I have spoken to people in Jigjiga, they were heavily guarded by the Ethiopian Military and associated Militia as they toured the region in-order to create a counter to the original Silent Cry production as requested by there TPLF puppet masters(desperate regime).Its quite ironic they want people to believe this selective, one-sided depiction of the region when the Government continues to restrict Independent observers from accessing the region to give there assessments. Well said Faafan.

And which maps do you endorse ? OdaySomali The site does analysis and interviews influential people.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-acting-as-go-between-with-al-shabaab-mogadishu.aspx?pageID=238&nID=15516&NewsCatID=338#.T1kOH6iIiYY.facebook

Thanks OdaySomali for the update.

Maaddeey;800644 wrote: Tell that to Somalina She wants an Ethiopian flag hoisted high in Beletwein posting pics of the city while it was under occupation. Don't turn me against my one of my favorite Sol contributor.

"! US based Somalia analyst Professor Michael Weinstein of Purdue University in Chicago told Somalia Report that maps are most fundamentally indicators of political divisions and conflict. “We must see the map, not as an objective representation of political units, but as a weapon of political propaganda that represents the interests of those who publish it,” explained Professor Weinstein. Very well said by the professor

More on this interesting piece.. http://wardheernews.com/Articles_12/March/Ali_Abdulla/08_The_need_for_lasting_peace.html

"...The professor has been getting unfair accusations these days from many sides. Even the flip-flopping Somali writer Bashir Goth accused the professor of practicing political opportunism after Dr. Galaydh traveled to Taleh as one of the delegates attending the Khatumo Congress in the historic town which saw the creation of the Khatumo State of Somalia that has been lately welcomed and fully recognized by the Federal government of Somalia. Bashir somehow downplays and underestimates the importance that the Khatumo delegates, including Dr. Galaydh, attach to the Unity of Somalia. Ironically, Bashir started as a Unionist who used to blast the SNM secessionists in the 1980s by calling them derogatory names attributed to Sayed Mohamed Abdulla Hassan, the father of modern Somali Nationalism. He suddenly switched sides when his distant relative, Rayale, became the President of the breakaway enclave of Somaliland. Lately, after Rayale lost the election, he slowly and methodically changed his tune and started to reluctantly rejoin the more inclusive Somali train with articles probably meant to test the water before fully rediscovering his old fervor for Somali Unity. In his latest article “David Cameron’s Welcome Colonial Arrogance, one gets the impression that a patriotic Somali Unionist bemoans the current miserable situation of a once proud nation. In his concluding remarks, he even rightly accuses the British of shattering the Somali dream of greater Somalia: “For it was Cameron’ predecessors, British gentlemen like him, who divided the Somali territory and gifted parts of it to neighboring countries against the will of the Somali people. It was the indefatigable search for the dream of greater Somalia that Cameron’s forefathers have shattered in the 20th century that led the Somalis to end up in vain and turn against each other in frustration in the 21st century.” The man who wrote “Will the Arabs dare to listen to Somaliland,” sounds today like one defending Somali Nationalism. Let us hope that he stays the course this time. I certainly like this new and reborn Bashir better who, by the way, is a very close friend of mine. In his article “From Garadag “State” to London Conference: Mr. Silanyo’s Checkered Journey to Power”, Bashir accuses Dr. Galaydh of using Khatumo as a stepping stone towards securing a seat in the London Conference: “it is therefore painful to see a man of Dr. Galaydh’s status who at one time lobbed for a leadership position in Somaliland to use the brotherly people’s blood as a ticket to get a seat in the London Conference.” With this sentence, Bashir has dismissed the vision and ambitions of hundreds of delegates in Taleh and labeled their gathering as a stepping stone for one Dr. Galaydh to gain a seat in the London Conference. Since the Khatumo concept started long before David Cameron decided to convene a conference for Somalia, it is an absurd accusation. With these remarks, Bashir negates the desire of thousands of Somalis to break away from a situation that denied them all the tenets of basic human rights. These territories were labeled as disputed territories and were no-go zones for UN agencies for two decades. Unlike Awdal, Bashir’s Region, the children of these regions lack basic education and health-care. Many lost their lives for protesting against the unjustified occupation of their capital city, Las Anod. Many ended up in the miserable refugee camps of Hagardheer and Dadaab in Kenya. It is a well known fact that Awdal intellectuals like Goth and the Samatar brothers have formed the TOL group which is basically an umbrella that caters for the development needs of our brothers in Awdal. Therefore, I do not see the logic behind denying Dr. Galaydh a similar role and accusing him of a hidden political agenda. As a matter of fact, Dr. Galaydh has belatedly realized that his own constituency lags behind all other Somali territories in the fields of social and economic development. He therefore collaborated with other intellectuals like Dr. Ali Isse Abdi, a former IMF official to embark on a long journey to give these so-called disputed territories a voice. The long journey culminated in the birth of the Khatumo State of Somalia. Unlike the neighboring Somaliland, Khatumo strives to uphold Somali unity at all costs. That is why cities like Buhodle stood up to the repeated forceful attempts of Somaliland to divide the country along old and defunct colonial borders. The conflict in Buhodle to which the traditional leaders in the North West are referring to started long before Dr. Galaydh and his compatriots started the Khatumo train in London. The conflict did not start with the last stop for the train in Taleh but long before it left the station in London in April 2011.

Quite informative article but a large portion of the pro-union Maakhir territory is given to the secessionists. Inshallah the truth shall set you free of the misinformation circulating on the net. http://www.somaliareport.com/index.php/post/1282

Duke, I caught you on that line saxib. It's good you retracted that statement though implicit it was to the SL's so called stability within its claimed colonial borders. I know of your pro-union position. I don't believe Khaatumo is a threat to the peace and stability of any region. Its natives are saying out loud "let me run my affairs brothers and sisters".

Xaaji Xunjuf;800595 wrote: inshallah kheyr khaatumo meel fiican bay maraysa we support it a khadar nimanki G9 halkay wax marinayaan professor cali khaif na kenya bu jooga. Good endorsement Xaaji.

STOIC;800450 wrote: A desire to undermine authority with humor indeed.... You can say it's more like a seditious act that warrant arrest of an artist.

Somalia;800507 wrote: The moron should have stayed quiet. INDEED.

Saado and Caasha Cabdala are two great women from Sool and Sanaag regions.

Nothing is wrong with Saado Ali Warsame singing for Puntland. Its her region.

General Duke;800441 wrote: I think the Ministers words regarding Somaliland are important. He states that it's stability should not be ruined and every Somali agrees with this. I think some people on both sides of the argument are losing their minds due to clans. Let everyone build his or her region without hate and envy. Wrong saxib. Not Every Somali agrees with one clan aggrandizing on another territory at the expense of the native clan. What of "its stability"? Which region's stability is endangered and who is actually carrying out acts of tribal aggression? Are you arrogating ownership claims to the secessionists? Xaaji, Don't prevaricate on my question. Answer why the interim minister defend SL when he risks arrest visiting the place?

A_Khadar;800437 wrote: Whatever this minister's opinion is, everyone smells fish from his stand. Booooooooooooooo.. BTW XX, if we follow your logic, will your clan have two fully regions? Also do p/l has two fully regions if Makhirians are not with them? My understand of two and more regions to qualify for regional admin is as Nasir suggested.. Khatumo's jurisdiction extends more than two out of the 18 original regions. Togdheer, Sool and Sanaag. Well said Khadar.

Amin paints on current issues and popular public sentiment. It's up to us to hold Somali or clan based leaders accountable.

Trying to live in the past and conquer it is not healthy.

You can explain it at least saxib?

NGONGE, Is that Abtigiis using female alias?

Btw, reer Khaatumo live and settle parts of Sanaag as reer Maakhir do in parts of Bari. But both regions are predominantly inhabited by the clans of Sultan Ali Shire and King Osman , respectively. It's never healthy to dispute against facts. Mise waxaa wadaa sheekadii aheed ku qabso oo ku qadi meysid.

Xaaji, Why would an interim minister who can't even visit his home state support SL?

When was that Rudy?

But we all know the Tfg exists in name only under the protection of foreign powers. It's sad that the so called interim government officials can't guard their clannish excesses at coming to the defense of one clan against another. That's not how you build a buttom up legitimacy.