^^^Well Gediid and Jumatatu hear it for the last time.

By Farhan Ali Ahmed farxaan26@yahoo.co.u Democracy has had various meanings of interpretation, but according to philosophy Larry Hauser it is a form of government in which the people rule, either by directly voting on issues (direct democracy), or indirectly through electing representatives to decide issues (representative democracy). One of the important basics of democracy is mutual confidence among political players competing to construct a better future for their nation. Thus, one model of representative democracy is the one that Somalis are trying to base on the expected all inclusive transitional federal government from Kenya, Mbagathi peace conference. It is unfortunately a tribal model where all clans elect individual MPs that represent tribal interests rather than a country’s national interest. Then, tribal MPs elect the country’s president and the president appoints his prime minister to form a government. This is a tribal democracy based on clan constituency rather than a regional, area or district where each person in a constituency votes for one person to become their MP and the candidate with the most votes becomes the MP. This would be just a trial model of forming a government, where many Somalis believe that the Somali tribal democracy is far from perfect or all-wise but it is, indeed, the worst model to form a government. Strangely enough, it may not fulfill or meet the expectations of its people, because of its weak cabinet, poor MPs, incapability of making needed decisions and unresponsiveness to the high demands of its people. It is a unique political system the way in which our country’s government will work. The cabinet’s work will be ineffective as long as he holds the office for his clan and defends clan interest rather then national interest. Representing a particular clan will be the first obstacle that the new transitional federal government will confront while dealing the sensitive issues (i.e. security or disarmament issue) in the country and our political system does not make accountable for malfunctioning institutions, as long as its cabinet positions being based on 4.5 (i.e. 4.5 means four major tribes and alliance of minority clans are divided government positions and ministers and MPs and are accountable to their clan). For instance, Abdiqasim’s government is a good example, where the TNG attempted to introduce security measures on the capital Mogadishu, one of the cabinet members could not support because his clan would feel unhappy. It is also, the opposite of what our founding fathers had deeply valued and required – the individual and the power of his vote, rather than what is called tribal MP voters. (e.g. Adan Abdulle Osman’s speech July 1962 “ if we Africans are proud to take our place as a democratic people in the comity of nations, we must do more than pay lip-service to the feelings of the ordinary man and woman in our societyâ€. etc) The founding fathers believed and valued the privilege of representative government where MPs are selected for their quality. They anticipated Somalis will flesh out the ideas and principles that they have in envisioned and this dream would shape the future government to our nation but their dream is yet to come real. On the other hands, tribal MP selections are not based on a meritocracy process where the MP is selected for his ability, experience and knowledge in order to choose a good MP who has the necessary qualities to represent his country but rather he is an X clan; and without exceptions, for the mentally ill and criminals. Therefore, tribal MPs will be weak, and misunderstand their role of passing new laws, some may see as unfair and corrupt. For example, many tribal MP voters will be frightened or bribed into voting for a certain candidate or issue. Moreover, no doubt that any new transitional federal government being formed by the elected president will have to maintain order in the country by establishing “Rule of Law†in order to preserve life and protect property. To maintain order the new government needs to possess unquestioned authority in order to grantee the safety of the weak, and to protect them from the attacks of the strong. To pay these operational activities of bringing peace and security into Somalia, the new transitional federal government needs to collect a tax and get international assistance. Thus, I wonder how weak cabinet and poor MPs based on tribal system could collect revenue for the expenditure of their operational activities and quickly respond the needs of their nation and at the same time take appropriate action towards sensitive issues. While the only group from the international community who is offering assistance is the African Union who is pretending to send peace keepers into Somalia and their object is only another biding for further funds for the African Union, so I remain deeply doubtful, of how the new government would achieve its goals! However, there is proverb says “two birds in your hands are worth many in the bush†In August 2004, Somalis managed to elect new members of the Somali Transitional Federal Assembly and are ready to take over from their predecessors the burden of public service (i.e. Arta TNG). Thus, the new TFG MPs will receive a mandate of trust from the clan appointees and the whole of nation. This mandate is not only an obligation passed through to their tribes but also to the whole nation and it is vital to remind them that the future of Somalia is in the hands of the tribal MPs. Warlords will be given the opportunity to exercise their faithful citizenship as they enter the new Transitional Federal Assembly. They will be faced with a challenge of making choices that will improve the lives of many million Somalis who suffered at their hands or they will choose what they believed for more than a decade which was violence. We know what violence leads to and it is a vicious circle of violence. The violence of the past results in violence of the present, and the violence of the present results in violence in the future. If warlords do not consciously and intentionally decide to break this cycle, of future violence then it will continue to go on and bring more misery. So they need not neglect their duties and place an unprincipled man, or in other words, a warlord in the highest office in the country; the violence will multiply and the new TFG will soon be corrupted; laws will be made not for the public good so much as for the selfish or tribal purposes. Therefore it is their responsibility to elect a good leader for their country. They must remember at the moment that they are offering their vote, that they are not there to please one of the candidates whatever the reasons, but they have to remember that they carry responsibilities beyond this interim period and generations to come. When it comes to vote, all it takes is a little cross on the ballot paper. But that mark could well change their life and the whole country in the next few years. Elections are about more than just picking a candidate. Overall, it is important to recognise that we need time to understand and absorb how democracy is used in other parts of the world and how we, as Somalis, need to adopt a system that can truly reflect our needs and background. It is obvious that the tribal model of democracy is not what our founding fathers expected in the 21st century Somalia. But it is what Somalis have in their hands now. It should be a transitional model where people use as a conflict resolution and be used as an instrument that powers are shared and transferred peacefully now; because it is not a genuine model as long as elections, votes, policies are managed and influenced by the clan. While Somalis instability and conflict caused by application of tribal politics into the government and all government position based on the clan and tribal criteria. This is what makes many Somalis to see this tribal model as a factor of conflict rather than a solution. Thus, there are several Somali presidential candidates who remain firmly favourable to succeed in the next five years when all tribal MPs are completely selected in the new Transitional Federal Assembly. But there are criminals among them and there is a concern about this whether an awkward voting manoeuvre may occur and intentionally elect the “wrong†candidate rather voting for the “right†candidate. This will be a good example whether tribal MPs choose the road to peace, or road to further violence. If they choose a right candidate the destination of their country is relatively certain. On the other hand, instituting “Rule of Law†in Somalia is necessary in order to preserve life and protect property, but the new transitional federal government needs not to institutionalise the clan politics and government machine being selected meritocracy process in order to serve national interests. If it does so, the new TFG will maintain order in the country.

