lol...nobody wants Bush in canada trust me, he caused enough riots by just visiting this week. Never been more proud to reside in this country than in the past few yrs, Canada I have to say stood very firm despite the fact that the US is our number trading partner and the two nations enjoy the biggest trading relation in the world. Over 1 billion dollars worth of goods cross the border daily.

lol...nobody wants Bush in canada trust me, he caused enough riots by just visiting this week. Never been more proud to reside in this country than in the past few yrs, Canada I have to say stood very firm despite the fact that the US is our number trading partner and the two nations enjoy the biggest trading relation in the world. Over 1 billion dollars worth of goods cross the border daily.

lol...nobody wants Bush in canada trust me, he caused enough riots by just visiting this week. Never been more proud to reside in this country than in the past few yrs, Canada I have to say stood very firm despite the fact that the US is our number trading partner and the two nations enjoy the biggest trading relation in the world. Over 1 billion dollars worth of goods cross the border daily.

I'll tell you what show I'm glad they canceled, the parkers. That annoying chuckle of an intro song could drive some ppl suicidal

http://www.hiiraan.ca/2004/dec/op/Faisal_Roble.htm Somalis: You “ain’t seen nothing†yet By Faisal Roble Resizing the Somali National State (Region 5) to an ever-shrinking arid area is a politically shrewd way to satisfy Oromo political demands at the expense of Somalis in the Somali National State of Ethiopia as the 1991 Transitional Map a Ploy? In 1991, right after the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) rebel insurgents ousted the former dictator, Mengistu Haile Mariam, I joined the then brewing debate among the Diaspora community with a debut article titled “The New Map of Ethiopia, a Natural Outcome†(Ethiopian Review, June 1992). The original charter map of the transitional government of Ethiopia, drafted in 1991, was based on, according to the Ethiopian government, existing colonial and national records. Placing much hope on the results of said map, Somali delegates in Addis Ababa at the time agreed to be part of the transitional government of Ethiopia headed by Meles ZenawiThe new map divided the country into several ethnic-based states. Among the major nationalities depicted in the map were Somalis, Afars, Oromos, Amharas, Tigres, Sidamas, and a host of other smaller groups. Out of this ethnic based regionalism, Western donor countries and the United States of America in particular expected that a new federal government of Ethiopia would emerge to fully move away from the long history of ethnic conflicts and wars that stunted any type of progress in the region. Now, after 13 years of constantly tampering with the sprit of the map, one is forced to feel uncertain about the goals of EPRDF versus Somalis in Ethiopia. Since that map was adopted, Amharas and Tigres have by far shown a degree of satisfaction with the territories designated for them, notwithstanding some objections over the status of Humara and Sititumara, which should have been in the Amhara region. Both groups have strong membership in the EPRDF coalition. On the other hand, the Oromos have always complained and felt that their demands were railroaded: They claim that they lost significant historical region of what was previously known as Wallo, the home of Mohamed Ali. Mohammed Ali was the last Muslim Oromo to rule Wallo before the united forces of Atse Towedros and emperor Menilik defeated him. Upon conquest, unlike Atse Towedros, who wanted to behead Mohammed Ali, emperor Menilik chose co-optation and decided that Mohammed Ali be spared and converted to Christianity. His name was consequently changed to Ras Michael. His Muslim son, the late Elias, was overthrown and let die in an underground cell to mark the end of Muslim/Oromo Wallo. Other Oromo complaints included the loss of Finfine (Addis Abeba) to the federal government, plus several agriculturally rich districts in Gojam and Shoa. With Oromo nationalism on the surge, EPRDF leaders made all possible efforts to satisfy the Oromo Peoples Democratic Organization (OPDO), a junior member of the EPRDF coalition. EPRDF leaders also believe that significant concessions to OPDO is the only way to undermine the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) insurgency, while strengthening the position of its junior partner, OPDO. That strategy comes handy in this saying: “robbing Paul to pay Peter.