Somaliland: Why don’t you like HIPS?

[Siciid85]

SOMALILAND

Somaliland:Why don’t you like HIPS?



By Ibtisam


What do you have against HIPS? Do you know any of them personally? Have they done something to you? I've been asked these question repeatedly all week- sometimes by the same people- it must be personal, come on just tell us!


People are amazed when I say, I actually don’t know them personally, and I have nothing against them individually- In fact most of them I have never met. It is not personal and I don’t dislike them. In fact, last year when their formation was announced, I cheered and celebrated on Facebook and twitter for what would be “Somalia’s First think tank”. Heritage Institute objectives and aspirations made me feel hopeful that there would be a Somali voice in the discussions and discourse among the predominately none Somali experts on Somalia and Somali issues. But more importantly I was happy that research on Somali issues and the analysis of such research would be better carried out by Somali’s, after all I know firsthand as a researcher how much is often lost in translation.


Maybe I was too hopeful, maybe I expected too much and because of that my disappointment was much greater and more apparent when they failed to deliver on their promises. Most people laugh and say well what did you expect and I always want to say; I wanted what they promised- I still do!


Their first briefing paper on the US Recognition of Somalia was a bit flat and not enlightening- rather just regurgitating what was already in the media, a summary of a sort- and that was okay with me, after all it was just their first briefing. Their second briefing was a song and a dance for the president (yes I get that they were trying to make friends and some people even say help their relatives out- but I never use the clan card). But for me it was still too early and I made public excuses for them like maybe they did not want to make too many enemies so early in a dangerous place- the truth can sometimes get you in trouble- I know that more than anyone.


The Somalia-Somaliland Negotiations briefing was a disaster from start to finish and did nothing to advance the dialogue but instead was ridiculously insulting to research (forget evidence based research). While I do not mind forcefully advocating for Somali unity if that is what the research indicated, what about the other side of the coin, and what evidence did they use to reduce people who support Somaliland to “dogmatic” and “radical secessionists”? I don’t really need to get it to the evident bias as well as the lack of research to support that briefing paper because I am sure that even HIPS look back and cringe. I am hopeful, now that all of the members of HIPS have managed to venture out to Somaliland at some point in the last year, that they have seen people in Somaliland are not ignorant or isolated from the region or the happenings of Somali affairs and more importantly that Somaliland hosts and offers a home to all Somali’s. I wish HIPS just presented the two sides of the arguments supported by evidence; the SFG would have done their own insulting and the chest beating. I wonder why they didn't have one of their many foreign International friends, backers or fellows to proof read it? I can’t imagine their fellow Laura Hammond read that briefing paper and said “excellent piece of evidence based research and analysis”. Even if that did happen and she suffered from a case of, they are Somali, so maybe they know something I don’t, I can’t imagine that once it was published and researchers independent or otherwise gave their feedback, HIPS did not acknowledge their mistake and offer an apology.


Instead in January 2014 and while in Hargeisa they continue with the patronizing tone that somehow it was our imagination and their paper was apolitical- in their feedback section of the Annual Report 2013 they say:


“Our March Briefing, for example, focusing on the negotiations between Somalia and Somaliland, prompted strong condemnation from pro- Somaliland independence groups who accused HIPS of adopting an anti-Somaliland bias. A Somaliland Diaspora umbrella organization released a strong rebuttal and the Deputy Speaker of the Lower House of the Somaliland Parliament criticized the Briefing on the BBC Somali Service. Organizers of the Hargeisa International Book Fair rescinded an invitation for HIPS to participate. The Institute has taken tangible measures to address a perception of anti- Somaliland bias. Representatives of the Institute went to Hargeisa to reassure officials and civil society actors that HIPS does not harbor an anti-Somaliland agenda. HIPS publications have commended the significant achievements Somaliland have made in securing relative peace and stability in the region.”



Again if I forget about the whole Somaliland and Somalia issue and focus on factual and research based information here is what is wrong with that statement:


1- It was not only pro-Somaliland independence groups who objected; the briefing paper was rubbished by average Somali who was neither informed nor educated by it and people with research background who could not trace the facts in the piece


2- The rebuttal was not written by an umbrella organisation- it was signed by four different independent organisations in different continents. By saying it is a single umbrella organisations it distorts the facts intentionally or due to lack of research- even Google would've told them.


3- Hargeysa International Book Fair retracting their invite- is that because HIPS insulted Somaliland or because you neither stand for research, learning or education and therefore have no place in a literature festival? A delegation from Puntland and Mogdisho participated in the festival and stayed throughout, despite not recognizing Somaliland as a state but they shared their literature, the issues and difficult that face arts and literature in their society.


