Respect the fundamental rights of self
determination of Somaliland
open letter
To: the sponsors and organizers of the London conference
for Somalia
cc: the Leadership of Somaliland
cc: the two houses of congress
cc: the traditional leadership of Somaliland
cc: the civic society of Somaliland
cc: to whom it may concern
From: Community Advancement through Conflict Resolution
International
January 21, 2012
Author’s note
This organization (CATCRI) participated the first
Municipal, presidential and parliamentary electio ns in
Somaliland as an international observer. I saw democracy
in process. I saw how the people and their governments
believed the rule of law, decency, stability and peace
in their corner of the world. I was there.
My son who is approaching his 30th birth day used to ask
me when he first spoke this question, “Why were they
doing this to us?” that was when the ethnic cleanings
was happening in Somalil and against the majority of the
Somalilanders in the 80s! In respond to my son’s
question I used to say to him, “they were wrong but the
end belongs to us, to the righteous” when he grow up and
saw the difference of Somaliland and Somalia is between
the sky and the earth. When he saw that Somaliland did
all the right things and Somalia did all the wrong
things he asked me this question, “why their wrongs paid
(such that the international community recognized them)
and all the right things we did, did not pay?” my answer
was the same. “They are wrong, we are righ t and the end
belongs to the righteous, to us if we persevere and be
patient”
The generation who were born after Somaliland withdrew
from the failed union with failed Soma lia is now 20
years old. They don’t understand and it doesn’t make a
sense to them when Soma lia claims that they own us and
the international community entertains that nonsense!
They only know the currency, the flag and the
governmental institutions of Somaliland. The only thing
they know of Somalia is misery and mayhem!
Self-determination in general
essentially, the right to self-determination is the
right of a people to determine its own destiny. Why do
they not want this virtue for the people of Somaliland
who worked hard for it?! The inter national community
that is!
The principle allows a people to choose its own
political status and to determine its own form of
government, its own economic, cultural and social
development.
Exercise of this right can result in a variety of
different outcomes ranging from political indepen dence
through to full integration within a state. The
importance lies in the right of choice, so tha t the
outcome of a people's choice should not affect the
existence of the right to make a choice.. Nevertheless,
the right to self-determination is recognized in
international law as a right of proc ess (not of
outcome) belonging to peoples and not to states or
governments.
Self-determination in International Law
“The principle of
self-determination is prominently embodied in Article I
of the Charter of the Unit ed Nations? Its inclusion in
the UN Charter marks the universal recognition of the
principle as fun damental to the maintenance of friendly
relations and peace among states. It is recognized as a
right of all peoples in the first article common to the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and
the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights which both enter ed into force in 1976.”
All peoples have the right to self-determination. By
virtue of that right they freely determine their
political status and freely pursue their economic,
social and cultural development.
“The concept of self-determination is a very powerful
one. As Wolfgang Danspeckgruber put it: "No other
concept is as powerful, visceral, emotional, unruly, as
steep in creating aspirations and hopes as
self-determination. It evokes emotions, expectations and
fears which often lead to conflict and bloodshed.
Ultimately, the best approach is to view the right to
self-determination in its broad sense, as a process
providing a wide range of possible outcomes dependent on
the situations, needs, interests and conditions of
concerned parties. The principle and fundamental right
to self-determination of all peoples is firmly
established in international law.”
Essentially, the right to self-determination is the
right of a people to determine its own destiny.
“The principle allows a people to choose its own
political status and to determine its own form of
government, its own economic, cultural and social
development.
Exercise of this right can result in a variety of
different outcomes ranging from political independence
through to full integration within a state, willingly
and not by force or coercion. The importance lies in the
right of choice, so that the outcome of a people's
choice should not affect the existence of the right to
make a choice. Nevertheless, the right to
self-determination is recognized in international law as
a right of process belonging to peoples and not to
states or governments.”