†Unfortunately, feeble Somalis have become the Paul of EPRDF’s ever-shifting and deceitful politics. At the wake of drafting said map in1991, Somalis chose, out of pragmatic concerns, to make real concessions and laid rest to a long standing claims on swats of districts in Hawaas (Awash) region. Soon after, Somalis were pushed away from and near Harar city, only to be followed by the redesignation of Diri Dhabe as a federal charter city. Today, Diri Dhabe has a Tigre mayor and Somalis are far removed from the decision-making circle in this overwhelming Somali city. Somalis also lost many districts in what was formerly Bale and Sidamo (Nagele) provinces. The Latest Punch A plebiscite was conducted in October 2004 to determine the status of more Somali districts. The Somalis on the onset bitterly disputed the way the election was conducted and launched an official dispute. Among the grounds of dispute were: Oromos, who are members of the coalition of EPRDF, had their soldiers intimidate Somali voters at the polls. Also, Oromo/EPRDF representatives rigged and stole votes. Paying deaf ear to the Somali case, on November 18, 2004, the Federal Government of Ethiopia has announced its decision of what it claimed to be a plebiscite. Such a decision has erroneously declared that several key districts in the Somali National State (Region 5) would be ceded to the Oromo National State (Region 4). The result of the October plebiscite has been approved by the EPRDF/OPDO controlled House of Representatives which rubber stamps EPRDF agenda. This latest action of Ethiopia’s legislative body cemented a process that has effectively resized Somali region: First, Somalis are made by design to cede regions in Hawaas, Bale, Negale as well as districts near the Diri Dhabe - Addis railroad. And, on November 18, 2004, despite their objection over how the whole matter was handled by the government, Somalis are informed to cede the regions of Maeso, Bardoda, Baabili, Fanyaanbiiro and Jinacsani to the Oromos. As much as Aksum is a Tigre city or Dambidolo is an Oromo, Jinacsani, only 12 miles to the north of Jigjiga, is an important Somali city. Notwithstanding that Jinacsani produced the highest revenue for the Jigjiga zone, EPRDF unilaterally chose to make it the symbolic and ultimate price it would pay to appease the Oromos . Jesse Jackson, the African American civil rights leader, once told emotionally subdued black delegates in San Francisco that every body at the Convention got some thing out of the 1984 Democratic platform. To emphasize how much blacks lost grounds at the Convention, Jesse told his audience, “you ain’t got nothing.†Today, with similar emotions, one can lament to the Somalis in Ethiopia:†you ‘ain’t seen nothing’ yet.†What a painful reminder of 1940s Somali nationalist, Baalaayo Cas’s wailing words: “close the doors, so I can freely cry!†A Tranquil Past Gives Way to the Unknown Future If any civil strife arises in the future as a result of this sham plebiscite, especially between Harar and Jigjiga, EPRDF will conveniently blame it on what it calls the choice of the Jarso clan. For over two hundred years, Jarso, a Somali clan whose origin is of ancient Oromo/Somali mix has lived side by side with the Geri Koombo clan, the main inhabitants between Baabili and Jinacsani. (Other Somali clans that are affected in this latest resizing of the Somali region include ****** , Akisho, Bursuug of Issaq, Ciise, Gurgure, Hawle, ****** , and Sheekaash). According to Arif Ahmed’s thesis on Geri and Jarso social contracts “Historical background of Geri and Jarso people and characteristic features†Law Faculty, Addis Abeba University, these two clans together have drafted two hundred years-old complex and far-reaching social contracts to maximize peace and coexistence (see also Captain Sir Richard Burton, First Footsteps in East Africa). Through some unknown miracle, the Jarso clan in and around Fayanbiiro and Janacsani has suddenly been delivered to the Oromos. EPRDF would like us to belief that with the Jarso goes the most important Somali land in Region 5. This defies any credible and rational public policy. If Meles Zenawi approves the results of this sham and rigged plebiscite in the coming days, EPRDF can celebrate its “effective political skills†which significantly resized the Somali Regional State. And this would practically mean resizing Somali region and pushing its westerly bounderies down from Hawaas and Harar, and then Diri Dhabe to Babile and now to Jinacsani in a matter of 13 years. What EPRDF has in store for the Somalis can only be surmised by saying: Somalis, “you ain’t seen nothing, yet.†EPRDF leaders congratulate themselves and whisper that, under Meles Zenawi, a political strategy has been designed to disarm the hitherto insurgent Somalis to abandon much of their territorial belonging inside Ethiopia. Whether this would produce a lasting result or is merely a temporary gratification for the politics of Meles remains to be seen, lest history can barely be measured in years or decades. With its feeble and docile transitional administration in Jigjiga, Somali society in Region 5 has been rendered toothless, and the community is being disoriented by clan cleavages. It has been effectively bifurcated exclusive entities with their own parochial interests to be easily contained east of Jigjiga. At the same time, Oromos have moved eastward and are now poised to administer Somali villages on the outskirts of Jigjiga. It appears that Meles achieved all these without an effective regional government in place to represent the view point of Somalis. How else can any government close to the heart- beat of its people accept such a daytime land grabbing and expropriation of their own people? As such, one finds consolation in the belief that all the actions that EPRDF has so far taken against Somalis since 1991 are unilateral moves, which Somalis have the option not to honor. Somalis have not in the past honored top-down arrangements and they will not do so now. This article was prepared for Wardheernews. Faisal Roble

