Somaliland watch Group;

From: Somaliland Watch Group

To: The President of Somaliland

Madasha Wadatashiga iyo Toosinta

Hon: Abdurrahman Iro- Speaker and leader of Wadani Party

Mr. Faisal Ali of OCID Party

Mr. Jamal Ali of OCID Party

Mr. Dahab Sheel of Dahab sheel Group

Mr. Omaar of Omaar Global
Civil society organizations

To Whom It May Concern:

Date : January 2, 2015

Somaliland at Cross Roads

Somaliland is calling and expects all of us to answer that call

Somaliland is in the danger zone and was there for a time locally, regionally and internationally. Worse yet it seems that Siilanyo’s administration do not realize that they put us there. Change is urgently needed. The government must be overhauled. Mr. Siilanyo must change his failed polices and personnel which put Somaliland in a ditch and made her a laughing stock of the world. Change must come and a viable Change must come and sooner rather than later for the sake of the survival of Somaliland. The desired change can come when the President Consults and listens the right people not the ‘guulwadayal’and when the President responds rather than reacts. This article is however intended to shed light how the administration miserably and wrongly mishandled not only the local issues but the Negotiations with Somalia.

“Allah will never change the grace which he has bestowed on a people until they change what is in their souls: and verily Allah is he who hears and knows all the things”

Somaliland has changed the grace which Allah bestowed on them for they have changed what was in their souls! They embraced corruption with out bounds. Madam Adna Adam characterized the administration operatives as” cruel and foreigners who don’t care about Somaliland as their actions merciless actions showed that in front of the President in a ceremony” The administration rejected Consultations and Corrections even when they are all wrong and stray in a long distance. This must change.

Somaliland has many enemies, the worst enemy Somaliland has is Somaliland!

The so, called elites and political leaders were her enemies and they still are!

People who were calling for Somaliland liberation from the genocidal regime of Siyad Barre were lonely in their call at the time and people were avoiding talking to them lest some one may report to the government. Now the same liberators who became the founders of this 2^nd Republic of Somaliland are alone in their Godly call for Consultation and Corrections before every thing gets out of our hands. It seems that many things are out of our hand already.

“Would you our lord destroy us for the deeds of our foolish ones among us? This is no more than your trial: by it thou causest whom you will stray and you lead whom you wilt in to the right path. You are our protector so forgive us and give us your mercy for you are the best of those who forgive.” (from the quran)

Self-defeating behavior:

It is the thought that sometimes people do things that will cause them to fail or bring them trouble. Using RRU in a “Hagash” like tactic when arresting innocent citizens in the middle of the night is an example of self-defeating Destructive behavior! It is indeed an act of (xalad abuur) creating a bad situation which may lead to undesirable reactions and situations. Many theories as to why humans sometimes behave in a self destructive ways have been examined by many psychologists. One proposed theory that answers this question is the Freudian argument, which states that “people have an inborn ‘death drive’ that impels them to pursue their own downfall and death,” don’t we see that self destruction in Siilanyo’s administration!? This derive seems pushing them to pursue the downfall or death of Somaliland with out realizing that they are in that danger zone!

Self defeating behaviors are also common when people feel that others view them less favorably than what they thought of themselves. Self-destructiveness includes “counterproductive strategies.” This type involves self defeating behaviors in which the person neither desires nor foresees the harm to self and to his administration and the nation in general, as in the case of Somaliland Ministers who participated the Somaliland-Somalia negotiations In this instance a person is pursuing a desirable outcome but chooses a strategy or approach that produces the opposite of the desired result. Thus, the person may be pursuing a positive goal, but the person’s method of pursuing that goal is negative.” (Beaumeister& Scher, 1988) Here in Mr.Siilanyo administrations’ fairness they might be pursuing a desirable out come but they chose a bad strategy or approach in their dealings with Somalia. They fell in to the trap of ‘You (Somalia) win- I (Somaliland) lose strategy in negotiating with Somalia with out being conscious of this end!

The fate of Somaliland: Must never again be allowed to be determined by none other than her people. The founders, the believers, the knowledgeable and the conscionable can determine her faith, hopes and aspirations. The none-believers, the witless, the gutless, the moralless, and the less knowledgeable must never again be allowed to lead her to the oblivion as they did to her before. Somaliland had it and she can not take it any more

The fate of Somaliland is in the hands of Allah. That is said, it is the people and the people alone and not one person or persons who can determine Somaliland’s fate and future and they did that already in 1961. They voted against the union at that time in a referendum by 69% but no one heeded and no one respected that verdict. It was her own, the so called leaders at the time who betrayed and abandoned her. They did not defend that verdict. They did not defend Somaliland’s rights. They jumped ship and deserted!! Somaliland has rendered her verdict again in 2002 in a Referendum by over 90%. This time Somaliland is furious and ready to protect her verdict because in this 2^nd Republic she paid blood and treasure and ready to pay the same again.

None-believers, betrayers, clan traders, small minded and show-me-the money crowd are throwing trial balloons, some thing to the effect of New Referendum to satisfy others, our foes!! Let us be bold here. The people of Somaliland have rendered their verdict for independence. Somaliland’s Referendum is relevant and right. Other people’s referendums imposed on Somaliland are not only wrong and revisionist but they are illegitimate and must not be entertained let alone condoned. In case law people are not retried again for the same case they are acquitted of, likewise Somaliland can not be imposed to redo a Referendum she already did. (Two times) It is a high treason to invalidate the people’s verdict rendered in a Referendum.

Somaliland was locked in an illegitimate marriage with Somalia for so long. Somaliland shed blood and treasure to free her self for that ordeal. She survived from the ethnic cleansing/genocide. She triumphed and built an inclusive and democratic Republic. She can not only survive but triumph by her own right.

Negotiation strategies

In all negotiations foe or friend the Right people must represent the Republic, that did not happen in Somaliland- Somalia negotiations in Turkey and else where!!

The negotiations were a “two-staged” Negotiating solution, not a two-state solution; therefore the status quo does not look so bad for Somalia. A resolution under these negotiations is thus undesirable as far as Somaliland is concerned in our view

The value of the deal is small and the risk is high, and that is why Somaliland must not support such exercise in futility. Somaliland must comprehend this calculus, and for this reason must decide that Somalia is neither serious nor honest about the negotiation. At the same time though, this would reduce our trust in them as negotiating partners even further. Recognizing these complicated strategic implications sheds light on how negotiations with Somalia seem to lead nowhere, besides the fact that peaceful coexistence isn’t their goal

Competitive style negotiators pursue their own needs. They are just so narrowly focused on their own term gains. They often use whatever power and tactics they can muster, including every thing in their disposal. At its extreme, some negotiators may exhibit an aggressive behavior or even psychotic behavior. This tactics was played by Somalia in the turkey meetings against the Somaliland delegates there. This is I win- You lose tactic. Somalia won and Somaliland lost

The opposite of competing is accommodating. Accommodating style negotiators believe that relationship is everything. Accommodating profiles think that the way to winning people over is to give them what they want. Call them brothers soften as Somaliland does in relation to Somalia even when Somalia never calls Somaliland brothers. This approach will not give a win in the end of the day.