^^^I am sure I made a post before your last. :confused:

Wow if ever there was a motivational article, that would have to be it. I think that what Abdirashid talked about was what comes next, after we get the government. However, that same government he starts his timeline on isn't fully formed and since the most conflict-ridden part of it, the presidency, hasn't been established yet, all we in Somalia itself or the qurbo can do is pray from the bottom of our hearts for it to succeed. Another thing is he talked about the intellectual class, whether old or young, aversed in Somali politics or not, holds a bachelor's degree or a phd, going back to our homeland and helping in the reawakening of the Somali people. I think that Somalis are more then ready to help in the rebuilding of their nation and seek nothing but for a place to call home. I, myself, plan to visit Somalia next summer inshallah. An end to war, disease, starvation, hostility, enmity, and all other evil works. Ilaahayow noo gargaar. That was a beautiful peice.

Your Energy is Red. You are strong in character and love to be active and competitive. Driven and goal oriented, you know what you want and what it takes to get it. Courageous, strong, and fair, you like to see equal justice for all. You prefer the material world and all things tangible. You would make an ideal surgeon, emergency medical technician, weight lifter, athlete, chiropractor, or pioneer in some field. The funny things I am trying to be a surgeon :eek: I think this is me to point except for the "material world part". You are strong in character and love to be active and competitive. Driven and goal oriented, you know what you want and what it takes to get it. Courageous, strong, and fair, you like to see equal justice for all. This was just ME. :cool:

Ilaahay ha u naxariisto.