http://www.hiiraan.ca/2004/dec/op/Faisal_Roble.htm Somalis: You “ain’t seen nothing†yet By Faisal Roble Resizing the Somali National State (Region 5) to an ever-shrinking arid area is a politically shrewd way to satisfy Oromo political demands at the expense of Somalis in the Somali National State of Ethiopia as the 1991 Transitional Map a Ploy? In 1991, right after the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) rebel insurgents ousted the former dictator, Mengistu Haile Mariam, I joined the then brewing debate among the Diaspora community with a debut article titled “The New Map of Ethiopia, a Natural Outcome†(Ethiopian Review, June 1992). The original charter map of the transitional government of Ethiopia, drafted in 1991, was based on, according to the Ethiopian government, existing colonial and national records. Placing much hope on the results of said map, Somali delegates in Addis Ababa at the time agreed to be part of the transitional government of Ethiopia headed by Meles ZenawiThe new map divided the country into several ethnic-based states. Among the major nationalities depicted in the map were Somalis, Afars, Oromos, Amharas, Tigres, Sidamas, and a host of other smaller groups. Out of this ethnic based regionalism, Western donor countries and the United States of America in particular expected that a new federal government of Ethiopia would emerge to fully move away from the long history of ethnic conflicts and wars that stunted any type of progress in the region. Now, after 13 years of constantly tampering with the sprit of the map, one is forced to feel uncertain about the goals of EPRDF versus Somalis in Ethiopia. Since that map was adopted, Amharas and Tigres have by far shown a degree of satisfaction with the territories designated for them, notwithstanding some objections over the status of Humara and Sititumara, which should have been in the Amhara region. Both groups have strong membership in the EPRDF coalition. On the other hand, the Oromos have always complained and felt that their demands were railroaded: They claim that they lost significant historical region of what was previously known as Wallo, the home of Mohamed Ali. Mohammed Ali was the last Muslim Oromo to rule Wallo before the united forces of Atse Towedros and emperor Menilik defeated him. Upon conquest, unlike Atse Towedros, who wanted to behead Mohammed Ali, emperor Menilik chose co-optation and decided that Mohammed Ali be spared and converted to Christianity. His name was consequently changed to Ras Michael. His Muslim son, the late Elias, was overthrown and let die in an underground cell to mark the end of Muslim/Oromo Wallo. Other Oromo complaints included the loss of Finfine (Addis Abeba) to the federal government, plus several agriculturally rich districts in Gojam and Shoa. With Oromo nationalism on the surge, EPRDF leaders made all possible efforts to satisfy the Oromo Peoples Democratic Organization (OPDO), a junior member of the EPRDF coalition. EPRDF leaders also believe that significant concessions to OPDO is the only way to undermine the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) insurgency, while strengthening the position of its junior partner, OPDO. That strategy comes handy in this saying: “robbing Paul to pay Peter.†Unfortunately, feeble Somalis have become the Paul of EPRDF’s ever-shifting and deceitful politics. At the wake of drafting said map in1991, Somalis chose, out of pragmatic concerns, to make real concessions and laid rest to a long standing claims on swats of districts in Hawaas (Awash) region. Soon after, Somalis were pushed away from and near Harar city, only to be followed by the redesignation of Diri Dhabe as a federal charter city. Today, Diri Dhabe has a Tigre mayor and Somalis are far removed from the decision-making circle in this overwhelming Somali city. Somalis also lost many districts in what was formerly Bale and Sidamo (Nagele) provinces. The Latest Punch A plebiscite was conducted in October 2004 to determine the status of more Somali districts. The Somalis on the onset bitterly disputed the way the election was conducted and launched an official dispute. Among the grounds of dispute were: Oromos, who are members of the coalition of EPRDF, had their soldiers intimidate Somali voters at the polls. Also, Oromo/EPRDF representatives rigged and stole votes. Paying deaf ear to the Somali case, on November 18, 2004, the Federal Government of Ethiopia has announced its decision of what it claimed to be a plebiscite. Such a decision has erroneously declared that several key districts in the Somali National State (Region 5) would be ceded to the Oromo National State (Region 