November 9, 2012
by Somali Concern Group (SCG)
http://www.somaliconcern.org/
After 21 years of brutal Dictatorship & After 20 odd years of civil starve, anarchy, warlord-ism, terrorism, tribalism, separatism and two devastating droughts, do not fail the over one million refugees paying the heavy price across the border who have waited far too long.
If you fail as you have done to govern yourselves for the last 20 years, the foreign powers who were send to aid you will rise to govern you. The choice is always before you, and getting more clear by the day, whether you will be slaves or whether you will be free. Parliament members are today responsible for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, as it was they who voted him into power overwhelmingly. They do not work for him nor represent him. Rather they represent the whole of the Somali population, who have entrusted in them the right to vote on their behalf for the benefit of their country and their countrymen. They have no right to say they do not care. They must care! They have no right to say that whatever the outcome they can get along.
They must remember that their country and their countrymen cannot get along, cannot remain sound, cannot rebuilt its institutions, cannot protect its citizens, cannot move up its place in the world, unless those who have the right to vote do sustain and do guide the course of public affairs by the thoughtful exercise of that right in Parliament. The Divisive policies taken up by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, which are in clear violations of our Federal Constitution must be killed in their tracks by Parliament, before it destroys the painful decade long progress made thus far. He has already in his short period in power on numerous occasions overstepped his boundaries, shown no respect or knowledge of Constitutional law, or the Federalism agreed upon. It is the duty of Parliament to check such stupidity, and be a balance of reason and power.
Members of Parliament do not hold a mere privilege to be exercised or not, as passing fancy may move them. They are charged with a great trust, one of the most important and most solemn which can be given into the keeping of an Somali citizen. It should be discharged thoughtfully and seriously, in accordance with its vast importance. As former Somali Constitution Minister in the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) MP Abdirahman Hoosh has stated For Parliament to accept an incomplete administration would be in violation of the Somali Federal Constitution, and that is unacceptable because the constitution was written to be adhered to,".
Our Constitution never contemplated that the conduct of this country, the direction of its affairs, the adoption of its policies, the maintenance of its principles, should be decided by a minority moved in part by self-interest and prejudice. They were framed on the theory that decisions would be made by the great body of voters inspired by patriotic motives. Faith in the people does not mean faith in a part of the people. It means faith in all the people. Our country is always safe when decisions are made by a majority of those who are entitled to it. It is always in peril when decisions are made by a minority.
We are always confronted with the question of whether we wish to be ruled by all the people or a part of the people, by the minority or the majority; whether we wish our leadership to be dominated by those who have been misled, through the presentation of half truths, into the formation of hasty, illogical and unsound conclusions; or whether we wish those to determine the course of our Government who have through due deliberation and careful consideration of all the factors involved reached a sound and mature conclusion.
In closing remarks, we have in a short period of time with this new leadership come to cross-roads with the politics of the past and that of the new. It is a shame that a new leader who was to be the symbol of our national unity,the guardian and promoter of the founding principles of the Constitution, a fresh face we all had high hopes off would dare attempt to drag us back to divisive policies, and disillude our Federal Constitution and political framework. This of all things can not and will not be the way forward. Members of parliament must take this serious issue into heart. Strict adherence to our Federal Constitution is not a choice, it is the law of the people & land the Somali Federal Republic. As stated in Article 87 of our Federal Constitution (2) "The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia shall carry out his duties in accordance with the Constitution and the other laws of the Federal Republic of Somalia." Continuation of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud violations of our Federal Constitution after parliament corrects and cautions him on clear violations made thus far, should move Parliament to swiftly adopt Article 92 of our Constitution Impeachment and Discharging of Duties of the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
Article 87. The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia
(2) The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia shall carry out his duties in accordance with the
Constitution and the other laws of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
Article 92. Impeachment and Discharging of Duties of the President of the Federal
Republic of Somalia
(1) The House of the People of the Federal Parliament can propose the dismissal of the President of
the Federal Republic of Somalia if he is accused of treason, or gross violation of the Constitution
or the laws of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
(2) The motion for dismissing the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia may be introduced by
no less than one-third (1/3) of the total membership of the House of the People of the Federal
Parliament, and may be presented to the Constitutional Court, which shall preside over the case to
see whether it has legal grounds.
(3) If the Constitutional Court determines that the case has legal grounds, the President of the Federal
Republic of Somalia may be dismissed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the total membership
of the two Houses of the Federal Parliament.
(4) If the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia is dismissed in accordance with Clauses 1-3 of
this Article, the Speaker of the House of the People of the Federal
