Conference on how to establish Sharia across Somalia

[James Dahl]

So the conference on establishing Sharia across Somalia is due to end today, and presumably some sort of plan will come out of the conference.
Mukhtar Roobow has said that he will pledge to support Sharif if he establishes Sharia, and I believe most hard-liners in the Jubbas share roughly the same opinion.

We shall see how things pan out I suppose.

[FAH1223]

So the conference on establishing Sharia across Somalia is due to end today, and presumably some sort of plan will come out of the conference.
Mukhtar Roobow has said that he will pledge to support Sharif if he establishes Sharia, and I believe most hard-liners in the Jubbas share roughly the same opinion.

We shall see how things pan out I suppose.

WHEN WAS THIS?

Abu Mansur last week said Sharif is no different than AY

[James Dahl]

Last week Sharif brought a number of Islamic scholars together to confer on how to best impliment Sharia in Somalia, given the existing conditions.

It ends today.
http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.php?sid=10509&tirsan=3

[FAH1223]

yeah but these scholars have no influence over shabaab and hizbul islami, they condemned them

the fight will still go on

[James Dahl]

yeah but these scholars have no influence over shabaab and hizbul islami, they condemned them

the fight will still go on

Probably, yeah.

[Somaliman50]

It's great that the Islamic scholars are sitting down and discussing this. It's something the lackeys and warlords couldn't do for the past 18 years, when forming a national government.

James, would you think it's a good idea that the current parliamentarians who were part of the TFG before Sheikh Shariff be replaced by the ARS-Asmara politicians? The reason i am asking this is because one of the arguements brought up by the Islamists that are against the gov't is that the TFG is largely the same idiots who approved of the Ethiopian occupation and need to be eradicated. I do think this arguement does have an important point, but is thid possible?

Also, is there an article in the TFG constitution which says the constitution itself can be changed once a more settled gov't takes charge?

[Murax]

Abakar,

The TFG Parliment is going to be discarded in a few months. Only the 200 somthing ARS 4.5 will be left. The International Community knows the Baydhabo TFG is incompetent.



James Dahl,

There will be fighting, Shabab do not believe in Government systems.

[James Dahl]

It's great that the Islamic scholars are sitting down and discussing this. It's something the lackeys and warlords couldn't do for the past 18 years, when forming a national government.

James, would you think it's a good idea that the current parliamentarians who were part of the TFG before Sheikh Shariff be replaced by the ARS-Asmara politicians? The reason i am asking this is because one of the arguements brought up by the Islamists that are against the gov't is that the TFG is largely the same idiots who approved of the Ethiopian occupation and need to be eradicated. I do think this arguement does have an important point, but is thid possible?

Geedi and Abdullahi Yusuf purged the parliament of their opponents twice from 2005-2007. Half of the ARS are former parliamentarians that supported the UIC. This is very much possible, but it does go against Sharif's stated goal of reconciliation and power sharing. He may end up having to do this though.

Also, is there an article in the TFG constitution which says the constitution itself can be changed once a more settled gov't takes charge?

There is just such an article. Article 70 of the Transitional Federal Charter. It's a pretty standard amendment article.

ARTICLE 70
AMENDMENT OF THE CHARTER.
1. Subject to this Article, Parliament shall have the power to add, amend, alter, vary or otherwise revise this Charter.
2. An Amendment of this Charter may be initiated only by the introduction of a Motion for that purpose supported by not less than one third (1/3) and passed by not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the total members of parliament.

[Somaliman50]

It's great that the Islamic scholars are sitting down and discussing this. It's something the lackeys and warlords couldn't do for the past 18 years, when forming a national government.

James, would you think it's a good idea that the current parliamentarians who were part of the TFG before Sheikh Shariff be replaced by the ARS-Asmara politicians? The reason i am asking this is because one of the arguements brought up by the Islamists that are against the gov't is that the TFG is largely the same idiots who approved of the Ethiopian occupation and need to be eradicated. I do think this arguement does have an important point, but is thid possible?

Geedi and Abdullahi Yusuf purged the parliament of their opponents twice from 2005-2007. Half of the ARS are former parliamentarians that supported the UIC. This is very much possible, but it does go against Sharif's stated goal of reconciliation and power sharing. He may end up having to do this though.

Also, is there an article in the TFG constitution which says the constitution itself can be changed once a more settled gov't takes charge?

There is just such an article. Article 70 of the Transitional Federal Charter. It's a pretty standard amendment article.

ARTICLE 70
AMENDMENT OF THE CHARTER.
1. Subject to this Article, Parliament shall have the power to add, amend, alter, vary or otherwise revise this Charter.
2. An Amendment of this Charter may be initiated only by the introduction of a Motion for that purpose supported by not less than one third (1/3) and passed by not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the total members of parliament.

I don't think it's a bad idea. Even if they were former parliamentarians themselves, as long as they honestly wanted the greater good for the nation, then it shouldn't be a problem. We should remember that if the ARS-Asmara replace the pro-warlord parliamentarians, then Hisbul Islami are likely to negotiate since their chairman is also part of ARS-Asmara.
Theres also been unconfirmed reports that Sheikh Shariff has made requests to the US gov't to remove certain Islamists like Sheikh Dahir Aweys from the 'terrorist lists'. Again this signifies that cooperation is possible.

It was already against Sheikh Shariff's principles to work with this Ethiopian-backed gov't in the first place, and since he has shown willingness to compromise his views, it wouldn't be difficult for him to remove the pro warlord politicians, anyway the most important differences which needed to be solved are between ARS-Djibouti and ARS-Asmara. Reconciliation with warlords will do no good, the 'Arta' gov;t of Abdiqasim Salad in 2000 is evidence for that.

But one thing i am not happy with, is the merging of the clan/bandit militias of the TFG and the ICU forces into a national police force, because these forces were enemies for the past three years, and the former are known for their repressive checkpoints and injustice against the Somali population.