The
plight of Puntland!!
Puntland’s
debacle is multifaceted and deep-rooted then people want to admit. The
main assumption of “Puntland is facing constitutional crises” is not
only untimely, but also wrong. Puntland faced constitutional crises a past
long gone. At this juncture of history, what Puntland is facing is
“re-evaluation of it’s fundamental principles and thinking which
resulted it’s creation” and whether it warrants to be defended at any
price. Challenging the fundamental principles Puntland is based has
brought a governmental crisis or lack of it, but not a constitutional
crisis.
Already
Centralist forces have plotted and carried assassinations of innocent
individuals in hope of biting one clan against the other. And if
Centralists are not countered soon, they will reach their goal through
other means, like endless clan warfare. The culprits that destroyed
Puntland; whether they are traditional, businessmen, elites or politicians
do not believe in principle the idea of state hood. It was clear from day
one that Col. Jama Ali Jama and his followers had no interest in Puntland
state hood. When the first shots are fired Col. Jama will start
campaigning a federalist position, and if he is defeated he will wear the
nationalist Somali-wayn shirt. But he should not escape justice,
because under his name and supervision innocent civilians have been
assassinated.
Clan
politics and stagnation:
Puntland
was created on the assumption of clan confederacy with equal participation
in its political process. But the truth is murkier than that. It is fast
becoming like Somaliland, where non-Dir_Isaq clans are ignored, even
though Somaliland claims other clan’s territory. The creation of
Puntland was thought to address the infertile political malignancy and
stagnation that dodged the Somali nation. It is still a closet for
dinosaur politicians. Somalis in general and Puntlanders in particular are
political animals whose air to breath is politics. Normally populist
agendas have short-term life expectancy, and would not mend and serve a
venue of discussion if the opinionated political aspirants not found a
political platform to release the hyperventilated pressurized energy.
Puntland was thought to address these and build the foundations of strong,
neutral and independent civil institutions that will earn the trust of the
public at large. More than a quarter of a century the personalities at the
acme of Puntland political representation have not changed. Puntland was
thought to address this too; and provide a venue for the next generation
to contribute the social, political, economic and cultural advancement of
the estate. What is at stake is not only the stability of Puntland, but
more importantly the vision of Puntland state is in jeopardy. There is a
cloud of hopelessness and impotent for most of Puntlanders who were eager
earlier to contribute in the process. The flavor in Puntland showcase was
based on the full participation of all the population in the region and a
new political dynamics that will open the gates for the new generations; a
process and platform never imagined in Somalia. That infant showcase has
been hampered and is in danger to die. Puntland is becoming fast, like
Somaliland where the political process is being dominated by clan
determined few circles.
Political
failure:
Puntland
state failed to create political platforms and venues of discussion and
impetus of the existing divergent perspectives in the region. Somalis are
known to reject violently when they are denied a political platform in
show casing their perspective. Even if the centralist forces of Art in
Puntland led by Col. Jama Ali Jama are crushed, the ailment that Arta
centralists exploited in destroying Puntland state will be there! it is
Jug-jug meeshadi joog-one step forward two steps backward!
The
constitution:
Puntland
constitution was a sophisticated and multi layered, with conditions that
null everything else, if not met and fulfilled some assumptions.
Centralist forces of Arta in Puntland exploited the weaknesses of Puntland
constitution in advancing their centralist goal; destroying the idealism
of state hood in Puntland. Puntland is becoming a battleground for the
forces of the centralists. They selected it; they should be given what
they deserve. If the centralist forces in Puntland are crushed, there is
no way they can survive anywhere else in Somalia. Centralist’s challenge
in Puntland is aimed to forever silencing the federalist forces in
Somalia.
The
corner stone of Puntland constitution was population census. Population
census is not a fete, even established third world governments can
accomplish without a multinational donor involvement. No census, no
election and no government, was the motto of Puntland constitution. That
is how crazy the “Thought of democracy” in Puntland, was. The draftees
of the constitution were over zealously trying to show that Puntlanders
had democracy in their gene; what a fallacy. The guinea pig of the thought
of ultimate democracy is dead! There is no such a thing called “Ultimate
democracy”.
Centralists
represent a vocal minority in Puntland who saw the federalist thought in
Somalia, as a postponement of any meaningful re-establishment of the
Somalia we knew! They argued that the sum; Somali, was sick. No parts of
the sum can be fixed unless the sum is healthy. No doubt they advanced
their believes to the tilt and destroyed Puntland state. Col. Jama Ali
Jama and his group of Arta loyalists in Puntland do not care whether
Puntland state exists or not. They claim to care only Somalia, for him
Bossaso is his town and he will keep it under a centralized Somali state
at all cost! Unfortunately for him, Bossaso is not to his only. Everyone
in Puntland should have a right to freely express his opinions, but in no
way anyone should be given a free ride while they assassinate innocent
civilians to fulfill their dreams. No body should be above the law, unless
Puntlanders prefer and want the workings of clan laws re-established.
Why
the peace Mission failed:
The
neutrality concept of Puntland peace mission is not attuned to the
majority. The majority was looking eagerly a third option that is also
federalists. The concept of neutrality has created confusion in the minds
of the public that supported political moderation, but not neutrality in
the basic principles Puntland state was found. To the majority of the
public; federalism is non renegotiable. Every Puntlander knew the stand of
the members; all the members of Puntland peace mission were extreme
supporters of federalism and the sacrosanct of Puntland state existence.
