Should Somaliland allow a unionist party

[grandpakhalif]

by Bashir Goth
Sunday, August 29, 2010

Ludicrous idea, isn’t it? How can I suggest such a treacherous idea when I am known as an unflinching advocate for Somaliland’s independence and sovereignty? How could I dare even to utter the ugly U-word which I have denigrated so forcefully and irrevocably in many of my writings? I can see jaws dropping with bewilderment, devoted readers unbelievably double checking the source, and some of those already besotted with cynicism against the loyalty of clans on the fringes of Somaliland jumping to conclusion as soon as they see the title without reading any further and saying with a great sense of satisfaction: “Hey, gotcha? We knew all along that he was a unionist in disguise?” Likewise, I can see also unionist “Somalilanders” getting ecstatic about my rebellious approach.
Before anyone jumps to any conclusions, I would like to point out that Somaliland has chosen democracy as its system of government. And democracy entails equality and freedom for all citizens. Under the tree of freedom come its many branches such as freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of religion. Under the umbrella of this system of democracy and freedom comes also one’s right for dissent among many other rights. Any tax paying citizen should have the right to challenge the political system and be able to express his/her political opinion in a peaceful way. Democracy is not only about conformity, or herd mentality, or even about seeing only different shades of the existing system; but it is also about calling for dismantling the existing system and taking the nation’s destiny to a completely different direction if need be. It is therefore the right of every citizen to demand and promote the political system he/she sees as suitable for the country.
If the Kulmiye government opens the gate for the creation of many political parties as the party’s leadership promised during the election campaign, I can envisage many parties carrying different ideologies and diverse political orientations coming to the political scene. Other than the plethora of clan-based parties that will choke the party pipeline, one can anticipate the arrival of some ideology- based parties such an Islamic party, a secular party, a liberal party, a social-democratic party and most probably a communist party. With the onset of such unfettered democracy I don’t see why it should still be a taboo to create a unionist party, demanding Somaliland’s reunification with Somalia.
In Somaliland today there is a strange and unfounded fear of anyone expressing an opinion for union. Strange because Somaliland has adopted democracy as a political system and democracy is indivisible. You cannot deny citizens to demand their democratic rights to hold and express opposing views; and unfounded because the people of Somaliland have made their choice to abandon the union and reclaim their sovereignty with their own free will. Therefore to punish and criminalize people for calling or publicly advocating for the Somali union is an insult to the intelligence of the people of Somaliland. If anything, it shows insecurity and paranoia about the sustainability of the Somaliland project.
The absurdity is that any Somali from anywhere in the world, particularly Somalis from Ethiopia, Djibitouti, Kenya and even Somalia can enter, stay and do business in Somaliland, but Somalilanders who happened to have participated in the politics of Somalia cannot attend even the burial of their own relatives in Hargeisa, Borama, Buroa or any other place in Somaliland. Somalis who hold high political posts in Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti are welcomed in Somaliland even though they uphold their respective governments’ official position of rejecting the recognition of Somaliland, but Somalis who hail from Somaliland by birth are treated as criminals and thrown into prison if they step on the soil of their homeland and are not even allowed to visit their ailing mothers. Their only crime is that they oppose the secession of Somaliland. This makes Somaliland democracy and freedom a cruel joke, at least to the families of the victims of such an absurd reality.
And finally, here is the beef. Yes, I am a firm believer in Somaliland’s sovereignty and independence and will remain a staunch advocate for its recognition. The people of Somaliland underwent great suffering and yet still found the courage and willpower to invest a priceless amount of energy, time and wisdom in creating a country from scratch and establishing such an admirable model of democracy in Africa. And despite its lack of recognition, I want to see Somaliland determined to uphold its constitutional democracy and hopefully one day be a guiding light for African countries as well as others professing democracy yet denying their citizens basic rights. Obviously, neither I nor any sound human being would like to see Somaliland’s achievements go up in flames for someone’s fantasyland dreams, but I also strongly believe that Somaliland has attained a high degree of political maturity to democratically and peacefully challenge and defeat anyone that confronts its legal rights at the ballot box. Hence, I resent seeing my beautiful Somaliland that stands on unshakeable democratic pillars, behaving like a banana republic by incarcerating and denying its citizens the exercise of their political rights. And that includes allowing the minority unionist individuals to raise their voice and form their own party. We all know that such dissenters do not stand a chance of winning any votes, but giving them a political platform may contribute to deflating their argument and saving their lives from dying in the hellfire of Mogadishu.

http://www.hiiraan.com/op2/2010/aug/sho ... party.aspx

[The_Emperior5]

I doubt there is any country in the world that has a party that wants to dismantle it from within. He is quite right when he says it is a ludicrous idea
Its jus absurd the legality of Somaliland is mentioned in the constitution how can such party represent the interest of Somaliland it contradicts what Somaliland stands for I don’t know what suddenly changed mr Goth , he was a firm believer of Somaliland independence

[Executive]

^ Is he gudarbursi?

[ToughGong]

^
Yep

[The_Emperior5]

Yes he is

[Executive]

[The_Emperior5]

Then he says this

. Yes, I am a firm believer in Somaliland’s sovereignty and independence and will remain a staunch advocate for its recognition. The people of Somaliland underwent great suffering and yet still found the courage and willpower to invest a priceless amount of energy, time and wisdom in creating a country from scratch and establishing such an admirable model of democracy in Africa. And despite its lack of recognition, I want to see Somaliland determined to uphold its constitutional democracy and hopefully one day be a guiding light for African countries as well as others professing democracy yet denying their citizens basic rights. Obviously, neither I nor any sound human being would like to see Somaliland’s achievements go up in flames for someone’s fantasyland dreams, but I

[Executive]

Emperior

Nin wanagsan ayaa tahaay ee midnimada somaliyeed tageer. Iska dhaaf filim hindiga ee somaliland.

[FAH1223]

I doubt there is any country in the world that has a party that wants to dismantle it from within. He is quite right when he says it is a ludicrous idea
Its jus absurd the legality of Somaliland is mentioned in the constitution how can such party represent the interest of Somaliland it contradicts what Somaliland stands for I don’t know what suddenly changed mr Goth , he was a firm believer of Somaliland independence

All he is saying is that if Somaliland is supposed to be a democracy, it should have freedom of expression. That means people that want to wave the blue flag or advocate for union peacefully shouldn't be arrested. People shouldn't be barred from entering the country just because they may have gone to Somalia.

Democracies have a diverse set of opinions and ideologies, it doesn't mean the destruction of the state.

[The_Emperior5]

Emperior

Nin wanagsan ayaa tahaay ee midnimada somaliyeed tageer. Iska dhaaf filim hindiga ee somaliland.

Somali rabba inay ii qarxiyaan sideen u tageera

[Executive]

[The_Emperior5]

I doubt there is any country in the world that has a party that wants to dismantle it from within. He is quite right when he says it is a ludicrous idea
Its jus absurd the legality of Somaliland is mentioned in the constitution how can such party represent the interest of Somaliland it contradicts what Somaliland stands for I don’t know what suddenly changed mr Goth , he was a firm believer of Somaliland independence

All he is saying is that if Somaliland is supposed to be a democracy, it should have freedom of expression. That means people that want to wave the blue flag or advocate for union peacefully shouldn't be arrested. People shouldn't be barred from entering the country just because they may have gone to Somalia.

Democracies have a diverse set of opinions and ideologies, it doesn't mean the destruction of the state.

In Somaliland people can talk about whatever they want discuss say their feelings talk about Somalia or unity what ever they can go there come back as individuals not as Government officials from another country called Somalia

[Salah Al-Din]

I doubt there is any country in the world that has a party that wants to dismantle it from within. He is quite right when he says it is a ludicrous idea
Its jus absurd the legality of Somaliland is mentioned in the constitution how can such party represent the interest of Somaliland it contradicts what Somaliland stands for I don’t know what suddenly changed mr Goth , he was a firm believer of Somaliland independence

All he is saying is that if Somaliland is supposed to be a democracy, it should have freedom of expression. That means people that want to wave the blue flag or advocate for union peacefully shouldn't be arrested. People shouldn't be barred from entering the country just because they may have gone to Somalia.

Democracies have a diverse set of opinions and ideologies, it doesn't mean the destruction of the state.

As-Salaamu Alaikum,

Somaliland had a referendum. The unionist vote lost. It would be redundant to have a unionist party. In any case in Somaliland holding the opinion of Somali Unity is not a crime. What is a crime is to represent Somaliland in international conferences. What is also a crime is to be a claim that you represent Somaliland and to hold office in a foreign government like Somalia. There is a difference between treason and holding differing opinions inside Somaliland.

Wassalaam Wabilaahi Towfiiq

[ToughGong]

Clearly an oxymoron