United Somali Democratic Alliance's appeal

[General Duke]

United Somali Democratic Alliance's appeal

Posted to the Web Apr 27, 11:19

 

 

THE UNITED SOMALI DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE’S APPEAL

 

 

(The United Somali Democratic Alliance is a political group, representing the concerns, opinions, and views of the Somali people to the Government, the Parliament and the International Community.)

 

 

The Parliament

 

The United Somali Democratic Alliance and all Somalis of good faith are aware of the fact that Parliamentarians were appointed and selected by Warlords and certified by IGAD. But After MPs were sworn in, it was expected of them to appreciate and embrace their responsibilities to the Somali nation.

 

The televised event, showing MPs fighting each other physically and destroying personal properties was disgrace to Parliament and the Somali nation. We deserve better and demand of MPs to uphold the law and the function of Parliament. The responsibility of the accident is solely that of the Speaker of Parliament whose function is to secure the proceeding are safe and orderly.

 

USDA makes the following recommendations to the Speaker:

 

- to provide leadership to MPs and legally be in control of the proceedings

 

- to use legal mechanism to protect MPs and the proceedings whenever there is tension between members.

 

- to recommend and supervise training for MPs

 

- to be open to consultations and negotiations with government and MPs

 

- to refrain from voting unless there is a tie situation which requires him to vote

 

- to present government and members bills and motions, without amendment or revision.

 

The work of the Speaker and the Government will only succeed if MPs

 

- uphold the constitution and interpret it lawfully

 

- commit themselves to protect the integrity of government, parliament, and the nation

 

- vote in a clear and precise manner, to protect the interest of Somalis and not that of their tribe or personal needs

 

- work with the Speaker and the Government in resolving national problems We hope better heads will prevail in the future.

 

The Government

 

There have been accusations of breach of the constitution, lack of consideration and consultation with MPs, Minister and The Speaker of Parliament. But it is evident to the public that the government of President Abdullahi Yusuf and Prime Minister Mohamed Ali Ghedi did everything to uphold their commitment to National Reconciliation.

 

We find minor differences between the government and those who left Nairobi for Mogadishu, in the controversy over the move of government to Baidoa and Jowhar, and the composition of the proposed IGAD peacekeeping mission. Here are the facts:

 

- both sides adhere to the constitution in declaring Mogadishu to be the Capital

 

- both sides admit Mogadishu is not safe at the time being

 

- both sides recognize the need to disarm and collect weapons from the militia

 

( but disagree on who should collect and keep the weapons)

 

Those in Mogadishu refuse the fact that the government is mandated by the constitution to move to location or locations inside Somalia till Mogadishu is safe, secure and peaceful. This makes the demand of some Ministers and MPs that the government move immediately to Mogadishu unconstitutional and unrealistic.

 

These MPs and Ministers in Mogadishu, must return to the seat of government to perform their legal duties to the Somali Nation. If anyone of them wishes to bring about change, they must do so in Council of Minister and in Parliament. Those who went to Mogadishu have damaged the integrity and function of government and Parliament.

 

The United Somali Democratic Alliance encourages the President and Prime Minister to:

 

- be above politics and concentrate on nation building

 

- take steps to unite the government, parliament, and the Somali public

 

- move to inside Somalia as soon as possible

 

- work with African Union, Arab League, European Union, the United Nations and Somalis, to implement disarmament, collection of weapons , security, and peace in Somalia.

 

The Somali people desperately want this government to succeed, not because of politics, but for the simple fact that we need peace, security, safety, and the re-establishment of nationhood in Somalia.

 

To those former Prime Ministers who oppose and are critical of the efforts of this government (with the exemption of former Prime Minister H.E. Hassan Abshir, who is part of government and the reconciliation process, and H.E. Abdullahi Addo, who has refrained from politics after the election), we ask them to stop their personal attacks on the President and give Somalis a chance.

 

International Community

 

Somalis are aware, the international community desires to see peace in Somalia. But to achieve this noble objective, the international community must lend its support, financial and moral to this government. It will be difficult to achieve disarmament,peace, and security in Somalia, without partnership between government and the international community.

 

We appeal to Somalis to give nationhood a chance by giving this government the possibility of working toward peace and unity among us.

 

Long live Somalia.

 

Mohamed Abdirashid A. Sharmarke

Chair, United Somali Democratic Alliance

Email: maarashid@yahoo.com