Majority of Puntlanders expected them to become a third option, in the
event Abdullahi Yusuf fails to crush the centralists! The longer it takes
in crushing the centralist forces of Arta in Puntland, the weaker the
federalist concept becomes. The federalist majority in Puntland including
members of this peace mission were shocked and in dismay on easiness the
centralists destroyed the federalist administration in Puntland. The
mission didn’t only fail in the eyes of the majority; they missed an
opportunity to become the flag bearers of the federalist cause. They could
have taken away that flag from Abdullahi Yusuf, but they let him claim
that moral ground again.
The
unpopularity of Abdullahi Yusuf’s administration helped the centralists
destroy Puntland state. The majority is crying for a leader, any leader to
come forward and carry the banner of federalism, and if Abdullahi Yusuf
leads the federalists, so be it, he will find thousands of Puntlanders in
his side. Some how the Puntland peace mission advanced at the sidelines
that they would assume and fill the vacuum created by this crises, as a
third option and carry the banner of federalist. Their ground support
melted away when they tried to reconcile unapproachable concepts in
Puntland. The forces challenging each other in Puntland were Federalists
and Centralist. Col. Jama Ali Jama, had publicly advocated centralist Arta.
He was a member of Arta, was financed by Arta and was under the direction
of Arta, in every step he took. On the other side Col. Abdulahi Yusuf,
historically advocated the federalist point of view, as is shown by his
activities as he strongly lobbied internationally and locally the
federalist concept in Somalia. But his administration focused to the
Somali question instead of his mandate; laying a strong ground and
developing independent civil institutions.
The
visionaries of the peace mission previously advanced themes that even
astonished strong federalists in Puntland. They were against any Somali
reconciliation until Puntland establishes stable and strong independent
institutions capable of protecting the individual rights of Puntland
public in a federal republic of Somalia.
Centralist
Puntlanders in the Diaspora:
Some
elites and political theorists from Puntland advanced the new Africanist
institutional theory in Puntland. The arguments advanced in this viewpoint
were that Africans would have supported the institutions in their states
if it had the traditional trust Africans had before colonization. The
institutions Africans have inherited after independancy, they argue were
the same ones that subjected and exploited them; it will be human nature
for Africans to have suspicions of those institutions forever. African
states have institutional crises because of this, is their argument. They
argue, a return or assimilation of traditional elements to the modern
institutions would create a loyalty to these institutions as long as the
chiefs support them. Thus empowering the traditional chiefs might create a
loyalty to independent institutions of the state.
That
theory was the base of Arta gathering, but some elites from Puntland have
furthered this and initiated the creation of new chiefs and empowering of
the ones Siad Barre created. The London club-Puntlanders that Col. Jama
Ali Jama was a member were major instruments in advancing and implementing
this theory in Puntland.
This
implementation has eroded the power base of some respected chiefs in
Puntland and made some of them a lame duck. The most prominent isims in
Puntland cannot reach any conclusive decision now, as they become hostages
to the new flush of Isims who eagerly challenge the traditional ones. What
were ones the positive elements in the stability of Puntland became the
Achilles heel. They have been politicized and become part of the problem
in Puntland.
Islam
Mohamed of Nugal cannot reach a decision without Suldan Garase. Somali
chieftain’s authority was based on informality and the willingness of
the public to fellow and listen without coercion. Once it was challenged
and accepted the challenger, the informality and willingness evaporated.
Likewise Islam Bashir of Muduq cannot reach a conclusive decision without
Suldan Hurre. Very few clans had not challenged the traditional chieftains
in Puntland. The carpet under the traditional Isims-chiefs, is in fire.
In
the long run this phenomena is beneficial for the progress of civil
institutions that can be relied by every one, but in the short run it
ruins the only credible institute in Puntland.
Conclusion:
The
tools centralists are using in Puntland would anyway cause clan warfare.
Centralist’s intent is to create chaos by biting one clan against the
other. So far they have assassinated five well-known innocent civilians.
If they continue in that rate and behavior sooner or later major clans in
Puntland will clash. Federalists should march and contain Col. Jama Ali
Jama forces before they give the political crises to clanistic face.
Centralists
were defeated ruthlessly in Somaliland. Somaliland had matured from that
experience. Puntland would benefit crushing the centralists sooner; by
avoiding clan animosity and safeguarding Puntland existence as a state.
The
sooner the centralists are crushed the better and less painful. Puntland
should march forward and crush once for all, the centralist concept in
Somalia. This should be taken as a blessing and an opportunity to forward
the cause of federalism in Somalia. It does not matter who leads the
forces of federalists, but that the centralists are crushed, before they
give clan meaning. Centralists in Somalia must be awakened rudely, they
choice to make Puntland their battleground. They must be confronted and
for the sake of Somalia defeated soundly for ever. And finally Col. Jama
Ali Jam should not be let to escape without justice, because under his
name and supervision innocent civilians have been assassinated.
Abdi
Mohamed “gacmo”
Gacmo67@hotmail.com
“In
memory of the innocent civilian individuals Centralists assassinated in
Puntland”
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