It is said that a week is a long time in politics. Certainly the last four weeks have been a very long time in Somaliland politics. Things were moving so fast that we had to re-write last week’s editorial several times. However, by the time we submitted it to the printer and announced in it that a deal to remove the police that took over parliament’s headquarters was reached between the government and the parliamentary majority, little did we know that the government would renege on its promise at the last minute which would result in confrontations, the death of two people, and the injury of a dozen. However, the fact that President Dahir Rayale Kahin broke his word does not come as a total surprise for he has a long history of reaching agreements and then either refusing to implement them or openly violating them. In the end, though, our claim that the police were removed and parliament resumed its normal deliberations turned out to be correct, the only difference being that instead of parliament being restored peacefully, it was restored after violent clashes between the police and citizens.
Somalilanders were shocked at what happened in their capital, and questions began to be raised about Somaliland political elite’s ability to resolve the festering political problems. There is a bright side to it though: Somaliland’s masses came out for the defense of democracy and refused to allow the government to take over parliament. This was a major victory for the cause of democracy. Somalilanders have made it clear that they believe in the democratic system of checks and balances and the separation of powers. The people have drawn a line in the sand for this government, and by implication for any future government, to know its limits, and not resort to a power grab.
The victory in defense of parliament did not happen without cost and Somalilanders have a moral duty now to remember and honor those who died or were injured to uphold basic liberties. They could be honored by extending moral and financial support to the families of the martyrs and those who were injured, and by making Sept.12 “the day of defending national institutions” as suggested by Daud Gilingil. Since Sept.15 is International Democracy day whose purpose is to celebrate and protect democracy, Somalilanders could combine the two dates and start reviewing the status of their democracy Sept.12-15 every year. Part of this review is to hold those who violate the people’s democratic rights accountable. Let us start, by holding Somaliland’s government and police accountable for what happened on Sept.12, and by calling for the release of the 40 individuals whom the illegal security committee sentenced to jail.




 

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