4). The result of the October plebiscite has been approved by the EPRDF/OPDO controlled House of Representatives which rubber stamps EPRDF agenda. This latest action of Ethiopia’s legislative body cemented a process that has effectively resized Somali region: First, Somalis are made by design to cede regions in Hawaas, Bale, Negale as well as districts near the Diri Dhabe - Addis railroad. And, on November 18, 2004, despite their objection over how the whole matter was handled by the government, Somalis are informed to cede the regions of Maeso, Bardoda, Baabili, Fanyaanbiiro and Jinacsani to the Oromos. As much as Aksum is a Tigre city or Dambidolo is an Oromo, Jinacsani, only 12 miles to the north of Jigjiga, is an important Somali city. Notwithstanding that Jinacsani produced the highest revenue for the Jigjiga zone, EPRDF unilaterally chose to make it the symbolic and ultimate price it would pay to appease the Oromos . Jesse Jackson, the African American civil rights leader, once told emotionally subdued black delegates in San Francisco that every body at the Convention got some thing out of the 1984 Democratic platform. To emphasize how much blacks lost grounds at the Convention, Jesse told his audience, “you ain’t got nothing.†Today, with similar emotions, one can lament to the Somalis in Ethiopia:†you ‘ain’t seen nothing’ yet.†What a painful reminder of 1940s Somali nationalist, Baalaayo Cas’s wailing words: “close the doors, so I can freely cry!†A Tranquil Past Gives Way to the Unknown Future If any civil strife arises in the future as a result of this sham plebiscite, especially between Harar and Jigjiga, EPRDF will conveniently blame it on what it calls the choice of the Jarso clan. For over two hundred years, Jarso, a Somali clan whose origin is of ancient Oromo/Somali mix has lived side by side with the Geri Koombo clan, the main inhabitants between Baabili and Jinacsani. (Other Somali clans that are affected in this latest resizing of the Somali region include ****** , Akisho, Bursuug of Issaq, Ciise, Gurgure, Hawle, ****** , and Sheekaash). According to Arif Ahmed’s thesis on Geri and Jarso social contracts “Historical background of Geri and Jarso people and characteristic features†Law Faculty, Addis Abeba University, these two clans together have drafted two hundred years-old complex and far-reaching social contracts to maximize peace and coexistence (see also Captain Sir Richard Burton, First Footsteps in East Africa). Through some unknown miracle, the Jarso clan in and around Fayanbiiro and Janacsani has suddenly been delivered to the Oromos. EPRDF would like us to belief that with the Jarso goes the most important Somali land in Region 5. This defies any credible and rational public policy. If Meles Zenawi approves the results of this sham and rigged plebiscite in the coming days, EPRDF can celebrate its “effective political skills†which significantly resized the Somali Regional State. And this would practically mean resizing Somali region and pushing its westerly bounderies down from Hawaas and Harar, and then Diri Dhabe to Babile and now to Jinacsani in a matter of 13 years. What EPRDF has in store for the Somalis can only be surmised by saying: Somalis, “you ain’t seen nothing, yet.†EPRDF leaders congratulate themselves and whisper that, under Meles Zenawi, a political strategy has been designed to disarm the hitherto insurgent Somalis to abandon much of their territorial belonging inside Ethiopia. Whether this would produce a lasting result or is merely a temporary gratification for the politics of Meles remains to be seen, lest history can barely be measured in years or decades. With its feeble and docile transitional administration in Jigjiga, Somali society in Region 5 has been rendered toothless, and the community is being disoriented by clan cleavages. It has been effectively bifurcated exclusive entities with their own parochial interests to be easily contained east of Jigjiga. At the same time, Oromos have moved eastward and are now poised to administer Somali villages on the outskirts of Jigjiga. It appears that Meles achieved all these without an effective regional government in place to represent the view point of Somalis. How else can any government close to the heart- beat of its people accept such a daytime land grabbing and expropriation of their own people? As such, one finds consolation in the belief that all the actions that EPRDF has so far taken against Somalis since 1991 are unilateral moves, which Somalis have the option not to honor. Somalis have not in the past honored top-down arrangements and they will not do so now. This article was prepared for Wardheernews. Faisal Roble

http://www.hiiraan.ca/2004/dec/op/Faisal_Roble.htm Somalis: You “ain’t seen nothing†yet By Faisal Roble Resizing the Somali National State (Region 5) to an ever-shrinking arid area is a politically shrewd way to satisfy Oromo political demands at the expense of Somalis in the Somali National State of Ethiopia as the 1991 Transitional Map a Ploy? In 1991, right after the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) rebel insurgents ousted the former dictator, Mengistu Haile Mariam, I joined the then brewing debate among the Diaspora community with a debut article titled “The New Map of Ethiopia, a Natural Outcome†(Ethiopian Review, June 1992). The original charter map of the transitional government of Ethiopia, drafted in 1991, was based on, according to the Ethiopian government, existing colonial and national records. Placing much hope on the results of said map, Somali delegates in Addis Ababa at the time agreed to be part of the transitional government of Ethiopia headed by Meles ZenawiThe new map divided the country into several ethnic-based states. Among the major nationalities depicted in the map were Somalis, Afars, Oromos, Amharas, Tigres, Sidamas, and a host of other smaller groups. Out of this ethnic based regionalism, Western donor countries and the United States of America in particular expected that a new federal government of Ethiopia would emerge to fully move away from the long history of ethnic conflicts and wars that stunted any type of progress in the region. Now, after 13 years of constantly tampering with the sprit of the map, one is forced to feel uncertain about the goals of EPRDF versus Somalis in Ethiopia. Since that map was adopted, Amharas and Tigres have by far shown a degree of satisfaction with the territories designated for them, notwithstanding some objections over the status of Humara and Sititumara, which should have been in the Amhara region. Both groups have strong membership in the EPRDF coalition. On the other hand, the Oromos have always complained and felt that their demands were railroaded: They claim that they lost significant historical region of what was previously known as Wallo, the home of Mohamed Ali. Mohammed Ali was the last Muslim Oromo to rule Wallo before the united forces of Atse Towedros and emperor Menilik defeated him. Upon conquest, unlike Atse Towedros, who wanted to behead Mohammed Ali, emperor Menilik chose co-optation and decided that Mohammed Ali be spared and converted to Christianity. His name was consequently changed to Ras Michael. His Muslim son, the late Elias, was overthrown and let die in an underground cell to mark the end of Muslim/Oromo Wallo. Other Oromo complaints included the loss of Finfine (Addis Abeba) to the federal government, plus several agriculturally rich districts in Gojam and Shoa. With Oromo nationalism on the surge, EPRDF leaders made all possible efforts to satisfy the Oromo Peoples Democratic Organization (OPDO), a junior member of the EPRDF coalition. EPRDF leaders also believe that significant concessions to OPDO is the only way to undermine the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) insurgency, while strengthening the position of its junior partner, OPDO. That strategy comes handy in this saying: “robbing Paul to pay Peter.†Unfortunately, feeble Somalis have become the Paul of EPRDF’s ever-shifting and deceitful politics. At the wake of drafting said map in1991, Somalis chose, out of pragmatic concerns, to make real concessions and laid rest to a long standing claims on swats of districts in Hawaas (Awash) region. Soon after, Somalis were pushed away from and near Harar city, only to be followed by the redesignation of Diri Dhabe as a federal charter city. Today, Diri Dhabe has a Tigre mayor and Somalis are far removed from the decision-making circle in this overwhelming Somali city. Somalis also lost many districts in what was formerly Bale and Sidamo (Nagele) provinces. The Latest Punch A plebiscite was conducted in October 2004 to determine the status of more Somali districts. The Somalis on the onset bitterly disputed the way the election was conducted and launched an official dispute. Among the grounds of dispute were: Oromos, who are members of the coalition of EPRDF, had their soldiers intimidate Somali voters at the polls. Also, Oromo/EPRDF representatives rigged and stole votes. Paying deaf ear to the Somali case, on November 18, 2004, the Federal Government of Ethiopia has announced its decision of what it claimed to be a plebiscite. Such a decision has erroneously declared that several key districts in the Somali National State (Region 5) would be ceded to the Oromo National State (Region 4). The result of the October plebiscite has been approved by the EPRDF/OPDO controlled House of Representatives which rubber stamps EPRDF agenda. This latest action of Ethiopia’s legislative body cemented a process that has effectively resized Somali region: First, Somalis are made by design to cede regions in Hawaas, Bale, Negale as well as districts near the Diri Dhabe - Addis railroad. And, on November 18, 2004, despite their objection over how the whole matter was handled by the government, Somalis are informed to cede the regions of Maeso, Bardoda, Baabili, Fanyaanbiiro and Jinacsani to the Oromos. As much as Aksum is a Tigre city or Dambidolo is an Oromo, Jinacsani, only 12 miles to the north of Jigjiga, is an important Somali city. Notwithstanding that Jinacsani produced the highest revenue for the Jigjiga zone, EPRDF unilaterally chose to make it the symbolic and ultimate price it would pay to appease the Oromos . Jesse Jackson, the African American civil rights leader, once told emotionally subdued black delegates in San Francisco that every body at the Convention got some thing out of the 1984 Democratic platform. To emphasize how much blacks lost grounds at the Convention, Jesse told his audience, “you ain’t got nothing.†Today, with similar emotions, one can lament to the Somalis in Ethiopia:†you ‘ain’t seen nothing’ yet.†What a painful reminder of 1940s Somali nationalist, Baalaayo Cas’s wailing words: “close the doors, so I can freely cry!†A Tranquil Past Gives Way to the Unknown Future If any civil strife arises in the future as a result of this sham plebiscite, especially between Harar and Jigjiga, EPRDF will conveniently blame it on what it calls the choice of the Jarso clan. For over two hundred years, Jarso, a Somali clan whose origin is of ancient Oromo/Somali mix has lived side by side with the Geri Koombo clan, the main inhabitants between Baabili and Jinacsani. (Other Somali clans that are affected in this latest resizing of the Somali region include ****** , Akisho, Bursuug of Issaq, Ciise, Gurgure, Hawle, ****** , and Sheekaash). According to Arif Ahmed’s thesis on Geri and Jarso social contracts “Historical background of Geri and Jarso people and characteristic features†Law Faculty, Addis Abeba University, these two clans together have drafted two hundred years-old complex and far-reaching social contracts to maximize peace and coexistence (see also Captain Sir Richard Burton, First Footsteps in East Africa). Through some unknown miracle, the Jarso clan in and around Fayanbiiro and Janacsani has suddenly been delivered to the Oromos. EPRDF would like us to belief that with the Jarso goes the most important Somali land in Region 5. This defies any credible and rational public policy. If Meles Zenawi approves the results of this sham and rigged plebiscite in the coming days, EPRDF can celebrate its “effective political skills†which significantly resized the Somali Regional State. And this would practically mean resizing Somali region and pushing its westerly bounderies down from Hawaas and Harar, and then Diri Dhabe to Babile and now to Jinacsani in a matter of 13 years. What EPRDF has in store for the Somalis can only be surmised by saying: Somalis, “you ain’t seen nothing, yet.†EPRDF leaders congratulate themselves and whisper that, under Meles Zenawi, a political strategy has been designed to disarm the hitherto insurgent Somalis to abandon much of their territorial belonging inside Ethiopia. Whether this would produce a lasting result or is merely a temporary gratification for the politics of Meles remains to be seen, lest history can barely be measured in years or decades. With its feeble and docile transitional administration in Jigjiga, Somali society in Region 5 has been rendered toothless, and the community is being disoriented by clan cleavages. It has been effectively bifurcated exclusive entities with their own parochial interests to be easily contained east of Jigjiga. At the same time, Oromos have moved eastward and are now poised to administer Somali villages on the outskirts of Jigjiga. It appears that Meles achieved all these without an effective regional government in place to represent the view point of Somalis. How else can any government close to the heart- beat of its people accept such a daytime land grabbing and expropriation of their own people? As such, one finds consolation in the belief that all the actions that EPRDF has so far taken against Somalis since 1991 are unilateral moves, which Somalis have the option not to honor. Somalis have not in the past honored top-down arrangements and they will not do so now. This article was prepared for Wardheernews. Faisal Roble

