London Conference: Why Somaliland is in, Barbados is out

[Abtigiis]

In the lands of high mountains, hunger and flies around Dejen, Debra-marqos, Debre-sina, the land of Begimdir and Gonder, all the way to the lush green fields of Semen Shoa, it is deeply offensive to break the news of someone’s death at breakfast, at noon, in the afternoon, in the evening, at night, at day. There are strict protocols that if broken will leave an enduring blemish on relationships. The practice may have started in the Amhara lands around and beyond the blue nile, but it is one that is firmly entrenched in the national psyche and applies to people in Addis Ababa, Awasa, Nazret or even as far as the Oromo lands of Dembi-dollo. It has disseminated to all parts and communities, by way of viral cultural diffusion.

 

The news of someone’s death can only be broken at the dark hours of dawn, where night is about to give way to day. Those selected to break the bad news will go to the home of the family whose relatives have died. They knock at the door, and unless the mind of the family soon to learn about their bereavement is still hazy from munching sleep, the knock immediately tells them bad news is on its way. If the knock is not enough sign, they will soon get a much clearer clue.

 

The conveyers of the macabre news will soon walk past the perplexed family into the saloon, thereby smashing any pictures, glasses or beautiful items to the ground, or taking them out of the room into the veranda. They will proceed to the kitchen and smash few utensils. All along, the family woken from deep sleep will be asking “who is it? Assafa? Tigist? Mamo? When?” The news breakers will not give the name, but most often family members almost figure out who it could be, their mind alternating between a sick father or son or daughter, a family member in travel, or a married cousin living somewhere else. The newsbreakers will then hug the elder of the family, utter some innuendos about the inevitability of humans' demise, and will then confirm the person who died, when and how.

 

The logic is that these series of procedures would prepare the family who lost the dead person mentally for the bad news. These formalities are cardinal rules that no one is exempted from in that land of Abysinnia. The moral of the story is that people are more receptive to bad news if they are prepared for it. And that is exactly what the masses in Somaliland are treated to these days when it comes to the London Conference. What we see from Hargeisa politicians these days is the telling signs of the knock, the breaking of utensils.

 

Let us subject the statements made so far on the London Conference by the political leaders of the enclave, to a truth-o-meter and see if they are false or true.

 

(1)Somaliland is given ‘special status’ to attend London conference: the official communique from the British Foreign Office says the meeting will be attended by TFG, Puntland, Somaliland, Ahlu-Sunna, and Galmudug. It doesn’t say the meeting will be attended by Somalia (puntland, ahlu-sunna, Galmudu) and Somaliland. The brackets are not mere punctuation marks, they define who belongs to where. “Somaliland will not attend in the same status of Puntland, Galmudug and Ahlu-sunna” is the talk more recently. Let us see if a bagde that reads “Somaliland, attending this meeting in different status to Puntland, Galmudug, and Ahlu-sunna” is printed and displayed on February 23. Because Somaliland is not attending this meeting as a donor, or observer, the absence of such a tag in the meeting hall will confirm that it is part of Somalia.

 

(2)Somaliland is attending the meeting only to share lessons on peaceful governance and prosperity: This is the second falsehood. Measured in serenity terms, Barbados and Zanzibar offer much more than Hargeisa can offer and should have attended too. They sure have a lot to teach Somalia about tranquility and calm. They are not there because they are not part of Somalia. Somaliland is in London, even with its ‘lessons’, as part of the Somali Republic. No “constructive ambiguity” granted by the Foreign Office, or wordsmithing by a leadership under immense duress can stifle this fact too.

 

(3)Somaliland will not be part of the discussion about ending the war in the south and forming an effective government in the South: True. But is this not because the British and the world believe that you don’t have to fix where it is not broken in Somalia? The formation of effective government in the south is a prelude to the second phase, which is where the status of Somaliland will be irrevocably defined.

 

These are the facts, but those who are deaf to reality, blind to reason and impervious to logic can deny it, the ostrich way.

[General Duke]

That was quite amusing. I wonder when the British deputy ambassador to Ethiopia broke the bad news to Siilanyu. By any chance was it at the dark hours of dawn?

[Abtigiis]

No, Dukey. He was told under the glare of an African sun, but he will have to tell it between night and day to the hapless masses who were mugged for all these years.

[Freedom]

Two talking heads agree with each other lol don't you guys get boring just agreeing anyway to topic poster its amusing you have thought about it it Please don't state your opinion as facts unless you with the UK government don't assume or you be like duke making false predictions lol

[Carafaat]

Classic

 

Abtigiis, softening and preparing folks didn't start with the British but already 1,5 year ago, after the elections the goverment anounced that its main Foreign Policy focus wasn't seeking recongnition anymore but economic development, dhirta waqoyi were allowed to come back, Somaliland started in participating in Somalia meetings organized by UN. Remember Min of Health during WHO annual meeting with TFG Minister.

 

SL politicians know what they are doing and how to serve their people, protect their interest and make sure there isn't any distance between them and their electorate.

[NGONGE]

A good theory but it remains a theory despite you claiming it's a 'fact'.

[Jacaylbaro]

Everybody wants Somaliland's attention now ,,, including Abtigiis & Galmudug

[Abtigiis]

Ngonge,

 

Forget the tedious palaver about the Mardo ( breaking news of death) protocols, which of the three facts I stated is false?

[Jacaylbaro]

It takes you to only three weeks to see which one is false dee ..........

[Abtigiis]

adiga Jacayloow, halkanaan kaaga sii afeeftay! :D

 

These are the facts,

but those who are deaf to reality, blind to reason and impervious to logic can deny it, the ostrich way.

[Jacaylbaro]

Deny ?? ,,,,, Waar sug baan ku leeyahay oo arag dee ,,, maxaa denial keenay ?

[NGONGE]

Abtigiis;784481 wrote:

Ngonge,

 

Forget the tedious palaver about the

Mardo

( breaking news of death) protocols, which of the three facts I stated is false?

Did I say they were false? I said it was a theory, saaxib. It's your very own speculation which you're trying to sell here as fact. It is not a fact (yet) because the Brits did not tell us how the meeting is going to take place and SL did not confirm their attendence. For all you know, all this may be true (a theory put forward by the websites you read).

[Carafaat]

Abtigiis,in Ethiopian I have witnessed that when people die. Proffesional mounrers come to the funeral and they cry as loud as possible. So death of more important people is noticed and the mourners receive payment according to the loudliness of their crying during the funeral.

 

Tell us more about this strange funeral customs.

[Abtigiis]

THEY are known as 'Aslaqaash'. It is a big business. Will tell u about it.

[Abtigiis]

Today is 24 February, 2012. One day after the London Conference. Can believers of hadhwanaagnews and safk.hore.com tell us what special status had yesterday in the meeting?

 

Will the real Oodweyne stand up and share with us the video of Somaliland sharing lessons on peace and security with the participants?