An Open Letter From People Of Sool , Sanaag And Cayn to the British Parliament

[guraad]

Rt Hon. Clive Soley MP

 

House of Commons

 

London SW1A 0AA

 

 

 

Cc Ian McCartney MP

 

 

 

Dear Clive Soley MP,

 

 

 

Re – Parliamentary debate on the case for Somaliland (February 4th, 2004)

 

 

 

It’s highly disturbing to bring such debate to the attention of the British Parliament. The debate was both unnecessary and irrelevant. In fact this new development has sent shock waves through East Africa, the Arabian Gulf and the Somali exile communities on both sides of the Atlantic. After serious cogitations upon the details of what was aired on February 4the at Westminster Hall, we submit that the debate

 

could have the potential to reopen old wounds within communities that lived side by side in relative peace for more than 12 years. A fundamental United Nations and the African Union principle had also been so recklessly violated. The debate was gross misrepresentations of the current state of affairs in Somalia and fails to address the important issues facing the Somali people today.

 

 

 

The recent visit to the former British administered region of Somalia by some members of Parliament’s select committee on international development should not be used in anyway to mislead the Parliament and the government. Historical facts about the region concerned were often and deliberately reconstructed in a way to further undermine the interests of the ***** clan of the ****** .

 

 

 

The Somali conflict is a complex one and despite so many efforts by many countries to resolve it, to date no known remedy is in sight. Following the MPs visit to the region, there are reported troop movements between Puntland (the ***** clan) and Somaliland (the ***** clan). Heavily armed 4X4 Japanese made pick up trucks, known locally as ‘Technicals’, were seen heading for the town of Yagoori about 45 miles north of the Sool capital, LasAnod, and in the past couple of days three villages in Sool and Ein were looted by the Hargaisa militia. These so called Technicals have engaged with Puntland troops at least once in the past 5 weeks with the loss of 4 soldiers and some prisoners of war (please consult with the BBC Somali Service). It’s also reported that wide scale conscription of men of fighting age is underway throughout North West towns and cities. Already the tension is high in the area and if further escalations are reported, it could divert attention from the 14the Somali peace conference currently underway in Kenya. Some people in Hargaisa see the visit as a green light to capture the ***** areas by force in order to facilitate their fantasy for statehood.

 

 

 

On the other hand, almost everyone in Puntland (the ***** clan) has a watchful eye for a completely different picture: the rerun of the Darvish war hundred years earlier. History must not be forgotten. We all know too well that the British used the Indians and the ***** clan of the Northern Somalia to dislodge Sayyid Mohamed Abdullah Hassan from his bases in Taleeh. I am quite sure that Britain is not prepared to undertake a new colonial adventure in Somalia, in this century at least, therefore she should refrain from encouraging some clans in their efforts to dominate others.

 

 

 

Clan boundaries in Somalia had pre-existed the cosmetic, temporarily arranged colonial boundaries. What the British Parliament needs to understand first and foremost, however, is the structure of the Somali tribal systems and the gracing areas before addressing modern political and economic issues.

 

 

 

Tony Worthington MP ( Clydebank and Milngavie) seemed particularly suspicious when he spoke so forcefully for the ***** case. In his address to Parliament at Westminster Hall he tried to mislead the members of Parliament who were present at the debate by claiming and I quote: ‘I drove for mile after mile through Somaliland without seeing a building with a roof on it.’ This is a big lie. Mr Worthington was referring to a visit he made to the region in 1992. I can say with complete certainty that he did not visit Erigavo, Buuhootleh, Badhan, Taleeh and Las Anod, all of which are populated by the ***** sub-clan of the ****** . A number of other misrepresentations were also made during his speech. It’s quite obvious that Mr Worthington has personal interest in Hargaisa, although I can not be so sure at present of what that interest is. And, if Mr Worthington has seen remarkable social and political advances in Hargaisa, he would also like to visit Lasanod and Bossaaso or at least try to read ‘Puntland: No guns and US dollars.’ This is a report by a Kenyan Irin correspondent who visited Bossaaso recently. The report can be accessed at www.allpuntland.com and other African websites.