Accommodators are usually very well liked by the opposite party negotiators and that is the danger. It is almost always a bad idea to accommodate when negotiating against high compete styles. With high competing negotiators your generosity will be seen as a sign of weakness to be taken advantage of. Giving away value early like Somaliland delegates in Turkey did when they did not insist the historical fact that Somalilanders suffered ethnic cleansing/genocide by the hands of Mogadishu regime of Somalia. Somalia delegation denied that historical fact. They denied what they have done to Somaliland and Somaliland negotiating team there caved in and took Somalia’s line which was “ every one, all Somalis experienced atrocities ”

In negotiations, this accommodation of the other party’s demand can leave you with a poor hand to play in the rest of the negotiation. Giving away value too easily can signal to your negotiation that you are a gold mine to dig even further. Giving away your house usually just creates one happy negotiator (Somalia) and that is not (Somaliland) you. This is I lose-You win. Somalia won and Somaliland lost (Ref Understanding Negotiation styles by Calum Coburn)

Somalia negotiators played every trick in the book like: deflect, delay, discount, deceive, divide, dulcify, and destroy and the rest of it in their tactics in Turkey and even in Djibouti. What are all these moves and tactics mean? It means that you must recognize your opponent’s tactics. You need to have some way of recognizing their tactics, and of responding to it.
The tactics Somaliland’s opponents (Somalia) used were the following:

Deflect – they diverted the issue to a lesser, side issues. At times they passed the buck to lower officials who have no real power.

Delay – Somaliland opponents made Somaliland negotiators think that they are addressing the issue, when nothing is really being done. For example, forming a “study commission” that has no real power to give Somaliland the change they want.

Deny – Somalia negotiators dared to say ‘Somaliland claims and proposed solutions, are invalid’.

Discount – Somalia delegates tried to minimize the importance of the problem.

Deceive – Somalia negotiators deliberately tried to make Somaliland group feel like they are taking meaningful action, when they in fact have not; they may never have had any real intention to consider Somaliland issues.
Divide – Somalia reportedly attempted to sow the seeds of dissent into Somaliland group’s ranks, as to use a “Divide and conquer” strategy.

Dulcify – Somalia tried to appease or pacify some of the Somaliland delegate who they thought wavering and undecided about the issue……

Discredit – your opponent may try to cast doubt on your group’s motives and methods. Somalia did that

Destroy – your opponents may try to destabilize or eliminate your group through legal, economic, or scare tactics. Somaliland has the upper hand here if the right people represent her, but that did not happen.

Deal – Somalia took a position to avoid conflict by offering a deal, working with Somaliland group towards a mutually acceptable solution which is in its core peripheral to the real issue. Somalia played that game and Somaliland delegates there seemed happy about it and declared victory thereafter! It fired them back later. Aviation is one example.

Surrender – the opposition may all of a sudden agree to your demands. If it happens this way you should remember that the victory is not complete until the opposition follows through with its promises. These are the most common tactics your opponents may use. Somalia used all the tricks in the book. They could use this one too. What tactics Somaliland’s unknowledgeable, untested, inexperienced delegate used in this one team play ground?
Consequences of compromise
the call for compromise is always simple, but the challenge is greater.
Think about the call for it and the consequences of compromise.  For some, compromising is an effortless way to diffuse divergent views and settle controversial issues.  For others, it is a challenge to their non-negotiable principles and bottom lines. Somaliland is in the later column
Tryon Edwards argues that, historically, “Compromise is but the sacrifice of one right
or good in the hope of retaining another—too often ending in the loss of both.”
In every call for compromise, compromising results in consequences.  Obviously compromise can be beneficial when it results in mutual cooperation without sacrificing your core principles and/or bottom lines. What compromising ignores is that the people that take the most extreme positions tend to get more.
All invitations to compromise lie on a slippery slope where the potential for erosion of one’s principles and values are constantly at risk.  To that end only experienced honest and knowledgeable people understand their unshakable values, beliefs, principles and boundaries thus safe and safeguard that.

