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BiyoKulule Online Bosaso, Somalia |
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BiyoKulule Online Bosaso, Somalia |
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With clan politics in the air, the clannish-customary polemics are frequently on the internet, unfortunately excelling in number of hits to that richly Somali literature which deserves to be read. I don’t usually react to opinions, no matter how notorious it is; in fact, I uphold that opinions are part and parcel of freedom of expression. My previous observations testify that there is affinity between Somali writers and clan politics. However, smearing intentionally “wasiirada-aan-hubaysneen” cabinet members of the TFG has lately become the dominant occupation of many warlord-philiac critics. For that reason, I cannot remain silent after reading warlord-philiac critics’ treatment of the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Hon. Abdirizak Osman Hassan Jurile, published on numerous Somali websites.[1] I found many of their writings about Hon. Jurile loathsome and thus feel somewhat ungracious about refuting them, offering just fifteen hundred words to comment and restore Hon. Jurile’s credibility.
As an alternative, their assertion is that the “wasiirada-aan-hubaysneen” contributions to the Somali reconciliation efforts are wholly a threat to their kin’s “wasiirada-hubasysan” ambitions – which is a bit amusing and sad. The contents of these polemics are not new; their detailed explanations of previous postulations are similar to the ridiculed lies that have been labeled against the prominent political actors such as Prime Minster Galaydh, ex-Minister of Finance Addow, and the current Prime Minister Geedi. As it is often said, a lie is halfway round the world before the truth has got its boots on; hence, mujaahidiin blood-tainted writing repeatedly languishes on our computer screens. Luckily, these mujaahidiin Rolling stone polemicists do not gather moss (i.e. followers), like the rolling stone of the proverb. The mujaahidiin (a.k.a. butchers) simply amplify an old, defeated cause and discover no new ones, although it seems that they benefited from the “old works” of dream-building. They inherited their deceased warlord’s line and mantle and seized with the fear that their Isbaaro fiefdoms might be destroyed. Therefore, they are resorting to a concealed tactics: pretending and taking on an “ahl al-qalam” outlook, pursuing a literary criticism line to undermine freedom of expression. For them, the principle of freedom of expression is the power of maligning others; and this was again and again made its strength felt in numerous Somali websites. These polemicists frenziedly are trampling on the internet system and striking vicious blows against its readership. Recklessly, they are attempting to re-orient the spearhead of the new-found free communication channels (Somali websites), hoping to change it into “manipulating the masses” media, trampling on freedom of expression and suppressing the truth. Believing Voltaire’s dictum of “superstition sets the whole world in flames”; Mujaahidiin polemicists often promote a modern superstition, indicating that a deceased ‘genius’ warlord should be remembered endlessly, for he led the mujaahidiin to the southbound “Long March” from somewhere in Ethiopia to southern Somalia, like the Shabeelle and Jubba Rivers, emptying most of its resources into the Indian Ocean. Thus, the few remaining of his foot soldiers (Indha-cadde and the like) should step to the plate and strike down whoever opposes the established Isbaaro fiefdoms – a comprehensive ideological and political line shared by few warlords in Mogadishu. As a mouthpiece of the ‘deceased warlord’, these polemicists always convict one of a crime before they even search for evidence. They are often without proper information as to the raison d’etre of ethical literary criticism. For example, in their attempt to throw Minister Jurile into the depths of inferno, it seems that merely labeling him as “corrupt” could hardly quench their vengeful thirst. To fool readers further, so that they could deceit them as they please, these polemicists resorted to every despicable trick conceivable – including trumped up charges against Minister Jurile such as the “uneducated”, “the hidden-president”, and “the right-hand man of the President”. But polemicists forget that, to quote from William Hamilton’s famous testament: “truth, like a torch, the more it’s shook it shines”. To judge by the amount of interest and heat that Minister Jurile’s contributions have generated among mujaahidiin rolling stone polemicists, I will, on this point, brief his back-ground in a sensible fashion. In fact, to review Hon. Jurile’s biography is much