Puntland and the Election Myth

[Mario B]

Currently with the attention being focused on the government in Mogadishu the situation in Puntland has faded into the background.

 

This has suited Mr Farole as he continues to attempt to get even more money from the International Community whilst still advocating democratic elections for Puntland. Yet refusing to listen to the people of Puntland!

 

So what is currently happening within Puntland that is so important to the advance of democracy?

 

Well remembering that Mr Farole had a four year mandate from the people of Puntland, during which time he was to prepare for democratic elections, very little if anything has been done. Much has been spoken about the subject of free and fair elections yet in reality nothing has been done to take that any further forward.

 

Instead Mr Farole has been trying to ensure that he and his family remain in power at the expense of the people of Puntland

 

To do this he has changed the constitution to favour his position. Yet he is the first to object when those in Mogadishu change the Federal Constitution! How hypocritical can you get!

 

By not having any registration of voters and so having no information on who is eligible to vote you increase the opportunity for a rigged election.

 

By not having any means to identify voters you open the system to abuse and effectively remove the ‘one person one vote’ principle. Having neither means of registration nor identification means there is no control on the number of times one person can vote. Leading to the possibility of rigged elections.

 

Having no designated voting constituencies how will people know or even get to see who is supposedly representing them in Parliament?

 

Mr Farole has also taken further steps to ensure that people are denied a voice in their own country.

 

The state media owned and controlled by the Farole family, Garowe Online along with Radio Garowe known also as Farole Online and Radio Farole. Any other media outlet in Puntland being coerced into following what the Farole family dictate, otherwise being closed. So no ‘free and fair’ media.

 

Legal demonstrations against Faroles administration have been met with violence from Faroles private security, with live ammunition being used against women and children.

 

There is no constitutional court to overview any elections to ensure fair and open proceedings. The Farole administration bending and breaking the law to suite their own purpose.

 

So although declaring to be ‘progressing democracy’ Mr Farole seeks to get more financial support from the International Community to fund his own dictatorship at the expense of the people of Puntland. Mr Farole has no intention of holding democratic elections as he knows the people will vote against him and his family. Greed and corruption being his base for staying in power.

 

Nor is Mr Faroles administration adverse to attacking respected members of Puntland society. Take the recent case of former President Mohamud Musse Hersi! Faroles Information Minister, Mr Mohamud Aydid, even blamed the former President of being responsible for Puntland soldiers deserting their post. The fact that the soldiers were demonstrating about not being paid by the Farole administration was not mentioned! Nor are the military the only ones owed money by the Farole administration, Police and other members of the civil service being in the same situation. Yet within the last week Mr Farole decries the Mogadishu government for not paying its own troops, “In Mogadishu, the Somali Federal Government troops receive payments from donor countries, while Puntland Government pays its own security forces,” President Farole said.”. By “its own security forces” it is believed this refers to his own private security. Who he needs to help him stay in power.

 

The Information Minister, Mr Mohamud Aydid, also accused General Adde Musse of “rejecting the ongoing democratising process in Puntland”! Rather hypocritical considering that democracy is the last thing Mr Farole and his ‘hangers on’ want, as it would stop the flow of money directly to them. Where democracy would be beneficial to the people of Puntland it would not benefit Mr Farole and those who support him.

 

The people of Puntland are well aware that currently elections under the ‘one person one vote’ democratic system are not viable under the Farole illegitimate administration. Therefore what has been proposed by the former President General Mohamud Musse Hersi and others has merit.

 

Recently Adde Musse held a press conference in Qardo and stated that the clan based political system should stay in place. He opted for the parliament to dissolve by October 2013 and that clans should nominate the 66 members of parliament.

 

This is seen as a means of removing the incumbent illegal Farole administration with a view of preparing the ground for truly democratic elections as promised but not delivered by Mr Farole during his four years as President.

 

Mr Farole will no doubt resent anything that he can claim as being a return of any clan based political system. Yet is this not what he has at the moment with his ‘clan’ consisting of his immediate family and his group of ‘hangers on’.

 

Money that should have gone to improving Puntland in general has been spent on his own image, a new Presidential Palace etc? Why not improve the airport at Bossaso and at the same time improve the port not to mention establish a ‘free port zone’. This would help with the economy of Puntland in general, encouraging foreign investment and also creating employment! But wait was this not proposed by former President Mohamud Musse Hersi and contracts approved prior to his leaving office? Yet once Mr Farole was in power this went no further!!

 

Mr Farole may feel that people do not listen to him! Yet it is the people of Puntland to whom Mr Farole should be listening.

http://horseedmedia.net/2013/06/06/somalia-puntland-and-the-election-myth/

 

 

By. Da’ud Omar

dauud.omar@gmail.com

[MoonLight1]

Mario B;959486 wrote:

To do this he has changed the constitution to favour his position. Yet he is the first to object when those in Mogadishu change the Federal Constitution! How hypocritical can you get!

Could you elaborate on this Mr B, what part of the constitution did he change?

[Dr_Osman]

Mario Love Puntland or Hate it, but it build this at the very least respect it's achievements

[Dr_Osman]

I mean seriously mario adeer macane. Look at this and tell me it doesn't make you proud

 

I mean look at it. Its Two Govts side by side equal discussing bi-lateral ties.