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Hargeysa, January 12,
2009 - Process said to be orderly and transparent by international and
national observers.
Below is an article published by the American Chronicle:
It is quite clear that the international community are satisfied with
the successful and peaceful completion of the Somaliland voter
registration programme.
Both the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National
Democratic Institute (NDI) from the United States of America, along with
other international observers have expressed their satisfaction with the
orderly and transparent implementation of the Somaliland voter
registration campaign.
Despite attempts by certain undemocratic elements to disrupt the
process, including the recent terrorist […] attacks in Hargeysa on the
29th of October [2008], the voter registration programme has now been
completed and will be certified within the next few weeks after a
rigorous review.
The people of Somaliland have one common goal, democracy. A society
based on dialogue, discussion, consensus, and leadership based on
meritocracy and the choice of the people.
The people of Somaliland share a belief in democracy and the right of
every eligible citizen to exercise his or her franchise. Using the most
recent technology the people of Somaliland from the East to the West,
North to South came out in their tens of thousands to register for the
2009 Presidential and local assembly elections.
This voter registration programme is a further step in a process that
began under the acacia tree in 1991, through several conferences in
Buroa, Sheekh, Borama, and Hargeisa. These conferences highlighted the
ability of the people of Somaliland to reach a consensus through
dialogue and discussions.
Since the 2001 referendum to cement the sovereignty of Somaliland, the
people of this nascent but democratic nation have elected a President
and a parliament, freely and fairly.
In the spring of 2009, the people of Somaliland will once again go the
polls to elect a President and members of the local assembly. It is
obvious to the most impartial observer that democracy has taken root in
Somaliland[…], and the people of Somaliland will not be intimidated nor
thwarted by desperate acts of terrorism.
The dye is cast; Somaliland is marching towards the fulfillment of a
long cherished goals, democracy, security, prosperity and international
recognition. These are noble aims, and there is every reason to be
confident of the ability of the people of Somaliland to attain these
goals.
2009 promises to be a historic year for Somaliland and its citizens, and
after eighteen years of stability, peace and progress, the nation is
now, more than ever, ready to take its place among the democratic
countries of the world.
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