Originally posted by HornAfrique: Intaa isku aamusi

I stated Morgan was wrong to, a)leave the conference, b)bring troops into the Jubba's and raise tensions. War ninkaan fiiriya .. You support the reason Morgan brought the troops in, but you don't support him doing it :rolleyes: And you still want us to believe you did not support Morgan's failed agression? OOokay. That does not seem like the words of a 'self-styled nationalist'. "Self-styled" nice term. And is being a Somali nationalist a selective term? Meaning of Nationalist: adj. & n, one who loves and defends his or her country Under that criteria SmithNwestern, Otali, Rahima, Baashi, Mobb Deep, and even Waryaa Dude are Somali nationalists, and just because we differ on a lot of major issues, does that mean one of us is not a nationalist? O.k if it makes you happy Bari, you're the only nationalist :rolleyes: Rather that is someone who cheers at the prospect of innocent blood being spilt in Somalia. Actually Morgan has already spilt enough of my own familyt member's blood, so please cut the pundit. Morgan's defeat, whether you like it or not , stopped more blood being shed. One who's only thought is of his clansmen coming out ahead. We've finally reached this state haven't we? I would say Morgan is my clansmen, as were his militia. Now you tell me if you were against Barre Hiirale's defence, simply because you don't support self-defense or because his JVA is multi-clan grouping All of the local inhabitants of Jubba are oppressed by your warlord and his 'Isbaheysiga' of walaalaha Galgaduud. Yet you didn't support Morgan's attemp to "free" them. I would rather be friends with someone who stuck to his convictions, then someone who pretends to be against them. War ninkaan eeg. Saaxiib jooji hadalkaas...adiguna is-ceebinaysa Intaa isku aamusi Alas, if that were only the case. No dear friend, you support a mad man, a warlord, and a war criminal. Bari_Nomad in all honesty whatever crimes Barre Hiirale has to his name, I would be more then happy to let him be tried in court. However we are talking about this particular incident that happened, and I do believe Barre Hiiraale was right in defending himself. Your line of reasong seems to be, if I dont support your warlord, then I must be supporting the opposing one. A flawed logic, if I have ever come across one. Your line of reasoning seems to be, if I support Morgan privately, I don't have to support him publicly. Be honest, no one is going to blacklist you :eek:

Alas Bari_Nomad what am I to do with you? You said Barre Hiiraale was a "baxsad", yet you have still not answerd my question. Would you have wanted Barre Hiirale to stay in Nairobi and let Morgan attack a leaderless people or do you believe he should have waited and see a peacekeeping force pop out of the conference. You are saying here and there how Morgan was "wrong" to attack Kismayo, yet you say rer "Puntland" are oppressed in the Jubba :rolleyes: Let me ask this. Who was Morgan fighting for? Who were Morgan's militia composed of? Who did Morgan get support from? Shan't we say it's hypocritical to say we support the reason for fighting and the fight itself, but we don't support the fighter. Who would you have wanted to be the leader of the attack in place of Morgan, Col. Garamgaram? We weren't born yesterday and it's making you look like a fool. Now would you be so kind as to answer mine: do you support this warlord, Barre Hiraale? If so, why? As for the question you think I'm avoiding, I'll give a straight answer. I support fighting against agression and to defending your freedom and peace. As you know Bari, there was peace, before the man you privately support/ publicly against :rolleyes: embarked on a fruitless escapade.

^^^I can say I don't have a temper, but that would lead to a whole different argument wouldn't it?

^^^Someone wrote "Clans are the Somalis addresses, they don't ask where you're from, but whom your from.

^^^Acuudi Bilaah. I asked you but a simple question and you dodging like you're dodging bullets in the Matrix or something. As for the Barre Hiiraale thing, you will get my single answer when I get your single answer of the question I asked you a long time ago. What would you have wanted MP Barre Hiirale to have done in the face of Morgan's agression? :confused: Wareer badanaa

Reerahani waa dad warankoodu isyaqaan, malaha qolyahaan fog fog ee hargeysa ayaan rasaasta nugaaleed hore u dhadhamin :confused: Sheeka kale ayaad bal keentay.

Horn, I gave as sincere and 'simple' an answer as possible. Which is more tha n I can say for you... So what you are saying is you will not answer the question?

