Mohamed Bahal
Saturday, August 02, 2008
To: The Regional Governor of Gabiley Region
First of all, I' am congratulating you and the people of the Region
for the regional status given to the District of Gabiley. Unlike other
newly formed Regions, Gabiley Region has agricultural potential both
in crop production and animal husbandry. With the
implementation of a sound agricultural plan and positive human
interaction based on fair judicial land holding, the Region can become
the bread basket of the country.
While the Region possesses such vital natural resources, it, however,
lacks social justices that embody all sub-clan groups living or used
to live in the Region. No one can deny that a large number of people
whose livelihood depended in agriculture were subjected to forced
exodus while at same time their personal properties in terms of lands
and buildings were taken away. It is lamentable that the issue of
returns of personal properties to their legal owners particularly in
Gabiley has never been given the merit it deserved in solving the long
standing property ownership problems. Both the late President Egal and
the present one put the issue under the carpets, even if it is a sore
wound that remains untreated.
There has never been a well defined land tenure statue in the country
either during British rule or the subsequent national governments.
Land holding was based socio-cultural basis transferable from
generation to generation. Local government offices kept records for
taxation purposes only with no delineation of land boundaries often
causing acrimonious frictions among the farmers. While such land
tenure deficiency existed, people were tilling their lands in
harmonious relationship.
Then what tilted the balance to make Gabiley one sub-clan Region? The
euphoria that emerged from Borama reconciliation conference did not
bring remedy to the plights of people who were evicted from their
lands in Gabiley district. In addition, one example of government's
impotence in safeguarding the public lands against flagrant grabbing
by one sub-clan was how Tug- Wjaleh Project land parceled by people
who believed in the homogeneity of Gabiley.
Whatever injustice happened both at the national and district level,
it is not too late to rectify the Region's problems of human
dimension. Now, being the Governor of the Region, you have to come up
with prudent policy to institute a legal frame works inviting people
who were displaced to return to their lands.
Mr. Governor, a leader must have a passionate connection with the
people in all sectors of societies under his realm especially those
whose properties were infringed. A good leader some times takes
kind of decision which may appear unpopular to some segment of the
society he service, and acts corrective measures for the sake of the
disadvantaged.
You have inherited a system of governance that promoted fertile ground
for sub-clan hatred, disfranchised voting rights, breakdown of
community solidarity, and unpleasant ethnic undertone. Such prevailing
social injustices in the Region are tests to your tenure of service,
and require tenacity, perseverance, and prudence to create conducive
environment that can bring reconciliation of all people of the Region.
People with sincere
hearts and minds cherish the magnanimity of settling outstanding
issues by dialogue.
Number of thorny disputes that arose in Somaliland were finalized on
win-win bases, and as a result, brought admiration from the
international community. No reason why the issue of land and
properties of displaced people remains in limbo for 17 years.
In conclusion, my message to you, Mr. Governor, Mayor, and Regional
counselors is to convince the people that peace and prosperity can be
achieved when they grasp the principle of "Live and Let Others Live."
________________________________
Mohamed Hersi Bahal
E-mail: mhm_40bhl@yahoo.com
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