Region 5 shrinking by the day

Che -Guevara · December 3, 2004

The disappearing lands should be concern, soon these people will be at borders in the Somali proper. With no real Somali force for Ethopian to fear,and having Ethopian backed Southern goverment, and resource starved goverment in the north, Somalis should be alarmed regardless of political persuasion. Ethiopia has found the prefect weapon to nutralize Somalis, "Qabiil" N the only thing going for Somalis is that Ethiopia is disaster waiting to happen!

Gabbal · December 3, 2004

to add insult to injury it was Siad Barre who signed it away in 1988.

Siad Barre for political reasons, vis-a-vis SNM, signed away the Somali Republic 's claim to Region 5, but Siad Bare did not have the authority to sign for the inhabitants of Somali Galbeed themselves and hence that treaty does not cover what those inhabitants can or cannot do or seek and cannot seek.

The wishes of the people of Zone 5 coupled with the diplomatic support of an internationally recognized and respected Somali government is enough to do the job. A Somali government that can lobby for international diplomatic pressure to press Addis Ababa to hold referendums concerning the fate of the people and the land in that region will do the trick.

We are the age where diplomacy is the most powerful tool in politics. Somalis need to master it.

Gabbal · December 3, 2004

to add insult to injury it was Siad Barre who signed it away in 1988.

Siad Barre for political reasons, vis-a-vis SNM, signed away the Somali Republic 's claim to Region 5, but Siad Bare did not have the authority to sign for the inhabitants of Somali Galbeed themselves and hence that treaty does not cover what those inhabitants can or cannot do or seek and cannot seek.

The wishes of the people of Zone 5 coupled with the diplomatic support of an internationally recognized and respected Somali government is enough to do the job. A Somali government that can lobby for international diplomatic pressure to press Addis Ababa to hold referendums concerning the fate of the people and the land in that region will do the trick.

We are the age where diplomacy is the most powerful tool in politics. Somalis need to master it.

Gabbal · December 3, 2004

to add insult to injury it was Siad Barre who signed it away in 1988.

Siad Barre for political reasons, vis-a-vis SNM, signed away the Somali Republic 's claim to Region 5, but Siad Bare did not have the authority to sign for the inhabitants of Somali Galbeed themselves and hence that treaty does not cover what those inhabitants can or cannot do or seek and cannot seek.

The wishes of the people of Zone 5 coupled with the diplomatic support of an internationally recognized and respected Somali government is enough to do the job. A Somali government that can lobby for international diplomatic pressure to press Addis Ababa to hold referendums concerning the fate of the people and the land in that region will do the trick.

We are the age where diplomacy is the most powerful tool in politics. Somalis need to master it.

Nationalist · December 3, 2004

I really feel with all these clans that are seeing their lands stolen day by day by the Oromos. Ironically, historically we were the ones who were conquering lands from the Oromo and the Bantus. And as Horn Afrique said, war is not an option, diplomacy is the new keyword now.

We need our muslim brothers in the future and a well planned and oriented diplomacy prgramme to ever see Western Somalia not as a part of the Somali republic perse, but as a state that is being given justice and chances to develop with far stretching ties with their Somali peers.

We should be realistic of our goals otherwise we'll get a Sland recognition scenario, craving hard for what you can't get.

We should focus on tangible goals such as Dire Dawa as part of the Somali state. Or reclaiming our regions and districts back till the Somali state is complete.

Simultaneously we should also watch the human rights standard closely, and actively observe if Somalis receive their share of the national treasuries and beyond.

From there on with a reasonable foundation, the Somali republic can hold talks onto deal flexibly with the zone 5 issue, by politically and economically alligning them with Somalia, while under Addis Ababa. As tax collection and basic services will be Addis Ababa's responsibilty and will have it's military presence. Wich is probably the only thing Addis Ababa is interested in in zone 5.

Somali proper should step into that gap and involve itself with other matters of zone 5.

Such as, offering zone 5 a right to vote in Somali proper elections, equalising zone 5's laws and rules to those of Somali proper to where it's possible, to increase trade and investment in zone 5 by Somali proper etc.

Many ideas can come out of this. War is just not an option anymore.

Nationalist · December 3, 2004