 

 

 

We note from the text version of the debate that some other members of Parliament who favour the ***** case in the former BAS, had mentioned repeatedly a constituency member visiting their surgery with a political message from Hargaisa. Was it all about cash for questions affair? I can quite categorically state that almost every Somali, excluding most of the ***** community, had been upset from the moment they learnt that some British MPs are prepared to campaign for the break up of Somalia once again. It should be noted however that the ***** population in Britain constitutes about 10% of the estimated 280 000 UK wide general Somali population, most of whom with voting rights. Somalis are traditionally Labour but will do anything in their power to safe the unity of their country of birth.

 

 

 

The responsible way to engage a failed state, and this is a widely held view, is to have an extensive understanding of the country and take account of the society at large including the warlords. For example, Ahmed Silaanyo, one of the leaders in Hargaisa was praised in the debate while Abdullahi Yusuf, the president of Puntland was criticised for more than one occasion. One should always be very careful when dealing with one of the most violent conflicts the world has seen and the only country on earth without a central government. Experience has shown that previous Somali reconciliation conferences have broken down due largely to regional governments in the North and East Africa supporting a particular warring function.

 

 

 

British Government Aid to Somalia

 

 

 

We learnt from the text version of the debate that some £3.5m are channelled through aid workers and other direct assistance to Hargaisa. We also noted that Sanaag East, Sool and Hawd (recently renamed Ein by Puntland) are included in the Hargaisa package. Over ten years, the ***** regions of the former BAS were disorganised and confused. They were unsure of their status as they waited for a central government to return. Subsequently, individuals from the ***** region elected to go to Hargaisa and pretended that they represent their constituencies in the ***** areas. This has created some confusion in the past but I should make it clear that these individuals are not elected members from the ***** region. They are visiting guests of their former ***** friends and colleagues in the Siyad Barre regime and in no way represent the ***** electorate. Most of these individual are unable to return safely to their home towns as they are regarded as traitors. Would I also point out that no Hargaisa organised elections were held in Sanaag East, Sool and Hawd – an area almost half the land mass of the former BAS. Furthermore, it has come to our attention that the UNDP Somalia office in Nairobi is currently following a number of possible lines of inquiries in relation to funds for development programmes that are meant for these regions.

 

 

 

The debate seemed as though the Somali conflict could be resolved by favouring some clans financially and politically. But the fact of the matter is that it complicates things further and will create a new hostile environment in the relatively peaceful Puntland and Somaliland. The question of tempering with the original colonial boundaries is not the only problem with Somalia. For a start, the first Somali nationalism and the post independence sequences of events should be studies in greater detail and, multiple sources of information sought before making any judgements and recommendations. The Somali conflict is clan-based and the only solution known to man today is at the Nairobi Conference – the 4.5 resolution. If, however, some members of the British Parliament have some smart ideas, would they please step forward and tell us. Perhaps it could be a miracle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abdul Ghelleh, Secretary

 

Puntland Development Community (UK)

 

 

 

 

 

Encl. Written material by widely respected academics from Gabileh in the far North

 

West and the tribal map of Somalia

[India]

Hadhe SOmaliweyn de Kadidi ba idinka dhamtay

 

All I have to Say is this: the fisrt state visit by a President of Somaliland or the dead republic of Somalia indeed in the recent history of Africa--not withstanding Mandla and the govt of South Africa.

 

So Somalia--do you still have doubts that we are trully on our course????????????????

[Gabbal]

So Somalia--do you still have doubts that we are trully on our course????????????????

Time will tell sis.

[Libaax-Sankataabte]

Things are looking good for Somaliland recognition. But Angel, I hope Riyaale doesn't faint.

 

This is a big moment for him and Somaliland.

[rudy-Diiriye]

do ppl think tony tail wager can do this for landers! no way jose! no whiteman can authorize this another african land division, ever since they missed up in 1884!

 

so why hes going there! its a million q's! who should pay a very carefully attention!! rest if xlands! why, cuz heres the deal!!

 

cutting up africa aint gonna go well all over.. its like opening can of worms!! if u do, then there goes africa!! pooff up in smoke!!

 

forget about the cry baby landers! u believe cut up, plz dont bet the kitchen sink on it!

 

tony is gonna pump riyaale to devour rest if xlands with under cover help from Ethiopia! a poppet here and a poppet there, problem solved!!

 

my 2 cents!!

[Ace of Spadez]

rudy walaahi you are one funny brother. that is all i can say. keep them coming.