_______________________________________________________________________Cited,
UNPO, July 19- 2006) UNPO stands for Unrepresented
Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) initiated in
1990 in Tartu, Estonia, and formed in 11 February 1991
We applaud and commend the British government and who
ever else involved for the up-coming London conference
for Somalia to help Somalia which failed to help her
self! They had many, many of this kind of conferences
out side their soil before and all failed!
The inclusion and injection of Somaliland in to this
Somalia conference as part of Somalia is a fragrant
violation of the fundamental rights of Somaliland’s self
determination. Somaliland never expected this from
Britain!
Somaliland experienced this kind of move from the
astronomical conferences for Somalia. Somaliland can not
entertain this as they can not stampede the verdict of
her people
If the British Government does not want to help
Somaliland which was under British Administration in
more than 80 years why don’t they leave her alone?
The British government must do either one of the above!
No third way in this.
Why don’t they respect the fundamental rights of the
people of Somaliland?
Somaliland worked for that end, and did so in the hard
way. Why don’t the British respect the self
determination of the people of Somaliland who strived
for that relentlessly, patiently?
They say the British is pressuring Mr. Siilanyo, the
President of Somaliland to attend to an up coming London
conference for Somalia when he will be recognized as a
representative of a region which is one of the regions
of Somalia! Somalia now stands for name only?! No one
except his people have the right to urge president
Siilanyo to go or not to go to the upcoming London
conference! Only his people can, and his people don’t
see any thing good for Somaliland in the upcoming London
conference which is for the troubled Somalia.
Somaliland is not Somalia any more and the conference is
for Somalia. The 15th round, if I am not mistaken! Of
all the 14 rounds preceded this, Somaliland did not
participate because she did not see any thing good for
her, and of all these rounds sponsors and Somalia were
openly and subtly undermining Somaliland! “Why were they
undermining peace and stability in a corner where peace
and stability were not known? Why are they repeating the
same thing now, of all places in Britain?” Somaliland is
wondering!
Trying to put a healthy apple in to a barrel of rotten
apples doesn’t help any apple! It doesn’t make sense! It
is undesirable and unacceptable for Somaliland which has
chosen it’s destiny in 1991 and ever since, she not only
survived from all odds, from all destabilizing entities
around her, but thrived in comparison to many African
countries! Somaliland kept the peace and lived-and-
let-others -live in peace.
All peoples have the right to self determination,
Somaliland is not the exception in this human rights. By
virtue of that right they freely determined their
political status and
Freely pursued their economic, social and cultural
development
Somaliland recalled and restored its independence and
they declared that in Borao convention in 1991 where
reconciliation and forgiveness of Somaliland communities
took effect after the SNM movement defeated the
dictatorial regime of (Siyad Bare) Somalia, and declared
the independence of Somaliland there.
.Borama’s convention followed this in1993. There a
government of national unity was established where by
the SNM movement handed over the government to a
civilian government headed by president Egale. This was
a unique move on the part of SNM. This kind of
transferee of government from a front to a civilian in a
peaceful and democratic process never happened in any
where in the third world or rarely happened! A popular
referendum where people voted 97% yes for Somaliland’s
withdrawal from the union with Somalia followed that in
2001
The first transfer of power from triumphant movement to
a civilian was born there and that took place in a
democratic process. That tradition is still going on.
Very recently a defeated government conceded and an
elected one took over power of government in Somaliland
peacefully as expected. Nothing of this magnitude and
nothing of this sort ever happened not only in our
region but in Africa in general, forget Somalia in this
respect!
The UN and its agencies seems as though they say: “why
don’t you become like your brothers in Somalia! We don’t
like what you did even though we say we like it! Your
wonderful achievement is incongruent to our project
which is a troubled Somalia!! Come on board if you need
help!”
Somaliland has reached what has been expected from her
and beyond! They realized what survivals of ethnic
cleansing might not be expected to achieve!
Somaliland gathered what ever was left and built her
country from the ashes, abandoned revenge and
restitution and moved for ward. They built their
country.
In fact they have established a peaceful, democratic and
forward moving country
it is time to reward for that. It is not time to
undermine this achievement and demolish it!