Most likely to say: Satan is Puntlander. Not to be confused with : M S Yalaxow. Sidaa u soo qabatay.

we are not going to take notice of what few so called garaad War yaa ileen balaayo arkay :eek: Mucjiso indeed. Nimanka "so-called" aad u wacaysid miyay aheen nimanka oo odayaasha u ah dadka degmada Laascaanood iyo Sool daga? War balaayo yaa arkay. Sxb what you are advocating is the tribal hegemony over and against the wishes of the residing people in their very own homes. That cannot be tolerated. Every Somali has the right to choose, and reer Sool and Sanaag have chosen Somalia.

ll I know is if they gave other worlords seats they should give him too. Og_Girl another misunderstanding sis. :cool: The parliament seats are based on clans and sub-clans. Each sub-clan was given a certain amount of seats. Morgan's beel was given 12 seats. While other sub-clans were choosing their members collectively, Abdulahi Yusuf single-handedly (except for some who he was forced to accept from IGAD like Jamac Cali Jamac) chose the people who would sit in the seats of not just his sub-clan, but of the greater sub-clan too. He didn't give Morgan a seat., and so the only way of being in parliament was to be chosen by your sub-clan, Morgan was shut out by his own folks. However Barre Biiraale was given a seat by his sub-clan, while Morgan was left out by his sub-clan. Do you get it now? The whole parliament is running on clans and sub-clans and the number of seats they were given.

and Morgan had attacked Hiraale's militia then self defense may be employed. Waa igu kaa. You have established your position and I don't have the desire or the energy to continue this discussion. All I have to add is I'm glad and overjoyed that Hiiraale didn't let Morgan attack first as I would be in deep mourning as of the current. I have no reason to hide my feelings, yet YOU on the other hand have still not answered my question. It is but a simple question requiring a simple answer. What would you have wanted MP Barre Hiiraale to have done in the face of Morgan's aggression? ...and please spare me an answer if you're going to say I would rather have waited to see if Morgan attacked first. :rolleyes: He has missed the vote for Shows how much you think you know. MPs Ahmed Warsame and Barre Hiirale have both not been present in the peace conference, but their votes have well been documented and counted.

if it brings peace to Somalia by having Morgan in the table That is the point exactly dear Og sis. It is impossible to bring Morgan to the table, because you get to the table by clan membership. That is what the whole point of the 4.5 formula is based on, and while that is the Law of the Parliament as of the moment, it would be impossible to includ Morgan in the government, ..unless Abdulahi Yusuf gives Jinni-Boqor's seat to Morgan, now that the former has lost favor with the colonel

Musharaf waa ***** isnacay. :mad: Balaayo ku cuntay.

Bari_Nomad I'm the last person to allege Barre Hiiraale is a saint, nor have I ever alleged as such. My calling him "rightous" had to do with the fact that he did not let Morgan's doomed actions in clouding his judgement and lumping together people and man. The man made a strong distinction between choosing peace or choosing to keep the current hostilities where they are. As you can see from the title of the thread, my calling the man " rightous " had to do with the fact that he was unequivocally "right" in welcoming all, even those who were in arms with Morgan, into Kismayo, despite what Baashi, Libaax, and others nomads were saying. Now that, that has been taken care of. YOU STILL HAVEN'T ANSWERED MY QUESTION. You chose to talk about what has already been talked about to no end, and that being how wrong Morgan was to attack Kismayo and especially at this particular time in history. Yet, you cleverly by-passed my question of which I am still waiting for you to answer. What would you have wanted MP Barre Hiirale to have done in the face of Morgan's agression? :confused: ...and please answer me sincerely.

Then perhaps you should not go insulting groups with terms such as "pitiful" and "minor"... Then I dearly apologize Bari, although all you had to do was bring your feelings to my attention instead of trying to ingage me in a tribal-crossfire. My apologies again.

^^^ so when are you going to post the website of that quiz? :rolleyes:

is very difficult to be a neutral But to parade as neutral is another thing Og. Our friend here Sanaag_Nomad, had nothing to say about the man who brought all this tragedy on the Jubba Regions. The man who tried to destroy the peace process, and who is now begging and crying in Kenya to be given a position of power. Is that neutral :confused: In all honesty Sanaag_Nomad is coming off as the biggest qabiileyste in SOL as of the moment. Atleast Smith and others are upfront about it and honest, but our friend here is quite ludicris to think we're buying his (pardon me for stealing this Oodweyn) spleen. For example he said: xildhibaanka baxsadka The man went to Kenya on his own accord, and he left Kenya, (not the peace process) on his own accord period. :eek: Let's laugh with him since obviously to Sanaag_Nomad the peace process is a jail :rolleyes: You wanted us to laugh? Well there I'm laughing with you :rolleyes:

^^^shekadaadu waa wax qiran I will not go down that road with you, so please don't try. :rolleyes: