First Police Academy...and they accept Women!

Demure · Post by **Demure** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 9:24 pm

ARMO, 21 Dec 2005 (IRIN) - Hamdi Hershi Mohamed, a 17-year-old female police cadet, was among the 150 recruits marching on Tuesday around the compound of the newly opened police academy at Armo, northeastern Somalia.

"I have experienced the effects of the collapse of my government. I decided to come here to defend my country, advise my people [about] peace and revive the sovereignty of my country," Mohamed said.

"I have no fear, IÃ¢Â€Â™m ready to defend my dignity and that of the people of my country," she added.

The khaki-clad recruits were encouraged by hundreds of enthusiastic people waving twigs and small posters bearing pictures of Somalia's interim leaders, including Prime Minister Ali Muhammad Gedi, who was among the guests.

The Armo police academy, supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), is located some 100 km south of Bossaso.

Before the official opening ceremony, crowds of Somalis - with many women ululating - had lined the road from Bossaso to Armo to give Gedi a rousing welcome.

"The opening of the academy is a historic moment. It is the first such national institution that has been built in Somalia for a long time," said Maxwell Gaylard, UNDP Somalia resident representative and UN humanitarian coordinator.

"It will be the first step to the re-establishment of the rule of law and security in Somalia," he added.

The recruits, 130 male and 20 female, who joined the academy on 10 December were the first recruits. They were drawn from all over Somalia, Gaylard said.

"There are thousands of militia throughout Somalia, so there is a long way to go before law and order will be restored," Gaylard added. "Together with Somali authorities, we identified 500 militiamen who will soon be retrained in the academy."

The academy would be run and operated by Somalis themselves.

"What we found, quite frankly, is that if you give these young people an opportunity apart from the gun - and if the process is managed properly - they are usually eager to grab it," he added.

Gedi told the ceremony: "The young women and men who will come out of this training will form part of the new Somalia, where the rights of every Somali are protected and the rule of law will prevail.

"We cannot waiver in our quest to change the way things have been for the last decade-and-a-half and more."

Local leader said one of the main challenges facing the new police force was the large number of arms in the hands of civilians.

According to Haji Said Hussein, one of the elders of the Armo community: "In every house, there is a gun."

To contribute to the re-establishment of security in the area, his village had provided the land for the academy at no cost. The new institute also had economic value for the community itself, he said.

"Carrying a gun in Somalia is a natural thing," Gaylard observed. "We are not going to change the culture of Somalis overnight."

Hussein noted, however, that people were carrying guns to protect themselves. "If the rights of the people are protected, there will be no need for the guns," he said.

Gani Mohamed Haji Abdi, commander of the Armo police academy, hoped that the new institute, by incorporating women and former militia members from all parts of Somalia, would become part of the countryÃ¢Â€Â™s reconciliation process.

www.Hiiraan.com

The Arabman · Post by **The Arabman** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 9:28 pm

It's commendable they are hijabified.

http://www.hiiraan.com/news/som/2005/de ... 211205.jpg

Demure · Post by **Demure** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 9:30 pm

I have been wondering what's stopping "this transitional Gov of ours" from starting police academys, that's one of the first things they should focus on I think, instead of debating the easiest way of wiping out the "tuugo".

Little things like this, always restores my hopes for Somalia.

The Arabman · Post by **The Arabman** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 10:15 pm

It takes resources to start police academies. The transitional government lacks it. Not many countries or organizations (US, EU, AU, UN, etc) are making enough contributions to the transitional government, because it has so far failed to carry out its main mandates. No one wants to invest in a (transitional) government that cannot deliver promises. It has been more than a year since this government was formed, and it hasn't succeeded in making any tangible changes. This government has made a series of avoidable and unnecessary mistakes, and still continues to make some. I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but I think this government's chances of success isn't good. It will take many years before there's a new reconciliation conference. By that time, 2 decades (a third of lifetime) would have elapsed since this al-nakba started.

Demure · Post by **Demure** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 10:31 pm

I don't think you're being pessimistic just realistic. I don't have high hopes for them either. Some people believe any government is better than No gov, But with this sham of a transitional gov, really? Why did we have a civil war to begin with, what was the point, if we are to elect another Siad barre, possibly even worst.

Ignoring them all together, I think the business men in Xamar who have a lot to loose with this continous insecurity should invest in a Police academy, or some sort of an organized force who gets wages rather than the warlords.

From my understanding most of these so called argagixiso are all flat out broke, basically live off of these business men and the lootings. If they no longer have supply of funds, would they still be so powerful?

Xplosive · Post by **Xplosive** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 10:34 pm

[quote="The Arabman"]It's commendable they are hijabified.

http://www.hiiraan.com/news/som/2005/de ... 211205.jpg[/quote]

Damn they look mean.. love the ice-grill Laughing

The Arabman · Post by **The Arabman** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 11:26 pm

I don't believe in the concept of: "Any government is better than no government." There are always the exceptions. Somalia in its current state is better than many countries in some fields, aspects, categories, etc. This isn't to endorse anarchy, but to outline the flawed concept I've mentioned. I believe in a government that's based on justice. I don't believe secular governments can deliver justice. Somalia has tried various forms of secular governments (democracy, socialist, dictatorship), with the sum of them leading to anarchy. Somalia has a civil war because of injustice.

Xplosive, those are tough-looking policewomen.

Af_libaax · Post by **Af_libaax** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 11:48 pm

They are SO dark ! I hope They are NOT from Laughing

PunTiland

QansaGabeyle · Post by **QansaGabeyle** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 12:17 am

They are from galkacyo but let us not get into that. I am thinking of joining the somali army when it becomes an effective, functioning army.

Somalia's governments always allowed females to join the army. My older half sister was in the somali army. Laughing

When she showed me pictures of her in military clothes, I had to laugh my ass off. Laughing

qudhac-m · Post by **qudhac-m** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 12:54 am

Oh my allah Do guys have to copy every thing we do? I mean somaliland have police women for about 9 years now.
Infact we have even high ranking women police, army, navy officers.
You are so far behind that you starting what we did 9 years ago and you are so jubilent about it Laughing

may allah help you succeed in this copy business of yours Laughing

Suldaan qudhac maygaag

Mochatanya · Post by **Mochatanya** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 1:05 am

Masha'Allah, glad to see them in hijab

Unclebin · Post by **Unclebin** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 1:13 am

^ This was an intelligent conversation and you had to ruin it.

I think that every little gobol should and easily could take small steps in ordering rule of law in their stretch of land. No gov't is actually been a beneficial step for Somalia and Somaliland companies have opened up telecommunication firms, fishing trawlers have started to arise, and a lot of other micro business.

If things go the way they are, we could have are own US of Somalia Laughing

maybe ten-fifteen yrs from now.

wiil_sac · Post by **wiil_sac** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 1:26 am

I wasn't expecting results immediately from this TNG, it's been more than a year since it was formed, but at least they're taking a step in the right direction. I just hope Abdullahi Yusuf uses his police force for what it is meant for, that is to protect the people and serve justice, but for some reason I don't see that happening.

Ina Baxar · Post by **Ina Baxar** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 3:59 am

I am sorry they look ridiculous. Masar yaroo timaha qariya baa ku filnaan laha .Anyways it's good to have ladies in there , good luck to all of them.
PS: In Dj a pony tail is all's required Laughing

*Faithful · Post by *Faithful » Thu Dec 22, 2005 4:00 am

What they need is 101 bleach lesson i never knew somalis can be that dark not in a million years.