easier than to review warlords because his private life and CV are not hidden from the public. For many reasons, very little is yet known about Hon. Jurile, except what nowadays emerged as ‘campaigns of vilification’ mounted against him by his opponents led by warlords. This is partly so due to his unyielding characteristic virtues and partly also to the warlord-philiac reality of the day. Hon. Abdirizak Osman Hassan Jurile hails from the northeastern (Puntland) part of Somalia, Bossaaso district. During his teenage period, he was always eager to learn and sought to perfect himself through that approach. Although he did not claim higher moral qualities, he stood apart from his peers by virtue of his capabilities and benevolence. After finishing his high school in late 1960s, he and few others set the pace among their class-mates in high school and won scholarships to study abroad. Being aware of the fact that his country is developing, he decided to return back as soon as he had finished his studies. To summarize his early career life, unlike warlords’ atrocious vocation, he established a human life that lacks in any harmful, dramatic impact on society. In the 1970s – 1980s, he was one of the pioneering Civil Servants of the nation, building his career from university instructor to a dean of a faculty. He later joined Ministry of Foreign Affairs, holding deputy position in that Ministry. He came to be regarded as a skillful administrator and negotiator, showing a remarkable sense of responsibility and devotion to work ethic. Those who have worked with him still respect and honour him. In this era of civil wars, Hon. Jurile stands somewhat outside and above clan and regional politics. He is more on nation-building and intolerant to warlordism – an ample reason for the mujaahidiin to fear and not to trust him. The characteristic virtues of Minister Jurile, particularly his love to restore our nation’s glory peacefully, have been viewed by the warlords as a threat and thus indict him with all kinds of libel. However, to many Somalis, his virtues constitute a great part of national treasure. He inspires Somalia’s equality with other nation-states of the world. He recognizes the problems which the Somalis are currently facing and attempts to suggest a solution of “meel howl u baahan hadal wax kama taro” moral regeneration. The Minister is always fond of stating in public his favorite dictum: those who obey warlordism will perish, and those who rebel against it will survive. This shows that his nationalism is consistent with World harmony. Concluding Remarks The time has come to re-assess the current tragic situation. The Somali nation that we have today is far from stable. The armed clan-based factions that destroyed the defunct Central Authority, as sound in principle, failed to succeed. Perhaps, decades more must pass before the mujaahidiin can see that reality, for it takes them a long time to learn the truth – or as historian-poet Herbert Agar once said: “the truth which makes men free is for the most part the truth which men prefer not to hear.” Based on the principle of seeking truth from facts, I must therefore point out in all seriousness: it is time to relinquish warlord idealism, which seems that it has remained in the minds of many Somali polemicists. I also wish to remind my readers with assurance: people and history will judge us. In this respect, I sincerely wish to polemicists to look back the course of the history of the Somali civil wars and re-evaluate again its implications and destructions. Today, unlike the days of one (transistor-radio) media outlet, Somalis have the opportunity to enjoy numerous news media. Accordingly, they have become increasingly capable of analyzing Somali affairs in dialectical perspective. With the elementary knowledge of literary criticism, self-censorship has increasingly taken root in everyone’s heart. Roobdoon Forum C/fataax Saciid Faamo Toronto, Canada |
BosasoCity
SakariyaMohamed
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Most of the criticisms are marred by authors’ tendencies to
display on their sleeves folded in fadhi-ku-dirir fashion, draining
their personal biases and animosities on the World Wide Web. Even
those who marginally follow the debate on Somali affairs will realize that
such writers even fail to do justice to their own fadhi-ku-dirir
standards in their comments. Their comments constitute not an
objective criticism, but rather a polemic aimed to settle personal
scores. These writers engage in character assassination and do not
for a moment address the functions of his ministerial office which they
purport to know of it. Instead, in fadhi-ku-dirir terms, they
only see the Minister and his clan and not his Ministry and duties; and
even in this term, they see rather poorly. 
