Soyan Guled
Monday, May 28, 2012
The Silanyo administration recently introduced a law legalising new parties to form lifting the previous limit of three parties. No one is quite sure why Silanyo and Saylici decided to take this step now as there was no national clamour for the creation of new parties. The chaos that followed was predictable and tragic: Every clan and its camel decided to set up their own party. None of the new entities have any vision, agenda, political ideology other than to ‘big up’ their clan and hopefully do down all other clans at the same time. When some of the new bodies failed to meet the clearly laid out criteria (minimum of 1,000 members and an office in each of the country’s six regions) and were denied registration, they threatened to pour down fire and brimstone on Silanyo’s old head. No clan can stand for the insult of not being able to have their own party particularly if the clan next door, whom they naturally despise, have been allowed to have theirs. Thus is the time dis-hounoured shamelessness of the Somali clan.
Pity because there is a need for real political movements with real ideas and real vision in the country. There is a space for at least three big idea:
A pan-Somali Unionist Party which openly advocates for the re-union with Somalia; an Islamist Party to cater for the powerful and growing Salafists who are replacing Somaliland’s once moderate and loving Shafi’s faith with their strict and Saudi-based sect and lastly, an openly Secular party to counterbalance this headlong and dangerous descent into Wahabbism.
Here, I put forward what the last would have looked like. I will leave to others to come up with their views on the other two parties:
Constitution: The State is secular where religion is between Allah (SWT) and the individual not between the State and Allah. All laws – business, penal and civil laws will be secular laws although accommodation will be made on civil matters like marriages and divorces to use the traditional Somali Shafi’i Islamic laws.
The Flag: The flag will be changed and the takbeer removed. This will bring it in line with the 54 of the 55 other Muslim nations who do not have Takbeer or Tasheed on their flags. The colours will also be changed as the tri-colour looks like the flag of Italy or Hungary and has nothing to say about the country’s African/Somali/Muslim heritage.
The Economy: We will introduce a National Lottery that can be accessed inside and outside the country. The money will be used to fund schools, roads and hospitals. It is noted that Somalilanders in the West are happy to take the social welfare benefits gained from lotteries and taxes on alcohol but will somehow
Alcohol: This will be freely bought and sold but heavily taxed. This will bringSomalilandin line with 50 of the 55 Muslim nations.
Niqab/Hijab: This will be banned from the Policewoman, Nurses and teachers. This si unsomali and does not form part of our culture. It also gives a negative image of the country as a Talibanistic entity.
Recognition:We will not make such a big issue about this but will focus our efforts instead on the economy and security. Special arrangements will be sought from international markets and partners to address the issue of investment, insurance etc which currently hamper economic growth as the country is legally defined as part of Somalia. In the longer-term we will create a recognition fund of $100 Million dollars and focus all our efforts in targeting malleable African countries
Talking to Somalia:We will do this openly once the people of Somalia elect a legitimate and representative administration. Our proposals may include re-union for 10 year period followed by referendum from the people of Somaliland only.
Piracy:we will stop the co-operation with western powers over the detaining of Somali pirates. We will reject serving as the rich world’s jailer.
Soyan Guled
E-mail: [email protected]