STATUS OF SOMALI PEACE PROCESS AND WAY FORWARD Monday March 01 2004 To: Secretary General UN STATUS OF SOMALI PEACE PROCESS AND WAY FORWARD Somali delegates in Somali National Reconciliation Conference, Mbagathi, converged to discuss the recently amended charter on the 23rd February 2004. After deliberation, the delegates endorsed the amendments unanimously. The charter was adopted by the plenary on September 15 last year but was opposed by section of Somali leaders and this difference was addressed by the consultative meeting that brought on board the rest of Somali leaders. The Somali leaders brought together in Safari Park Hotel agreed on the harmonized position on the contentious issues in the charter and was officiated at State House Nairobi, 29th January, 2004. The plenary was meant for the delegates to endorse the harmonized agreement made by the so-called leaders. The same leaders who made their commitment hijacked the plenary to endorse the amendments. The delegates were not given the platform and the plenary was overpowered in that regard. However, in my opinion and considering the plight of our population at home we need to speed up the process. All these documents around are not our makings and we cannot in any way correct the mistakes in the background of the divergent views but remedy belie on going ahead with the process and the parliamentarians will finally resolved the discrepancies. Obviously some disgruntled SRRC lodicules tried to frustrate the conclusion citing their claim and flimsy points. The issue of who is a recognised leader erupted once more, but as you are aware Somalia does not have proper leaders in context of universally accepted definition of a leader since the collapse of last regime. In the light of that it would disgraceful for responsible of the misery in Somalia to claim to be a leader. The genuine traditional elders are the relevant leaders in their respective sub-clans level. Surely, true leadership is not self-imposed but by popular mandate. The question of sticking to 25 leaders leaves out important personalities and the criteria of selecting the so-called signatories to cessation of hostilities is itself questionable. The reasons behind those insisting on the 25 leaders are based on a notion of exclusive ownership of the process. Somali people have suffered for long period both as refugee and as Internal Displaced Peoples (I.D.PS) at the hands of these warlords. Human rights violation in the areas controlled by various warlords is a common phenomenon. Their performance record in their respective constituencies disqualifies them to be leaders. This conference is the last hope for Somalia and the population that was all along suffering. The AU, IGAD, International community, and United States should take firm action against those obstructing the positive steps. Those who for selfish desires want to extended the enslavement of the Somali people have to be given critical and hard look. The issues returns to the docket of the International community when those endowed with the responsibility of alleviating the problems facing Somali people fail to do so. The statement from the UN Security Council was a sigh of relief and has to be implemented to bring together the moving goal post. I urge the international community and the government of Kenya in particular to continue assisting the Somali refugees until their country is settled. Likewise my profound gratitude to those who committed both human and material resources to salvage Somali people from brutality. Lastly may I appeal for your patience in ensuring that Somalia once more returns to the family of nations.
Asha Ahmed
Abdalla | ||