Unusual circumstances and resources That are truly limited continues.

   By Ibrahim Adam Ghalib

The word democracy is derived from two Greek words demos and kratos meaning people and rule respectively. Democracy therefore is the idea of ruling by the people. Democracy as a political system is one in which the people play an important role in the decision making of their country.

Ruling by the people is therefore one of the basic principles of democracy and the government that exercise this power derives its legitimacy from the people. In other words all the people cannot be involved in all pubic decision making but they delegate their ultimate power to democratically elected representatives like the parliament to make decisions and supervise their implementations on their behalf.

Another form of citizen participation is through joining civic societies and political parties. Apart from civic societies, political parties are organizations with primary aim of competing for assuring political power of a state, believing a better life for its people. Joining political parties or civic organizations is based on legality and is the right and voluntary of the people and the people should not be discriminated because he belongs to the opposition party. This is behavior is mainly in Awdal region and democracy is short lived in this area.

The democratic process and the subsequent elections and campaigns were tiresome. Our meager resources were spent to make it possible. Nobody can tell me that these elections were free and fair because I was a candidate. The outgoing commission in relation with the government blundered with these elections. Two persons who agree to do something wrong dispel at the end. (laba xumaan ku heshiisaa dar ale ayey u kala tagan) The representative of Awdal in the last parliamentary election resigned in disgrace. We have accepted the final results in order not to lead the country into chaos.

From the day of the election of the chairpersons of the new parliament, this administration started to run the country on authoritarian lines favoring complete obedience at all times instead of consulting the parties concerned. This is only found in a military rank and file. It is dangerous to antagonize the parliament and the political parties. We have not seen this administration meeting the parliament, the political parties, the guurti and the civic societies in a timely and persistent manner to take decisions collectively in order to avoid this crisis.

A smattering of work across every issue made this administration to loose momentum and unpopular and caused the parliament, the political parties and other institutions to loose their motivation and enthusiasm.

The president is required in this connection that the constitution to be fundamental for all decisions. When the issue is discussed, debated by all parties concerned every body has a responsibility to support the outcome. Airing dissention at all times create distrust and additional conflict and strains inter personal relations. It is the primary responsibility of the administration to follow a policy of containment all the time.

The term of the election commission expired. The government was criticized how the appointment of the new commission is handled. A row continued between the government, the parliament and the political parties for some time. Instead of containing the problem the government forced the commission out of office. This measure perpetuated the hostility even further. In here the government is on the wrong side of the law. Issues of common concern should have been discussed and debated in order to take an appropriate course of action with the intention of overcoming the problem.

Now the government is required to show flexibility and handle the issue with care providing evidence of the government’s explicit intention of operating within the law. It is wise for the government to find good legal counsel who can help in the interpretation of the constitution and all legal matters in future.

In a B.B.C interview last week the president clearly outlined that no one has an absolute power. From here we can judge that the president is being ill advised by few promiscuous persona non grate cabinet ministers who think that they can rule this country on a divide and rule policy. The only way the president can consolidate his position is to make political socio-economic reforms. It is better to call for a conference in which all the political forces attend in order to discuss this issue collectively and I am sure the president will make history.

Ibraahim Qalib
Boorama, Awdal
Email: kaalib33@hotmail.com