PUNTLAND GOVERNMENT POLICY STATEMENT
Saturday, March 22, 2008 Garowe, Puntland: The essence of PSG
stands for three essential policy engagements namely (1) to save Puntland
territory and waters from the hostilities created by the absence of central
government and confrontations of political factions serving negative interests
(2) to be part of the pursuit to restore a Somali central authority based on a
federal system, the only system that would prevent totalitarianism and
dismemberment and (3) to cooperate with the international community to find a
solution to the Somali crisis in general and to support the reconstruction and
development in Puntland in particular
The following parts of this statement disclose the policy of Puntland State
Government (PSG) with regard to the internal security of Puntland, its
relationship with the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the support of
the international community of these two issues.
Puntland
Since the disintegration of the central government of Somalia in 1991 up until
2006, Puntland remained relatively peaceful and economically stable. It is
unfortunate that lately Puntland faced confrontations from both southern Somalia
and north-west Somalia. From the south, the forces of the radical United Islamic
Courts (UIC) and the fanatical Al-Shabab group set out to attack and carry out
terrorist acts in Puntland, using Islam as their disguise. Moreover, many
youngsters from Mogadishu and southern Somalia regularly pass through Puntland
on their way to north-west Somalia to come back later to Puntland to take part
in a number of illegal activities. From the north-west side, a series of armed
aggressions on Puntland resulted the capture of the regional capital of Sool,
Las Anod, by
Hargeisa Administration on 15 October last year, preparing themselves for
further expansionist attacks into Puntland.
These two provocations weakened Puntland’s efforts to combine the implementation
of its programme of good governance and rationalization of an already limited
economic resource.
Given the widespread needs to be attended, PSG can only afford right now to
clarify here to speed up the implementation of its constitutional tasks waiting
in the following priorities:
1. Liberation of the capital of Sool region, Las Anod, guaranteeing the security
of all borders of Puntland;
2. Strengthening security inside Puntland;
3. Continuation of the implementation of the governance reform programme and
4. Completion of the process of democratization in Puntland.
The capacity of the reformed Darawish force is being raised to meet the
challenges of terrorism and invaders. Puntland Government instituted a new
ministry for internal security affairs responsible for the prevention of crimes
and apprehending criminals. The government allocated 5% of the budget for the
internal security on top of its normal budget to ensure that the law enforcement
agencies effectively apply the rule of law. The government is also targeting to
improve the performance of the judiciary and the custodial services as the hands
and the legs of the rule of law and justice.
On good governance, a Civil Service Commission is established with the support
of UNDP to achieve a merit-based employment, instrumental to more productive
institutions in the public sector. The Ministries of Finance and Planning and
International Cooperation on one side and the World Bank and UNDP on the other
side worked out recently assessments of the needs to address the weaknesses
related to Public Finance Management (PFM). The WB/UNDP are to begin in Puntland
in the next couple of months a two-year project of redirecting the financial
system in Puntland to an international standard by modernizing customs, tax
collection, accounting systems, mobilization of resources, budget preparation,
execution and monitoring, financial control and magistrates of accounts.
The work of the Constitution Review Commission is in its final stage and
Puntland State, both Government and Parliament, is committed to put the new
constitution into public referendum in the middle of this year, paving the way
for the birth of a multi-party system and free and fair elections.
National Policy
Ever since Puntland Administration was formed on 1st August 1998 and the 8
preceding years, Puntland was relentlessly part of the initiatives to find
national reconciliation among Somali administrations and political factions to
enable them to reinstate sovereignty to their shattered country. The vibrant
role Puntland played in the National Reconciliation Conference that ended in the
success of establishing the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia is too
well known. Similarly, Puntland continued to support the TFG with funds and
forces to consolidate efficacy.
As soon as the TFG took office, it was beset with divisions in terms of its
institutions and differences between its holders of the highest offices. There
also emerged opposition from forces questioning the very principles of forming
the government.
The combination made the TFG inept to fulfil the duties expected of it during
the transition period such as consolidation of the peace, reconciliation,
preparation of a federal constitution and implementation of a federal system in
the country. Despite this and the fact that the TFG has now a short time left,
the new government’s call for dialogue offers a glimpse of hope.
Puntland State Government is ready, and will continue, to support the TFG and is
asking the international community to aid the government unreservedly to enable
it perform its tasks as much as possible during the transition.
Puntland Government wishes to reiterate that a national Somali state is a
national responsibility and has no intention to relinquish its part of that
responsibility. However, Puntland wishes to give further clarifications of its
relations with the TFG:
(1) Puntland will not, under any circumstances, accept a central government of
totalitarian nature, where regions and districts happen to legitimize the powers
of the centre only – such a system isolates the people from being stakeholders
of the decision-making processes and lead to the collapse of statehood
eventually as proved already;
(2) Puntland does not recognize and will not recognize a central government
solution of Somalia via the concepts of conquest of European colonial powers
which were replaced by the Act of Union of the Somali Republic and the
constitution of that Republic approved in a national referendum in 1961 and
(3) Until such time an all inclusive federal constitution is effected and state
governments, convinced with the sharing of power and resources, are instituted,
Puntland’s support of the TFG should not be interpreted in any manner that
Puntland is part of the TFG – Puntland shall remain independent for its laws,
policies and interests.
International Community
PSG expresses its gratitude to the international community whose presence and
activities play a major role in helping the needy, the IDPs and refugees from
the neighbouring countries, the social services and various other sectors.
Without the support of the donors, the agencies of the United Nations and the
INGOs, Puntland could not serve the needs of many.
There is no doubt that the international community has tried its best in
reconciling and supporting Somalia to stand with its own feet. The people and
government of Puntland value the international efforts to shore up the Somali
cause and would like to encourage them to enrich their assessments with
following points:
1. To realize the magnitude of the Somali crisis and the ramifications it may
hold for the Horn of Africa, and thereby come up with a creative agenda to
transcend the transition period of the TFG to a federal democratic system;
2. To continue the current-three part cooperation and support of Somali entities
consisting of Puntland, Somaliland and South-Central/TFG;
3. To maintain assisting Somalia on a united position;
4. To apply successful lessons learned from other crisis countries of similar
problems as Somalia, taking into account the recommendations of the serious
Somalis in search of finding solutions and
5. That Puntland welcomes foreign investment with regard to its untapped natural
resources of the sea, land and air.
Finally, Puntland State, Government and people, warns against any support given
to the greed of a party of the Somali parties, the real impediment of any
progress to reach solutions over the last 17 years.
With the highest consideration
H.E Mohamoud Muse Hersi
President of Puntland State of Somalia
SomaliVersion... Halkan ka akhri
Faafin: SomaliTalk.com | March 22, 2008
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