Where would Somaliland fit in London conference for
Somalia?
I think Somaliland would fit in Somalia’s conference
there where a country helping Somalia would fit.
Somaliland is not Somalia as Somalia is not Somaliland
whether some deny it or not! If they say it is about
peace and the sea pirates they have Somalia which not
only accommodates and tolerates this phenomena but is
the benefactor of this business. Somaliland has nothing
to do and every body knows that. Somaliland is peaceful
and they know it! What else? Somaliland must be rewarded
and not punished for what she has achieved!!
Somaliland called off that union with Somalia after
Somalia executed an ethnic cleansing system in
Somaliland. Eventually Somaliland (SNM) defeated
Somalia’s genocidal regime of Siyad Barre, thus declared
her independence by withdrawing the union from them!
They did not chased them for revenge and restitution,
they forgot and for give and moved ahead!
Somaliland gave her people peace, stability and all
kinds of development; socially, economically and
politically which associates with the above virtues of
peace and stability according to her ability. Some
people don’t appreciate this. In fact some people hate
that achievement reached by Somaliland people with
little help from out side world!
Somaliland succeeded to establish a never-before seen
relationship with her neighbours-Ethiopia and Djibouti.
They established a people to people movement, and a
government to government cooperation and understanding.
Somalia on the other hand de-stabilized the tranquility
and peace of the whole region! And not only that, they
destabilized the world- wide shipping in both the Red
Sea and the Indian Ocean by investing young sea bandits
there Somalia is the benefactor of that!
Somaliland curbed all that evil activity from her shores
with little or no help from the international community,
all by her self
As Somaliland is not a region, as it is not a part of
Somalia but an independent Republic recognized by her
people, under what conditions and terms the UN
representative and now the British are insisting or
appealing Somaliland to participate the Somalia
conference in London! And what terms and conditions
Somaliland is offered in this London conference? “What
is the deal here?” one my wonder! The people must see
what is in and what is not in for Somaliland in
Technicolor first?
It is the aspirations and the self determination of the
people that is sacrosanct [ Muqadas] and that is the
point. No one else has the right to deny or evade or
stampede or twist this inherently human rights for a
people strived and spoken loud and clear that they
recalled their Republic of Somaliland and got it, be it
local or foreign elements or groups!
Somaliland people have spoken, in no ambiguous terms, in
their referendum of 2001. They chose to be independent
despite all the odds entailed by this decision. They
lived and they live in this situation fine! That is a
forgone conclusion. Again, the sacrosanctness of this
matter is a non-negotiable bond as far as the people is
concerned, thus there is no space for politics for any
one while we are not departing flexibility and
compromises where possible, like compensation of the
thousands of people massacred and the unaccounted
material (stolen) owed for Somaliland by Somalia during
the ethnic cleansing years. Open borders and trade with
Somalia will come when and if they show interest in this
venture..
Honesty and steadfastness is the prerequisites for
Somaliland leadership to embrace, and those who lead
must heed. It also depends on how the Somaliland players
push, persist, relentlessly pursue and persevere, the
interest of Somaliland as long as it takes. Only those
who have the emotional connection to Somaliland can
endure this!
Enforcing Somaliland to this London conference, or
similar conferences amounts to creating new wars and
destabilizing the peace exiting in Somaliland,
deliberately. I trust that no one is intendi ng to do
just that.
“Those who faithfully observe their trusts and their
covenants and who strictly guard their pay ers: - these
will be the heirs” the righteous will inherit heaven (Al
muminoon ch.18-v, 7&8)Trust may be express or implied.
Express trusts are those where property is entrusts or
duties are as signed by some one to some other one whom
he trusts to carry out on his behalf.
Implied trusts arise out of power or position or
opportunity.
Covenants create obligations. To sum up all, express and
implied trusts and covenants taken to gether cover the
whole field of obligation owed for the people and the
country of Somaliland.
However peace and prayers
Ibrahim Mead
Executive Director
CATCRI
kingmead1@yahoo.ca |
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