A - I beleive that would be a no. Q - If you were Saddam Hussien, what would be going through your head at this moment...

NO Independents from what dude? Puntland IS Somalia, brother this is ridicules idea. Just because few blood sucking maggots are causing problems shouldn't mean we should turn our backs on the rest of our people. look at Somaliland, they have ZERO interest on whats happening on the south, and that made them focus on their domestic issues Brother that is just heartless talk, we are all in this together... this antinomy of segregation is old and this generation should be making the difference, not negalecting thier given education overseas with a set of clean morals.

Well the deal is not going ahead my friend , I fear a civil war will take place before that happens. We can speculate all we want, that the deal is done and Range resources has the permission of the TFG, but the matter is, either we lose these odfend, fraudulent and immoral individuals in my opinion, and find an alternative company with a respectfull past. Or we might aswell wait for some dire repercussion. ~~ On a lighter note - Sky, where in the BBC artical did you read about the Eyl pirates? I'm really interested. -------------------------------------------------- A Recent artical released by - http://www.energyreview.net A Punt too far? Steve Rotherham Tuesday, October 18, 2005 PERTH exploration minnow Range Resources has had its astonishing deal for exclusive petroleum and mineral rights in the Puntland region of Somalia called into question by the Somali government. In a letter to the Australian Stock Exchange but not released to the market, Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi said the deal with the regional government in the eastern Somali state of Puntland was invalid because only the country's transitional federal government could negotiate the sale of mineral and petroleum rights, The Age newspaper reported. Gedi has offered to cooperate in any investigation into Range Resources's claims, according to the newspaper, which said it had obtained a copy of the letter. This contradicts a statement on Range Resource's website, which reads: "The Transitional Federal Government of the Republic of Somalia has provided written approval with regards to the validity, operation and effect of the Puntland agreement subject only to amendments being made to the Contract of Work to reflect the constitutions of both the Federal and Puntland Governments." Range Resources has also said the government of Puntland was democratically elected and independent and had the power to negotiate and sign the contract with Consort Private. On October 5, Range announced it had agreed with a foreign company, Consort Private Ltd, to buy 50.1% of the sole and exclusive rights to all mineral and oil exploration and development in Puntland. Consort Private is believed to operate through a London law firm and to be registered in the Maldives. It signed a contract with the Puntland government on August 30 at Dubai's Hilton Hotel. Range Resources plans to fund the deal through a $3.45 million rights issue. The deal between Puntland and Consort has been very controversial in Somalia and has increased tensions between the federal and Puntland governments. On August 28, just two days before the contract was signed, the Somali prime minister warned foreign companies and investors that local administrations could not legally negotiate contracts over natural resources. "Foreign companies should desist in attempts to deal with local authorities ... without prior written consent from the federal government," Gedi said. "Any violation of this will result in negative consequences and the responsibility will lie with the culprits. Until the government puts in place specific legislation for natural resources management, such as a national hydrocarbon law, it will be categorically impossible to give concessions." Meanwhile, a Somali resource and management consultant living in Melbourne has also weighed into the debate, criticising the Range Resources deal on several grounds. Dr Ali Abdullahi M Barkadle said the Puntland contract gave an unfair advantage to Consort Pty Ltd and Range Resources by lumping together mining and oil concessions and giving the whole state – roughly 212,000 square kilometres – to a single company was unheard of. "It seems the negotiators had a very limited understanding of the mining and oil industry or were in need of quick money, Barkhalde said. "Puntland can be divided into many blocks using modern GIS systems. The area of 212,000sq.km is too huge for a viable study to be done on. Even multinational corporations with huge budgets for explorations cannot bite into such a huge cake without damaging shareholder value." Barkhadle also said the Puntland government had handed over areas that have been in "force majeure" without due consent from original concession holders. "Somalia had issued a number of concessions and prospecting licenses to a number of International Oil companies in the 80s when Hunt oil discovered oil in Yemen that protruded into Somalia," he said. "Ownership questions still remain since most of these companies declared force majeure." ---------------------------------------- http://www.energyreview.net/storyview.asp?storyid=48122&sectionsource=s0#

oh Maaan!!>.. those were the days - Duck Tales, the Gummy bears, Captian planet, X-Men, Swat cats etc.... those were the weekend days - Don't you still wish you could start high school all over again..... Those days were a bliss.

