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“There is no greater sorrow than to recall a time Since the unilateral declaration of “ Somaliland ” in 1991 by a secessionist faction in Northwest of Somalia, there have been few non-Somali elements, who are tirelessly campaigning for the recognition of this one clan-based entity. Some of these elements are greedy mercenaries who camouflage themselves in the devious NGO: s, in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi . They often exploit the fluid situation of Somalia by ostensibly creating chaos and impeding any stability in Somalia and thus utilise the international donor's money into their own benefit. There are also, globe-tottering journalists that are deceitfully confined in Hargeisa, the second city of Somalia , where they readily accept at face value whatever told to them. But the most dangerous and evil of these “international supporters” is the retired British anthropologist, Mr I.M Lewis who relentlessly advocates for the recognition of “ Somaliland ” The following note, sent not long ago to Saturday review by I.M Lewis is typical of Lewis´s role as “spokesman” for the secessionists in the international fora : “It was good to read Kevin Rushby's article ("Unbroken chain", October 15) about the visit to Britain of leading poets from Sudan , Afghanistan and Somaliland . Your timing was also excellent. This is an especially significant moment for Gaarriye's home country, Somaliland . This former British protectorate, which separated from Somalia more than a decade ago , has just successfully held its first full parliamentary elections…” These overblown statements of Mr I.M Lewis which are purposefully released to the international media outlets are nothing but grist for the secessionist's propaganda mill. Strangely enough, this unwavering support from I.M. Lewis to the secessionist's campaign to secede from Somalia is in fact a world away from the close working relationship; he had with all the previous Somali governments. Again, prior to the parliamentary election in ”Somaliland” which took place on 2005-10-29, I.M.Lewis stated that he would be the happiest person if parliamentary elections took place in Sool, Sanaag and Cayn regions. Such rhetoric is a manifestation of Lewis´s animus towards the people of these regions who are clearly out of phase with the wishful thinking of Mr Lewis and the secessionists and one wonders why on earth this old Briton wishes to see one clan under the rule of another. Another mind-boggling question for many Somalis is why Mr I.M Lewis being an expert on Somali history and culture and who knows that the Somalis are the most homogenous people on earth, would prefer one clan to another and campaign for the dismemberment of such nation along clannish lines. Is it true that his abhorrence and animosity towards the people of Sool, Sanaag and Cayn can be attributed to the fact that these regions were the hub of anti-British during the British rule in Somaliland and as these were no-go area for people like I.M. Lewis, he had a rough time in nineteen-fifties, in Lascanood, widwidh and Bohoodle while he was writing his book, the pastoral democracy ? Or may be he is a kind of imperialist-minded who is in a misery and who still hankers for his former colonial ties with what used to be British Protectorate. In another words, he is longing for the past days where he had jole de vivre in British Somaliland Protectorate. Whatever the reason, Mr I.M Lewis has opted for dismembering our country by promoting the wish of some buffoons in the north-west of Somalia under the claim of illegal boundaries set by the British. But he should realise that as long as the sons and daughters of Dervish cradle are around, history can repeat itself and, the option of “ Somaliland ”, the reinstated version of British Somaliland will never be delivered . Eng. Mohamed Ali Mirreh
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