Illyria

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Posts posted by Illyria

  7. Posted

    Puntland: Setting the Scene for the Upcoming Elections

     

    06 November 2012 - As part of Puntland’s preparations for the upcoming local elections, a team from our local partner, the Puntland Development Research Center (PDRC), accompanied the Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission (TPEC) on a tour to raise awareness of the democratization process.

     

    A civic education campaign

     

    The wider awareness-raising campaign took place in almost all regions and districts of Puntland, with PDRC participation in four districts; Eyl, Godob-Jiran, Burtinle and Galdogob. The campaign was designed to inform people in Puntland about the local elections and the new governance system that is going to replace the traditional clan-based political system. In order to disseminate these messages as widely as possible, TPEC teamed up with PDRC’s mobile Audio-Visual Unit. PDRC’s films and video clips are an efficient and powerful tool that resonates well with a large number of people in Puntland. A key advantage of films over written materials is that they are more widely accessible - for example even to those who are illiterate. The films shown focused on the political history of the Somali Region, the political transition and the electoral process in general.

     

    A mandate to inform and document

     

    Researchers from the mobile Audio-Visual Unit followed the Electoral Commissioners on their mission across different districts. The PDRC team assisted the Commissioners with organizing film screenings and forums in remote areas of Puntland to educate the local population and nomadic communities about the democratization process. They also documented the process as Commissioners assessed the population size and laid the groundwork for the elections.

     

    A challenging mission

     

    A challenge our researchers faced was that many of the audiences in remote villages had not been exposed to democratic norms and principles. Negative interpretations of democracy were prevalent among a large number of participants before the PDRC team was able to engage with the population. A feeling of marginalization runs deep among nomadic and rural communities visited. One participant explained: “We typically assume that the government and the local administration do not operate beyond the paved roads.” Distrust in government institutions and the multi-party system cannot be erased overnight, but the outreach of the PDRC team and TPEC has made steps in this direction.

     

    During the discussions and over the course of the workshops some participants changed their minds, feeling that the new governance system could present them with an opportunity to participate and help them to resolve their problems. As one of the participants put it: “It seems a big light is about to shine upon us. If the new multi-party electoral system is intended to erase the previous crippling political structure, then that is the light. Then we fully pledge our support for this new system – we’ll even campaign for it and participate in the elections.” According to another participant, "this process is paving the way for giving the victory to the winner and satisfaction for the loser by not compromising the courage of the voters."

     

    More than 1,250 people reached in Puntland

     

    Over the course of the campaign, the team’s activities were attended by more than 1,250 participants with a special focus on youth, women and elders. Many more people were reached through live radio broadcasts of the educational events.

  8. Posted

    PUNSAA Observation Study on Somaliland Local Councils Election in Nov 2012

     

    EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

    The four electioneering weeks was characterized by a competitive and largely peaceful situation. The process run smoothly and was managed transparently. All the political association and parties had an equal chance to demonstrate and there was absolute freedom of assembly, expression, and movement during the campaign allocated time, political association, supporters’ leadership and candidates were generally respecting one another to campaign peacefully without any restrictions and interference. Ethics committee and some political association leaders accused the ruling party (Kulmiye) of being actively utilizing public property to its part campaign, no action was taken against the reported case.

     

    Although the pre-election and election process was transparent enough and NEC managed reasonably well during the process, there were irregularities appeared in the election day including weak voter safeguards – especially ink which was easily washable that facilitated multiple voting, extensive limited voter education that underscored voter confidentiality under-age voting estimate of 12 to 15 years old children are witnessed voting and unauthorized vehicles moving and transporting voters between Polling Stations. Non Somaliland citizen vote; Most of the Somali displaced residents and visitors voted the election. Unfixed polling station management procedures most of the polling station managers practiced inconsistent procedure to record pullet paper, register the voters, assisting voters when required and close the polling stations.

     

    The complete report

  18. Posted

    I think Faysal is a little harsh and may be for the wrong reasons. he come across of angry these days.

     

    The President and his team are newbies, do not know what they are doing and are not familiar with the art of diplomacy and politicking let alone history and its symbolism and nuances. And yes they must have known better.

  19. Posted

    Are these people for real?

    Where were you when your lot come dressed in shorts marching along the British vagabonds invading and killing innocent indigenous Somalis in their own homes? were those killed not Somalis? were the ones killing not foreign enemies? And using planes! or was that an omen from the heavens? Or where the British your cousins who painted their faces white?

     

    I forgot they do not teach that at schools, do they?

     

    What was the Dervish movement? Unpopular?

     

    Carafaat;941589 wrote:
    Baashi, you cant be serieuz sxb. You are allowed to defend uncle Yeey's borrowing of Ethiopian muscles(airplanes, tanks) to fight his war against a popular movement. But trying to justify his actions by comparing things which hardly can be compared is another
    :D

  20. Posted

    There are two currencies the secessionists peddle. One is daily rationing of “Cay” of anyone in their vicinity. The other is a non-stop “Cuqdad” of anything that breathes.

     

    Now, to understand how it works you have to be familiar with their make-up.

    An old man once said “Habruhu waa indha ku garaadle oo sida caruurta ayaa loo calaa”. If you handle them gently they will defecate on you. But if you harness them with long enough rope and strike as they try to get out of hand, they will serve you well till the end. History supports the old man’s theory. Just read the history of the British in the days of the colonies.

     

    The problem is when they are with Somalis from the South, who do not know them well, they are the loudest and the most proud, but deep down they are troubled souls with flawed character.

     

    Just observe this other trend.

    If you talk to one of them the rest will automatically and without fail do two things.

    Firstly, they will start “in ay isu nacamleeyaan”.

    And secondly, they will all come armed with sticks and knives.

    Other groups are familiar with man-o-man engagement. They are not. And watch how no other group does that. See if you can explain that one away.

     

    Put it differently a sense of inferiority complex that drove them to seek secession from a group of people whom they claim to have wronged them, yet have audacity to claim those same peoples' territories all in the name of seeking unity. An irony, for the life of me I can never understand. One for the history books.

  23. Posted

    I am familiar with Culusow's argument, but yours I am not.

    See if you can dig deep to explain away your fascination with federal states.

     

    Carafaat;941574 wrote:
    The Pirates must be getting desperate when they send their top shot lawyer to debate federalism with Somalilanders of all people.
    :D

    Find below one the many articles written by Somali intellectuals against this curse of clan federalism.

  24. Posted

    Xiin,

    You would think it is a simple question, but no, the secessionists are khiyaal ku nool, and that is asking too much of them to live in the real world, and come out of the cage they surrounded themselves in the triangle. And instead of debating the message, they resort what they do best. go after the person, but guess what. I believe eye for an eye.

  25. Posted

    Really, that is your comeback.

    There you go with you xaar walwaal matag. re-read and come up with an iota of explanation in the trend discussed. if not, take a bow and make an exit.

     

    Oodweyne;941429 wrote:
    Xiinfaniin,

    There was no questions of even being worthy of a toddlers nightly dribble on their pillows. Hence I do not know about you, but as a principles I don't encourage others to detain us with their toddlers nightly soaking drama of their pillows.
    :D