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By Abdulakdir Aden Mohamud “Jangeli”
Monday, January 05, 2009
The literature you are about to read is divided into several parts. Its contents are based on facts and fictions. The main players are Ethiopians and Somalis.
PART III
It was hot and humid, yet the faces of the young teenagers who were the core of the Al-shabab fighters could be seen with joy when they captured Merka and its surroundings. These young fighters carried radio transistors in their bags as they followed their achievements about the vast territories fallen in their control. Meanwhile, the top TFG leaders were fighting amongst themselves in Baydhabo. Also the survivors of the selected members of the Islamic Courts Union met in an undisclosed location near Merka to discuss the latest issue about Somalia.
Sheikh Abu Al-xildiid: With God's will, we shall march into Mogadishu before the end of January. Our plan is clear. By April 2009 we have to cover all the territories inhabited by the Somali people.
Sheykh Warsame: Sheykhuna, would you please clarify your statement. Do you mean the Somali territory or territories that Somalis reside in?
Sheikh Abu Al-xildiid: All territories that Somalis inhabit.
Sheykh Warsame: I thought we had enough experience to not declare such a statement. We should think about the consequence of this statement because it holds only an impossible ambition.
Sheikh Abu Al-xildiid: Why can't you see the obligations on our shoulders. It is our responsibility to go up to even Alaska, as long as Somalis live there.
Sheikh Warsame: What? Don’t you know that nowadays Somalis live in every corner of this world? And speaking of Alaska how can we mug the lady who is in charge over there? I heard that she protects the USA from her couch by watching the movements of the Russian military. She probably has a better telescope than the Hubble in her backyard, and she can see even smallest insects' movement anywhere in this world. But seriously, we should learn from the past. Remember two years ago... our victory in Mogadishu lasted only for a few days, after we made unwise decisions like the one you are proposing. Look around you! Where are the clergies who were the members of this committee? We are the only two survivors of our committee. This time we should be very careful about our statements and actions.
Sheikh Abu Al-xildiid: I see. Did Shariif contact you?
Sheikh Warsame: No. Why?
Sheikh Abu Al-xildiid: It sounds like you have been mesmerized by his recent messages. But, let me tell you something... he has now been recruited by the Ethiopians. Therefore, I don't want to hear or know about Shariif's reasonings. He was our leader and he escaped from the Ethiopian's shelling two years ago. We stayed and fought against Ethiopian aggression, while thousands died for the cause that Mr. Shariif was leading since the Islamic Courts Union was established. Now, it is unbelievable that Mr. Shariif came back into Mogadishu with Ethiopian security and Qaybdiid’s escort at Aden Abdulle’s International airport. He has returned as the enemy's friend, yet they are still shelling with heavy mortars in the residential areas of our capital city.
Sheikh Warsame: Maybe Shariif is practical and he realized the way this world works. He wants to change the methods that we have been operating in so far. In order to be part of the international community we have to modify the political direction that we have been taking and follow a different path.
Sheikh Abu Al-xildiid: Do you really agree with what he has been advocating nowadays?
Sheikh Warsame: Not all of it. For example, I don’t believe we should be sharing the power with the TFG or even to add the 274.3 new so-called parliamentarians that he negotiated in Djibouti. But, my argument is that if Shariif has a reasonable political platform, why not give him a chance?
Sheikh Abu Al-xildiid: Shariif has no agenda of his own, but he wants to carry out what the Ethiopians request of him. It is an old colonial tact to divide and rule. They choose some of us to serve their agenda, while calling those who oppose them names. And I am aware that Mr. Ahmed, the best friend of Sayoum, assured Ethiopians that Shariif would serve them better than Abdullahi.
Sheikh Warsame: We are in deep trouble and we need to get out of this impasse, so why not give him the benefit of the doubt.
Sheikh Abu Al-xildiid: That is the core of our problems. For the past 18 years we have been giving the benefit of the doubt to the warlords sponsored by Ethiopia. In other words, any body or anything that Ethiopians have an input will only lead to the destruction of Somalia. Enough is enough.
Sheikh Warsame: I agree with you in that regard, but would you agree with me that we should confine our call for liberation to within the borders of the Somali territory. Also, we have to show the world that we are not fanatics who want to challenge the international community.
Sheikh Abu Al-xildiid: I'll think about that, but we cannot accept Ethiopian brokers to be involved in our Somali issues any longer.
Facts:
Meles Zenawi has been contradicting himself since the day he invaded Somalia. First he guaranteed the world that he would withdraw his troops from Somalia within two weeks. After six months, he claimed that his military intervention was necessary for the security of Ethiopia. Therefore, as long as Ethiopia was being threatened by Somalis, Ethiopian troops would indeed remain in Somalia and expand their area of operation. Again, a year after, Mr. Zenawi said that they were in Somalia because the Somali government requested it. He stressed how they took care of the security of the government institutions and the rebuilding of Somalia. After two years of shelling indiscriminately in Mogadishu and Beleweyne, the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry spokesman Wahide Belay said recently, “The Ethiopian army, that successfully discharged its mission in Somalia, will be withdrawn”. It is heartbreaking to claim a success mission in Somalia, when Ethiopian troops are still destroying not only the people, but the infrastructure as well.
Fadhikudir:
Qablan, Xiif, Taagane, Murad, Iftiin and Sheikh Abu Al-Burhaan who are permanent fadhikudirir customers in Yeelkadaa tea shop at East Leigh (Islee), Nairobi where many of the Somali refugees have made their homes.
