatives had done earlier, or I should have joined some rebels. I heard our neighboring countries are distributing AK45 for free to any one who asks.
The PRO concludes the tirade:
My dear victim, we have closed those loop holes and the borders yesterday. You are one day late. We are checking every truck and plane leaving the country for subversives. Unfortunately for you, he says, the smart subversives are always one day ahead of the doomed subversives.
The victim has just admitted his guilt and secret desires to join rebels. I now declare the execution proceedings to open.
He instructs the drummers to give the tune of the rolling drums. This is followed by orders to Aim, Fire.
Silence.
The PRO returns to the microphone and addresses the 30 executioners.
I am satisfied with your work, he says. All the procedures were followed to the hilt. You should be proud. Medals will be distributed at the end of the year in the palace of justice. I now consider this ceremony closed. Let us go eat.
Sounds familiar.
There is a better way. A proven way. Follow Somaliland’s method.
Dismiss all the self-selected ambitious imposters. Bring legitimate tribal leaders and people with real constituency support. These people are well known, and there is no haste. No one is dying unless you want to kill.
Congregate these real representatives in one town. Tell them they won’t leave the town until they reach a negotiated consensus. If the participants have real standing within their communities, the decision from the meeting will be binding to all, and a meaningful government with real public support will emerge.
After a consensus government is announced, representatives should return to their regions and sell the new government to their constituents one individual at a time. Hard work – haa.
This is neither naïve nor theoretical. This is a practical method with Somali precedence.
Refuse it at your peril.
Perhaps you can learn this time.
Abdulakdir J. Dualeh
New York , USA
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