lol...yo Illmatic don't pay attention to them man, they from UK and other places where they allergic to baggy jeans and thangs and every "farax" looks like a metro sexual with them extra tight pants . Ngonge didn't wanna have to expose you like that dog, but you know what I'm talkin about don't front . Anyway man I'm a check for this dude, if your from Harlem I'm guessin you know of Immortal Technique, right now revolutionary pt.2 is mos def my top album, it don't leave the play list.

Indeed the state of affairs is getting very desperate here, but some things don’t change on this website. The Puntland mercenaries always have Somaliland on their mind 24/7, if you need any proof look at this forum and the people who posts’ topics concerning Somaliland. What I find sad however is that the young Somalilanders here couldn’t care less about Puntland and its state of affairs, I don’t think I have seen any of them post an article or anything related to Puntland or at least very few. Our friends from Bari must feel unappreciated, whenever Somaliland receives praise in the international community they are right there yelling “what about us?", sort of putting their hand in the air waiting for a high five that’s never to come. You can compare this situation to the little brother who’s always wanted to be like his older brother and yet can never fill his shoes. That is why I consider it praise when I see all this attention devoted to our state. Keep up the good work folks.

This is really a disgrace; you would think the government would assign a competent judge for such an important case. I guess the only winners in this scenario are those who were exploited this young girls case in the Puntland media. This fiasco is playing right into their hands and giving them exactly what they strived for, that is to damage the image of Somaliland abroad. Those four lawyers should be released immediately before this gets any worst.

I have more respect for the Islamic Republic of Iran than I do for any other country in the middle east. I hope they continue on the path to development and I seriously doubt the Americans would ever dare launch a ground war against Iran, that would be suicidal and can potentially turn out to be a worst catastrophy than Vietnam. Let’s keep in mind that Iran is not Iraq it is much more capable than Iraq and it has a popular leadership. All this gibberish about Iran wanting to take over the holy sites is cowardly fear mongering by incapable arab regimes. Sort of the same way Saddam Hussein got the best of their fears when he convinced them to support him in his war against Iran because the “Persian†threat could destabalize the arab world. That being said, lets speak hypothetically for a moment and Imagine that Iran somehow gained control of the holy sites, so what? Are they not our brothers in Islam? Do they not have the same rights as the rest of us to those holy sites? Let’s come back to the Saudi question for a moment, some people assume that somehow the Saudi’s are designed to be the true and “rightfullâ€(if there is such a notion) guardians of the holy sites, but they forget that the real claimants to those privileges are hashemites like King Abdellah of Jordan and his late father King Hussein (Illahey ha u naxaristee).

Any book in my humble opinion, by the greatest intellectual alive would be a good Read. Here are a few: Noam Chomsky -Hegemony of Survival -Manufacturing Consent -Understanding Power -A New Generation Draws the Line -911 -Media Control If you would like an overview of some of his works both old and new, than I suggest "The Chomsky Reader".

Artest look shook when he seen big ben coming at him, and y'all mad at teyshaun? I feel bad for Artest man, like a true bullie when confronted by someone who might kick his *** he backed down and went to pick on easier targets . The drink throwin was out of line still. For a funny outlook on what happen check out homeboy Omar's editorial from slam magazine, dudes hilarious. http://slamonline.com/ot/omar/DetBrawl/

Juma, You will find that hypocracy is rampant not only on this site but amongst many somalis in general. Their is an old somali prejudice that identifies a certain group for being notorious liars, of course it is just a prejudice but needless to say at times, that prejudice is very well reinforced by the concerned party .

You can say most team sports are about strategy, and undoubtedly Football (soccer) is the world's most widely played sport. But does it require the most strategy? I don't think so. From my experience in playing team sports and also watching it, I find that Basketball and American Football require the most strategizing. In high school ball we had over 60 different plays that every player had to memorize and 10 alone just for inbounding the ball from sideline or under the basket depending. Those were the days when if you were out of place coach would be yellin at you and benchin you for messin up . P.S I disagree with Garaab, Gunners are tha ish and they gonna take the premiereship this year again, its only a matter of time before Chelsea slips up.

A gathering of Somali yupies, never thought I'd see the day. It's too bad y'all having this event in London else I would've crashed your formal affair with my jeans and white-T .

Originally posted by Xoogsade: A list of American Inventions Telephone(do I need to mention the importance) Alexander Graham Bell was a scottish born Canadian, don't get it twisted now. He lived and studied in Canada, conceived the idea of speech through a wire with animal intestins in Canada, and he later died and was buried in Canada. Which by all accounts makes him canadian . The americans like usual step in with their dollar bills and later claim inventions. He was number 10 on the conceived list of greatest Canadians of all time (CBC) although I thought he should have been top 5. I'ts probably because 3 countries claim this man as their own. http://www.cbc.ca/greatest/top_ten/nominee/bell-alexander-graham.html

Originally posted by Ameenah: Buy Nothing Day on a Saturday? You've got to be kidding me. I'm broke, so I guess you can count me in <-- feeling goodalready :cool: lol...count me in the broke as a joke column too ameenah, this should be really easy. Hope that don't include movies though.

For the past 15 years it has tried to survive as a pocket of stability in the collapsed state of Somalia. It was notable for the few days of independence it enjoyed in 1960. Is it just me or has Puntland perceivably achieved one of its goals that is of being synonymous with Somaliland and even being confused for it . I due have to give credit to their propaganda machine as nowadays people who are somewhat oblivious to the differences in the foreign press usually can make the mistake of equating the two and hence the following confusion.

NGONGE, No need for apologies sxb, we are exchanging points of view and in the process we realize we have more in common than we realise. You want the well being of your people and so do many of us outright supporters of Somaliland, and whether you ever take up the political struggle or not, nobody can take away the good-will you carry towards your own. For that, I respect you sxb. Dusty, inadeer how's France treatin ya? est-ce que tu pratiques toujours ton français? As-tu encore dégustés les fromages de la région toulousienne?

