NPGM '06: Elections Entry Point Discussion

Abdiqadir Jirde (MP, UDUB)
Just to set the record straight, the House leadership (that is me and the Speaker) were against the passing of the controversial electoral bill. So we, too, have to get some credit for promoting the electoral process.
We have very critical and sensitive issues like the Guurti, which I think would need wider discussions and I would leave that to when we break into groups tomorrow. The Academy has given us an opportunity of "an intellectual space" which is free, to discuss and debate crucial issues.
Today in Somaliland we have ample opportunities to experiment with our institutions and to re-arrange them into to our own liking, because there is no external pressure upon us, dictating to us how we should envision our institutions or setting the agenda. But we might not have this opportunity if we get recognised, as we might not be left alone, and then we might regret loosing this opportunity. Therefore, we have to utilise this opportunity to examine our current institutions: What is working and what is not working and then to seek local solutions to fix or amend what is not working.
Another issue is that we should broaden the public participation in the decision making process. Public participation should not be confined to three minutes by casting votes once in five years. What I mean in wider public participation is constant public debate on the government and the political parties' policies on key issues. Both the ruling party and the opposition should encourage public participation and educate the public about the mechanisms to criticise policies and decisions made, so that the public can assume its responsibility as citizens.

Abdikarim Ahmed (Kulmiye)
I just want to comment on the title of the report and the film "A Vote for Peace". I believe we did not vote for peace but we voted peacefully and it was the prevailing peace that allowed the voting process. Therefore I would prefer "Should we be at peace or not".
Another issue is that the parliamentary election did not complete the democratisation process, because the election of the Upper House (Guurti) did not take place. So, saying the election of Parliament completed the democratisation process is incorrect. So we did not have Parliamentary elections, we had the House of Representatives' elections.

Abdirahman Yussuf Artan (MP, Kulmiye)
Recently I went back to Sanaag where I was elected. It was the first time I went back there since I was elected. The problem in our democracy is that the elected leaders whether the presidents or the MPs are disconnected and lack of information on the part of the public. In the places I went to, people had no information whatsoever on what is going in Hargeysa. There we need a national radio that reaches the whole country and informs the public.

Ahmed Haji Adami (Chairman, NEC)
Thank God, we are at peace in Somaliland. However, it looks that we are putting peace itself in danger when we associate the word peace with everything, like the Academy is associated with Peace, and so on. We have not voted for peace but we were voting in peace or peacefully. So I agree with the previous speaker we have to correct the title.
Secondly, I want to add that the international consultant was here to assist us in reviewing an existing law, do not make it sound as if he started from scratch and nothing was there.
In terms of the democratisation process, we should avoid words like completing the democratisation process, because the process is still incomplete. So saying we completed the process might lead to complacency on the part of the government and everyone else.

Intervention by Mohamed Hassan (APD)
We are not saying we have completed the democratisation process, because democratisation is a long process that could take hundreds of years. However, we are saying that the transition from clan-based politics to a multi-party system has been realised.

Mohammed Musa Awale (Director, NERAD)
I told many women in secret in the National Conference, I don't know whether Abdiqadir Jirde remembers, to ask the chair to include quota for women, because I was one of the guys who were doing the writings for the Chair. Right now it is a must to have a quota for women. So I am asking: Is it against the constitution to specify quota for women?
The second thing I would like to know is what the Academy will do with the information gathered from this seminar or other previous seminars? Are you going to use this information to take some action, like drafting laws, or ensuring that the Parliament takes steps based on this information? The reason I am asking this is that we are always talking and discussing the same issues - particularly in the area of environment - in each workshop without dealing with the problems.

Unknown female speaker
We have been asking the House leadership to include quota for women candidates, but the House leader was reluctant and not forthcoming to heed our request. Without quota for women candidates, women have no chance to be represented in the legislative bodies, because of the prevailing clanism and the realisation that women would not vote to women candidates.

Ikraan Haji Dauud (Woman MP, Kulmiye)
To comment on the title "A Vote for Peace": I think without consolidation of the peace any election in the future would not be feasible or possible, so I agree with the Academy to call it "a vote for peace".

Baar Saeed (Woman MP, UDUB)
We have asked for quota before and our request was refused. In reality women are more than men, and did gain some experience in the previous election. I would advise women first to get engaged at the party level and to bargain with the political parties to include women among the party candidates. I believe many women are ready now and would vote for many women candidates.

Abdirahman Saeed (UCID)
So far we have covered the electoral process, but you have not covered the aftermath of the elections, that is what the new MPs have so far accomplished. You are talking about giving women some quotas, and we know that our legislative is in an impasse and not producing any meaningful legislation. You are talking about amending the constitution and so on, but unfortunately both the government and the legislative bodies are not functioning and are in a constitutional crisis. So, we should not expect anything from them.
Another issue: Who are we expecting to implement democracy? Is democracy only elections? Are we expecting a functioning democracy from the government, the political parties or the parliament? We said we embrace democracy, but who is ensuring that we adhere to democratic principles? We have to define the role of each entity to realise some kind of functioning democracy.

Muse Ali Faruur (Traditionalist)
In terms of clan identity for women and men in Somali culture: "Wiilku waa haybta hore, inantuna waa haybta dambe" (Boys' clan identity is determined initially (at birth) whereas girls' clan identity is determined later on (at marriage). I.e. girls are identified with their husband's clan.)

Saeed Ahmed (Interpeace Project Management Team)
The film we saw was talking about the issues that we are discussing, democracy and elections. If we leave out the word democracy and just call it "nidaam wadatashi", that is "systemised consultation", right now the film we saw showed us some of the existing contradictions in our society in terms of our thinking and public life. We were laughing at these because we know that these contradictions are real. This is a testimony when human beings are allowed to express their views freely or are allowed to participate in resolving the pressing national issues. This produces such relevant products. However, if one person does the thinking for all and says that he or she has absolute power, we know where such dictatorship has landed us, and what we went through because of it.
Also, I would add that the Academy was the one who was hosting the meeting, but it was the National Electoral Commission (NEC) who did the labouring. That is doing the mediation between the three political parties in the code of conduct discussions. So I just want to make this very clear.

Ayaan Muse (Havayoco)
I believe women were discriminated throughout the election process. So, there is a need for massive public awareness to enhance the acceptance and electibility of women candidates.

Abdiqadir Jirde (MP, UDUB)
Our constitution does allow the freedom of association and individuals to stand for election independently. But due to our unique situation there was a need to limit the political parties and it was a choice between two bad options. It is not a permanent solution, when time comes there will be some changes. Limiting political parties can be done in various ways. I do not believe that now is the right time to assess the performance of the current political parties, as they are still in nascent stage and waged one cycle of elections. Let us give it some time, this is my view.

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