Iftiin: Today our topic of discussion is to identify the main cause of the Somali problem. It is impossible to cure a patient if the origin of the illness is unidentified.
Muraad: I agree with you. For the last four years we have been wasting our energy by either criticizing or praising these warlords and their Ethiopian masters. Now, let us take a moment to focus on a useful matter that can be helpful to Somalia.
Qablan: Well, we all know the roots of our disease. Obviously it is the clannishness (Qabyaalad).
Xiif: No, it is the poverty and the unemployment. The pie is not enough for all of us, so it is the survival of the fittest. Why do people turn to support a crook? Simply to get a position or a job in the government.
Taagane: You all missed the right answer. The mother of the Somali sickness is the lack of knowledge. More than 70% of our people are uneducated. Unless we solve that, I doubt that we will see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Sheikh Abu Al-Burhaan: First of all our problem is Ethiopia, secondly it is Ethiopia and thirdly it is Ethiopia, stupid. Our ailment is Ethiopian and our specialized physician is Ethiopia. Therefore, until we are not rid of this bad doctor, we will never mitigate our ailment.
Murad: I believe the injustice and the unaccountability of the government officials are the core of our problem.
Iftiin: Wow! I am very proud of your brainstorming. In fact our crises is caused by all the above. But, can anyone of you sum it up in three words?
Qablan: No. What words?
Iftiin: Lack of leadership. Somalia is missing leadership, period!
Murad: That is correct. If we had competent leaders, they would have solved all the above problems. True leaders would have never looked to Ethiopia for a solution of our crises.
Sheikh Abu Al-Burhaan: I am always amazed at the intelligence and the vision of this young lady, Iftiin. You are right. Absolutely you nailed it on the head. The root of all the Somali problems is lack of leadership.
Xiif: Sheikh, why do you always acknowledge what this girl says?
Sheikh Abu Al-Burhaan: Because, she has a great vision and has clearly analyzed the situation. You always like to talk about nonsense, but she always has something useful to discuss.
Qablan: Would you support her if she campaigned to be elected the leader of Somalia?
Sheikh Abu Al-Burhaan: Absolutely yes. I wish I could see Iftiin elected as Somalia's next president.
Xiif: Sheykh, are you serious? Can Muslim people elect a woman as the top leader of a state?
Sheikh Abu Al-Burhaan: Yes, why not. Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Turkey are all Muslim countries that have elected women as presidents or prime ministers. So far the leadership of women seems to be much better than their male counterparts.
Ifiin: Thank you Sheikh! You are very progressive so why don’t you use the media to preach and correct the mistakes that our clergies in Somalia are perpetuating in the name of our faith? I admire them for how they are fighting against the Ethiopian occupation, but I disagree with their actions towards the Somali people.
Sheikh Abu Al-Burhaan: Al-Jahlu Aduwun, it is the opposite of the saying ignorance is bliss in Arabic. Most of the Somali clergies did not study in depth the sharia of Islam, which is very complex. If one does not comprehend its complexity and attempts to exercise this form of law, it can lead to tragic consequences like the recent stoning of Asha Ibrahim Dhuhulow. It is like asking for a Sergeant's advise on a difficult political decision of a nation.
Qaban: Sheikh, are you insinuating that these Sheikhs who are imposing the sharia law into Somalia are not the masters of the law they are adjudicating. Who then should we believe in, you or Sheikh Hayakallah who explained extensively about the punishment of Asha?
Sheikh Abu Al-Burhaan: It is not a matter of who you should believe in, it is about what is written in sharia law. I know that all the laws can be interpreted in different ways. And the sentence varies, even with the same penal code, if you present the same crime to different judges. Therefore, Instead of rushing the execution for a death penalty (stoning in this case), I believe more investigation would be appropriate. Sheikh Hayakallah said the woman wanted the punishment, but did he examine the case beyond Asha’s will. You know there was a case in which a woman who committed adultery went to our Prophet Mohammed (SCW) to be punished. However, the Prophet (SCW) ignored her the first time, but she came back again to the Prophet (SCW) informing him that she had proof because now she was pregnant. The Prophet (SCW) sent her back again until she gave birth. Then she came back after the baby was delivered. The third time, the Prophet (SWC) told her to leave and to return after the years of breast feeding was done. Therefore, even if Asha wanted to be punished, did the “judge” ever consider the extremity of the punishment? Did he investigate the fact that she was a minor, that she may be mentally unstable, or if she was married or pregnant? It all happened too fast.
Iftiin: Bravo Sheikh, and I thank you very much. I wish all the Mujaahiddin learn from you or from those who are knowledgeable like you. Instead they spend their time whipping young kids who were just watching a football game or listening to music. It is ironic that these “Sheikhs” are not only acting unlawfully, but they are wasting a lot of their energy for something that is unimportant or very controversial, like destroying burial grounds, qabuuraha . . If they continue such inanity they will loose a lot of their supporters. I know that they don’t listen to people like me, but please Sheikh preach to them and tell these ignorant “Sheikhs” about Sharia al-Islam. Our faith is not backwards and it should not lead us into darkness, but it is meant to enlighten mankind.
Xiif: Which school did you graduate from, Sheikhow?
Sheikh Abu Al-Burhaan: Azhar University in Egypt.
Xiif: Oh! Does that mean that all Sheikhs with Abu in their names graduated from your school. Because I have heard of many Abus lately.
Sheikh Abu Al-Burhaan: I wish! ......Common it is prayer time we must go to the mosque.
To be continued Part IV.......
Abdulakdir Aden Mohamud “Jangeli”
E-mail: [email protected]