Ngonge sxb I agree with you and I share many of your sentiments. At some points your even answering your own questions, you say the place is dump and we need to better the lives of our people and you go on to say that one cannot run if they can't walk which is exactly the point sxb, we all want the betterment of our people but progress comes slowly specially when you start with virtually nothing. We are humble people we have very little to begin with but yet it the current progress is a start is not? As they say "do for yourselves like ants in a colony", little by little we shall perceiver and build our nation feed our people and so one day every single somalilander can live life adequately. Sxb we all want the same things you want, but for a sense of national identity and security to foster the political questions cannot be overlooked as you would prefer. Politics is indeed a dirty game but you must dig in and get your hands dirty if you expect to achieve any of your noble aspirations. In my view, as a people you must take a stance sooner or later or fall victim to the hands of history. They say the yanks use to sing songs of the greatness of america before they even achieved their independance from the british, it was used as an instrument to create unity and common identity for the colonies and till this day young kids in american schools are obliged to pledge allegiance to the flag every morning. The "manifest destiny" carved out the planed american borders much to the chagrin of the spaniards and british, and with all their flaws their is much to be learned from the americans in nation building. Case in point being that I have no problems with those who sing the praises of our country as I feel our sense of identity grows stronger by the day, little by little even those who had been sheltered or turned a blind eye to the concept of Somaliland are having to accept it. But the essential part comes in the deeds we do for our country and in that respect I couldn't agree more with you, its not enough to just wave the flag we must invest time, effort, energy or any other means we have to contributing to the well being of our people. That is why Somaliland needs young people like yourself and I to do our share do you not agree? It is not enough to just talk about how awful the streets are in burco or how much the hargeisa hospital is lacking modern instruments we must do what we can to help out. In the end all those aspirations are good in intent but useless if the people do not feel secure and that is what the state aperatus provides. Identity, Security and hope for future progress. If Allah wills it, we shall continue towards the betterment of our country.

NGONGE, sxb call me bias,a blind patriot or whatever else but its my honest opinion that there are no regions today in somalia that can compare to Somaliland even with all of our countries short-comings. In some aspects such as democratic reform and transparency (that is as much as an african country can be "transparent") there are few countries that can compare in the entire continent. One has to give credit where credit is due and that is why most foreigners are amazed when they come to Hargeisa because they only have the lasting impressions of the civil war and anarchy etched in their heads and yet are confronted with a different reality. That being said, there are alot of matters to be improved in Somaliland and that is not the point here, rather what I'm trying to tell you is that one cannot always focus on the negative aspects because that would be rather depressing and unproductive. This woman Yvette Lopez keeps a diary of her stay in Somaliland and she does mention many of the areas the country needs to improve on and as a matter affect NGO workers such as herself are very much welcomed to Somaliland because the people themselves want to see change in their country and are aware of the existing problems. When I am looking for facts about certain alleged events whitin Somaliland usually propagated by its enemies, I go to these NGO and human rights groups stationed in Somaliland to see if what is being reported has any substance, and I am glad those groups are present in the country. You say that the overwhelming matter is recognition but I beg to differ, Somalilanders are happy so long as they are masters of their own destiny. Perhaps you think this is just some more cheap rhetoric, but something tells me that once the disillusionment with respect to the idealistic concept of somalinimo sets in with you, you will find your way out and claim your rightful place among the brotherhood of Somalilanders. A people who share your unique aspects of the Somali culture,your values and upbringing. From experience, it has almost always been the case when I've seen people in a position similar to yours.

I seriously doubt the Puntland authority is doing anything to halt this as other reports have shown the people smuggling is a serious source of revenue to them and I wouldn't be suprised if they were actually encouraging it.

OG_girl that is the type of lamenting carabtu ay isku maweeliiyaan, the Turks did this and the Ottomans did that.... They hated the turks so they took up arms against another muslim people in order to aid the christian invaders in this case the british so that in turn this new colonial power can partition the holy land and give it away to zionist. They were used like little pawns by the westerners to help them defeat the Ottoman and once that was achieved they were disgarded by the colonial powers like a dirty rag. They only have themselves to blame for their divisions. I find it very similar to the way some somalis always manage to blame the ethiopians for the divisions that exist between us. Nations like the arabs and somalis who carry defeatist mentality are by no means victims of anybody and the day they start realising that, is the day they can move forward as a people. Until than they will be easy pickings for other nations.