Did Siilalnyo’s pack selected for Somaliland- Somalia talks understand that? Were they up to the job? The answer lies in what Somaliland delegation to Turkey did’ and they did wavered and dropped the ball on the genocide/ethnic cleansing issues which Somaliland suffered alone under Mogadishu regime of Siyad Barre from1978-1991. Appallingly, intransigently Mogadishu delegates denied that fact and that history as expected. The Mogadishu delegation is the inheritors of the perpetrators of the genocide in Somaliland!
Giving away value too easily too early signaled Mogadishu delegates that Somaliland delegates had no backbone and they ran over them. In Turkey Somaliland negotiators took that wrong approach, they gave away the most value too easily too early and they were run over. They did not confess their alarming mistake. They scandalously argued that they did not do any wrong, even if they did it!!
Can the following be compromised?
1- The great betrayal of 1960 when the ill-fated union were signed and Somalia took all?
2-The genocide/ethnic cleansing
3-Our right to withdraw the ill-fated union from deceptive Somalia
4-The two Referendums (1961 and2002 which the people of Somaliland irreversibly expressed their determination to have their own Republic in a democratic vote
5-billions of dollars stolen, robed and ransacked from Somaliland from day one of the ill-fated union to when Mogadishu government died. from1960 to1991

Somaliland people are in the dark of what their government is up to! But there are three things we know.
That Somalia and Somaliland are two unequal contending parts at least in the eyes of the so, called international community.
a) Somalia is a recognized entity even when they exist only for name and they rule only one city protected by foreign solders! There is no incentive for them to yield even when yielding is the right thing for both parties

1. b) Somaliland is not a recognized entity as far as the international community is concerned even when it is a stable, free and functioning state, free of sea pirates, free of Al shabaab and free of wars intended to displace certain communities as to take away their tribal territories by the stronger tribes from Majertania and central Somalia and it is happening in Somalia right now.
   C-Somalia governments which are run by east and central Somalia tribes engage ethnic cleansing operations against ‘Biyamaal, Dir, Jadheed, Banadiri, Barwaani and Raxanwayn tribes in Southern Somalia. Somaliland experienced that evilly and liberated her self from that. In light of these, how any sane and fair people can tell Somaliland to go back there!?

In Somaliland case one may be save to say “what compromise! If Somaliland exists and is stable, peaceful and democratic state while none of all these virtues never existed in Somalia, why should those who achieved all these achievement are treated as if it all are a roll of bologna to be bartered a slice at a time!!

Mohandas Gandhi once reminded all listeners of a greater challenge: “All compromise is based on give and take, but there can be no give and take on fundamentals. Any compromise on mere fundamentals is surrender, for it is all give and no take! Productive compromise requires great insight and clarity of one’s deep values and principles
As Golda Meir of Israel in a few words reminded everyone, “To be or not to be is not a question of compromise.  Either you ‘be, or you don’t be’. That is where Somaliland people stand and that is where the government of Somaliland must stand. Any thing other than this is simply treasonous and it ought to be stopped!

Conclusion: Aim high. Negotiators who set higher targets do better. Don’t undersell yourself like Somaliland negotiators did in Turkey

Ask for more than you want. Negotiation typically involves a back-and forth discussion. Leave yourself enough wiggle room between what you ask for and what you want so that you can make some concessions and still achieve your target. It can sometimes be the hardest step but it will save you from walking away with too little. However, pay attention to how you ask. It is a Problem-solving, it needs positive manner rather than a competitive, winner-take-all approach. It must not be a-war-like attitude. Frame the interaction as a discussion rather than a demand.
The most important thing to remember is: Don’t Cave In Somaliland negotiators did that in Turkey. Some people say that they make concessions in the face of a competitive negotiator demanding a concession – in order to create goodwill. Don’t listen to these self deluders. Appeasing competitive negotiators like Somalia doesn’t create goodwill – it just creates requests for more concessions. What’s more, a competitive style negotiator will see you as weak, and come back for more. Restate your position firmly and never reward bullies and uncaring intransigent negotiators like Somalia.
In conclusion let us rescue Somaliland before it is too late. Let all of us help the President to Change his administration and its failed policies and politics now before it is too late.

Peace and prayers

SWG

Executive Director

Ibrahim M Mead

Ottawa, Ontario

Kingmead1@yahoo.ca