Give me a break... I have lived here over 10 years and I'm defently sure there is a flaw in the Australian score.

Well, whatever your opinion may be, it will indeed be stopped I can promise you that. The Australian stock exchange is investigating the matter, after geddi had a lengthy conversation with the governemnt of Australia. Believe me no-one will be selling any land that belongs to the Somali people, no-matter what tribel affiliation. And please stop this nonsense about Puntland's succession and how Geddi's out to destroy it, we have passed this blame game allready. Let us be more intelligent about this.

For the love of god guys, were in the month of ramadan, lets not forget.

Dont worry wind talker, these little boys wont get nowhere - we held this long from explotation, and we aren't giving up now.

Lol sky, is it just me or do you get worse throughout the ramadan?....you seem to have offended alot of people these couple of days. Hope you are having fun...interesting topic.

Lets hope so...I guess its a positive step from somewhere.

woow.......we will wait and see i guess

Any copies in english?

Any copies in english?

Iam confused, who is doing the stalking? both parties, including yourself? I guess the best thing you could do, in most situations, would be to call up your cousins if you don't have any older brothers, and get them to look into it.

Seriously, It almost allways brings tears to my eyes,... I guess if they can refuse Muslim girls from wearing head scarfs to school, Jacques Chirac's words are redundant.

Pucca's avatar would have to be the best one yet. Lets be more original if you are seriouse about investing in your avatar.

Defently worth supporting....keep those votes coming - worthy of a sticky indeed.

Not a sister, but thank you for the link shams.

Here is a copy of her email:- I just took a position in El Cajon, California (east of San Diego) as a teacher to a group of 23 Muslim all-girl students, mostly from Somalia, ages 9-12. I'm wondering if your organization can direct me to some website resources to educate myself about my group? Also, I am very, very interested in connecting with another class with similar dynamics to establish a pen-pal letter writing activity. If you have any ideas, please call or e-mail! I am a bit desperate, I have jumped into this position after the former teacher quite with no time to prepare, and school must go on! Sincerely, Cari Harner ------------ While i forward this to some Somali communties in that area, it would be nice if you could help her directly with some info, pm me if you are sincere, and i will give you her contacts. Thanks

Maybe it could be true, you hear that most Somali's within the country are tired of tribal inflations, infact the problem is the groups overseas, that still have the old mentality. I guess the wrong refugess got their visas.

Hmm...Sky i believe she divorced the Somali man around that same time, or perhaps I'm mistaken. Anyway, if you guys are interested here are some photos Ciise took from the trip. Production photos From what he told me, he didn't have any access to post production at all. Also, I remember when I initially met Thom Cookes in person, I got the feeling he was going to betray Abdulahi Yusuf the worse possible way, hence why he decided to cut out a number of interviews, one being of Ali Mohammed Gedi (Prime Minister).

Here is a Real media Video link to the program. Video By the way guys, did you know that Valerie Browning the old lady (Australian) in the doc. was in fact married to a Somali guy. Currently he is in Australia.

OMG - Somalia's Garbage Scavengers. - The characters in this peice are some what Veterans from the 1977 Ethiopian war. I feel so sorry for them, and at the same time ashamed. When will this nightmare end.

Its a fair presumption indeed Ducaqabe, but in this case, Moira respects each individual child, given thier culture and religion, the kids also being Palestinian and Iraqi, she does her best to take them into the city each a week for islam and language classes. I have upmost respect for this lady, truly an unsung hero.

She is a nice lady in person, i met her few months back and I must say, she is a very outspoken character, and some of her contacts will somewhat shock you. I remember a funny story she told us about the Saudi family and how she was comfortably yelling at them for not respecting her requests. By the way she will be traviling back to Somalia this december.