HIPS have clearly not learnt anything from the feedback it got and is too proud and stubborn to acknowledge its mistakes. Continuing to clutch at straws and asserting that they acknowledge Somaliland’s peace and prosperity to divert the issue- great so at least you are not totally in denial- but can you address your political divisive bias that made you mask your opinions are research?


HIPS report on “The state of Higher Education in Somalia” prompted the researcher who collected the data from Somaliland to pull out in protest and take to social media to discuss the distortion of research data she collected.


I could go on but I believe I have explained why I have issues with a provocative journalistic opinion pieces masquerading as evidence based research and impartial analysis on Somali issues and affairs. Having a five day course in Hargeisa on research and ethical issues is not going to help HIPS overcome their difficulties and biases, but hopefully it will help them mask their political ranting and prejudices a little better in 2014.


For HIPS and the friends who have decided to stick by them, while you can continue praying that they get better, It is clear that HIPS is no longer welcomed in Somaliland as an institution or as individuals for research. For those organisations who hope to partner with HIPS in Somaliland, you will have complications and people will constantly ask you; why are you associated with such dubious, dishonest and unethical institution. For those few interviews you manage to get by paying DSA and kick backs, participants will worry how you will distort their facts and their stories to suit HIPS narrative. And when or if you get passed all these challenges and do publish your findings, we will assume that you probably made it up or distorted the data.That is assuming that you manage to get HIPS members into Somaliland and past the ports of entry of course.


We have managed to distort politics, governments and the media into different mouth piece for clans, interests and lobby groups- please let’s try or aim to keep research independent, nonpartisan and accurate. It is all of our duty and if the equivalent of HIPS was based in Hargeisa distorting research in the public arena- I would be the first to hold them to account. This is even more important considering the research fatigue in the Somali context. I have the same problem with western researchers who publicly claim to be a member of clan X or distort history and facts to suit a particular state, region or clan. We should name them, we should shame them and stop them from bothering our people in the name of research, earning money on it and then distorting the facts to suit their own agenda.
So there you have it- it is nothing personal after all.

Source: Somalilandpress.com

[Bermooda]

[Siciid85]

Go on right ahead sxb, we value all opinions so long as they are objective. Write your piece.

[HooBariiska]

Whats HIPS ? you mean misigta ?

[Siciid85]

Whats HIPS ? you mean misigta ?

HIPS stands for Heritage institute for policy studies.

[Bermooda]

Go on right ahead sxb, we value all opinions so long as they are objective. Write your piece.

I said my piece on the last one reason for the GIF but since you asked i will give my 2 cents again.

Staunch like you don't like criticism everything has to be written from your side there is no self expressionism. Let alone this guy journalist from your region are getting assassinated for going against Kulmiya rules even unionist cant express their true feelings. Now i understand them waving the flag but surely if is democratic as you would like us all to believe then surely they have the right to at least express how they feel.

No instead you all feel like the smallest criticism towards your beloved Somaliland is like the world has ended with 10's of self styled but really a bunch of amateurish journalist attacking the so called aggressor with 10's of articles.

Mr Aynte does what he feels right you should see what he writes about Mogadishu and banning him from Somaliland will only make it worse for Hargeisa cos he has Western passport meaning you ain't putting him in any danger but instead create more resentment from his side.

Ps since he is in charge of the first Tink Tank in Somalia (Somaliland included) what he writes is quoted by Western/World media in their articles while sometimes they invite him to take part in a debate going as far as being invited to US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

This is the HIPS website and look what is on their front page
http://www.heritageinstitute.org/

[Khalid Ali]

is aynte murursade waa adigan xiiqay eeh bermooda eh,

No one asked him to write about SL We choose who we allow in our country and who we dont and thats it

[Bermooda]

is aynte murursade waa adigan xiiqay eeh bermooda eh,

No one asked him to write about SL We choose who we allow in our country and who we dont and thats it

Yes he is but that wasn't the point neither you deciding who can come into but about journalism which has no borders.

[Khalid Ali]

There is a protocol on journalism if they do not respect the country they are reporting from being objective on all issues or else their license will be stripped and will be deported from Somaliland we had the same problem with universal tv and others. we support freedom of expression as long as it is with in the boundaries of the rules and regulations set

Myanaan iska garan inu aynte murursade yahay waad iga ba'baleynaye eh

[Bermooda]

Bro all i'm saying is Somaliland should welcome criticism in order to show the world how truly democratic you are. Ps haven't you learned from the Jews he who controls the media controls country/world. Murusade are slowly making their way to the top a get with the programme