Somaliland: Open Letter To The National Dialogue Committee
You people, the three national parties are holding a nation-wide debate supposedly unearthing all critical issues. This is why the government which fell short of its duties is quite worried. My suggestion, however, is that to include the debate all the legitimate concerns of the citizenry such as the media freedom erosion, the Jihadist ministers having unknown source of funding for the building roads rather essential water when 70 percent of the capital residents have no access to clean water and carrying cans over their head in each morning! Somalia’s talks failing, domestic policy is failing, and above all, the president’s health status by independent Neurologists and psychoanalysts from the region and beyond have to analyze.
What national debate should not and won’t be is trivial squabble between Kulmiye and others, these matters under focus need bipartisan efforts if nationalism precedes by other things in disagreement. It is true that the government whose leader is accused of having simple stroke by the foreign newspaper, would be upset, but who cares? Why the government which so keen to arrest every national who simply express his opinion not try Indian News Ocean in European Court for smearing the president if the allegation is not true? Such absence of filing lawsuit in independent trial necessitates the committee of the dialogue to widely discuss the president’s health and draw conclusion after Neurologists like Dr Gaboose, the nation’s only neurologist so far and most credible doctor Somalia ever produced— he rejected to comment Siyad Barre’s mental condition on medical ethical grounds when BBC Somali anchor asked about it— watch the president’s speech in the Atlantic Council and Tima Cadde’s un-provocative applause and his last utterly confusing response about Ethiopian Communities Festivals in Jigjiga.
The president’s health status is a national issue, not personal matter or just for Garadag issue as some previously assumed without citing any evidence to prove it, and has to be included into the debate, we the electorates want to know whether the reports of his dementia and other aging similar complications are true and why Hirsi, non-existent just before the president came to power, becomes his shameful shadow and always accompanies him like a friendly nurse, looking back, all the clips of the president , Hirsi is always there on his right side explaining something to him or rendering a rather undefined service.
If the committee thinks Dr Gaboose has issue with the president, then will have credibility problem of the outcome, they can upload all videos to neurological institutes like Yale University to watch and send the evaluation back to them in fractions of seconds. If they confirm the reports about his health issue—let us call rumors for the sake of argument now— then he is unconstitutionally president and need to transfer to his VP and start official treatment necessary without using the nation’s sole palace as rehab! And then whether Hirsi or his wife accompanies him is not issue at the all.
The national institutions are weakening while the crime rates including militancy and tribal sentiments are on the rise, the law enforcement agency which remained intact and protected from tribalism, have finally fell prey. The national land including the government ministries were on sale since the president is unaware of, for he is so sick and unstable whenever he appears in TVs. Some readers may say why I am so obsessed with his illness? It is easiest thing to answer, as long as he is president, his condition would negatively affect us all because he screws up. But I and millions of others including three national parties wish him well but again we have to address like it or not, it is significant overriding issue of first-degree importance. One have to realize these serious discussion are not revolutionary or shocking, it happens in the US or the UK, presidents catch illnesses like we do, so don’t get upset guys, but the question is : can he cling to power once diagnosed with neurological disorder that rendered him in state of dementia or absolute loss of memory for non-specialist readers? For government supporters here is good news for you, neither the Speaker of the Parliament nor the oppositions asks the president to come in person to Dr Gaboose’ s clinic physically examined. However; the above need to be addressed.
In nutshell, the forum should do whatever they can to address the outstanding issues of the nation. We the people of Somaliland have high expectations of you, the three national parties especially the opposition ones to shed light what the government is doing behind the curtail and beyond the press, please do not disappoint us. Thank you, God Bless You for standing up for the rights of the voiceless masses whose right are regularly abused by the RU or other stooges hired in harming anyone who differ in opinion. We expect the results will lead to wide-reaching reforms where we, the voters, can fully understand whether someone is a friendly nurse for disabled official or official himself or both like the Arabian dynasties where the coffee waiter in the palace is more powerful than the ministers, hope not.
By Abdirahman Mohamed Dirye