SSC people drive their Khatumo train towards its destination in Taleh City.

[… because my uncle has been dropped off the Khatumo train, I want to drop off too ! ]

The Katumo Journey Continues as we hit the final stretch and count down to Oct. 22nd 2013. The people of Taleh have once again demonstrated their willingness to host Khatumo III Conference; Along with the Group of 11 Executive Council, twelve of the thirteen Traditional leaders of the Khatumo Administration have also voiced their support for the upcoming Taleh Congress.

While Members of the Khatumo Diaspora are in final stages of travel preparations to provide expertise and support to local planning committees, Caravans of Women from Lasanod, Boame and surrounding cities have begun arriving in Taleh ahead of other local delegates. It is expected that a Unitary President, a House of Parliamentary representatives and a completed Khatumo State Constitution will be in place before the end of the year 2013.

As Khatumo Nation around the world gets ready to solidify their new found regional democracy, the challenges ahead include the hard work of selecting qualified legislators and members of Khatumo’s Parliament who in turn will elect the new Khatumo President.

At Khatumo.net, we have predicted in the past that the road to a stable and effective administration would not be easy and required conviction and dedication by the people of Sool Sanaag and Cayn. Any time a new democracy is in its infancy, it sure has to go through ups and downs including internal bickering among some of the leadership; this usually happens at the “performing” stage of any group formation when the “honeymoon” celebrations of “Norming” and “Storming” stages are over as was the case for us during the past 18 months.

With respect to the chatter in the coffee shops, lately, there seems to have been an uptick of Khatumo’s critics; those who complain about the Khatumo train’s accomplishments or present management. Without providing any constructive criticism, some among us seem to dwell on blind allegiances to tribal and sub-clan affiliations; fallaciously reasoning that: [ because my uncle has been dropped off the Khatumo train, I am dropping off too ]. Or [ my uncle is a Front-man_Horgale, therefore I am ]. Folks like Habsade, Fuad Adan Adde, Ina-Ambashe, Ina-Duale Dheeg and more have to realize that there is a new generation of Khatumo champions who are ready to lead their people according to their wishes and not according to the highest bidder. Just ask ask folks in Fiqifuliye and see if they are better off by being sold to another administration. Most of them have already returned home as the hype of “better life” has failed.

However, if you look at its track record, Khatumo seems to fair better when non performers drop off voluntarily or are dropped off by the system; you may remember when hapless Kayse of widh-Widh city was dropped off from the SSC leadership, free of his interference and possible espionage, the boys of Kalshaale all of a sudden began to win the famous battles of Hagoogane and Maygaagle. You may also recall when Hagla-toosiye was dropped off the Khatumo train and later joined the Hargaisa administration, not only did he lose his credibility and his Buhodle passport, but residents of Cayn region have since then embraced their new Khatumo Administration, successfully electing their first Municipal Councillors and establishing local taxation and Judicial systems.

If you have joined Khatumo with a view to volunteer for a few months or a few years and when the going gets tough, [without providing any alternatives] you seek to blame others as you search for an excuse to drop off, then Khatumo is not for you my dear. See…there is a lot of blaming to be had among every one of us. If you continuously seek dirt or inefficiencies in others, you will find lots of it, as they say…”One finds what One seeks”, However, if you truly believe in lifting your people out of poverty and hopelessness, lack of safety and security, loss of basic human dignity and one’s inalienable right to liberty, freedom of speech and the right to free assembly in Taleh city, then you are a true Khatumite who tirelessly works hard to find ways to fix the Khatumo train instead of blaming others.

Finally, true Khatumites also know that the more they feel hurt and uncertain about the future, the closer they are to their destination; Somali Federal Government seems to be sending more promising signals to support the Khatumo administration while the International community such as Turkey now know Khatumo’s place in Somalia and should make sure that Khatumo destined donations are not brokered by predatory and corrupt administrations.

Once again Let’s March on to Taleh this fall and make history. Your Homeland is waiting for “You”

A. Hindi

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