FOUNDATION OF THE UNITED BENADIR AND DHOWOY STATE, SOUTHERN SOMALIA

Press Release
December 23, 2012

TO:  The Indigenous People of the Benadir and Dhowoy

People of Somalia
The United Nations
The Somali Government

CONTACT:      Technical Committee
United Benadir and Dhowoy State
ubds12@yahoo.com

The Indigenous People of Southern Somalia seek international protection from oppression!

2nd ANNIVERSARY
FOUNDATION OF THE
UNITED BENADIR AND DHOWOY STATE
(SOUTHERN SOMALIA)

December 23, 2012

Map_Showing_the_Benadir (UN Doc 1952). Photo by: FOUNDATION OF THE UNITED BENADIR AND DHOWOY STATE (the voice of the voiceless) – www.kismaayodaily.com – the your gateway of Somali and Somali Indigenous news that matters around the world.

Considering,

1. That the indigenous peoples of Southern Somalia, hereinafter known as the Benadiri and Dhowoy people, consist of various socio-cultural groups who forged throughout the centuries a common tradition to live in peace and harmony in their native land;

2. That, because of its history, conquest, colonization, migrations, oppression, diseases, famine, wars, forced displacements, the Somali nation is multi-ethnic, multicultural and multilingual in nature and that the question of identity and rights of indigenous peoples is a vital issue of historic importance for the present and future of Somalia;

3. That all those who have at heart the existence of the Somali nation at this critical juncture in the history of the nation recognize and respect the identity, as well as the political, economic, social and cultural rights of all the socio-cultural groups who lay claim to their share of the Somali territory, as rightful citizens of the nation, within the unity of the Somali nation, and subject to the indivisibility of the territory of Somalia;

4. That the indigenous peoples of the Benadir and Dhowoy have been particularly subject to de facto levels of discrimination, exploitation, seizure of their land and property, and injustice, on account of their origin, culture and language and that they have to endure unequal and unjust treatment and conditions on account of their economic and social status; that the current perpetual crisis in the country brought about to the surface the worst forms of violence and abuse on these indigenous peoples, such as killings, rape, kidnapping, looting, pillage, and grapping of their land, etc.

5. That this historical reality has affected and continues to affect these peoples profoundly over a period of one century, from the time of the colonial conquests to the present, denying them the full exercise of

FOUNDATION OF THE UNITED BENADIR AND DHOWOY STATE, SOUTHERN SOMALIA

their rights and political participation, and hampering the configuration of a national unity which should adequately reflect the diversified structure of Somalia;

6. That the current regional boundaries of the Benadir were imposed unlawfully by the colonial and military regimes in the country without the consent of these indigenous peoples and in no way reflect the original and current de facto boundaries of the Benadir and Dhowoy and are therefore legally null and void;

7. That it will be possible to eliminate oppression and discrimination in Somalia only if due recognition is given to all aspects of the identity and rights of the peoples who have inhabited and continue to inhabit it, all of whom are components of its present reality and protagonists in its development, in all senses;

8. That never before in history, from the days of Ibn Battouta (1331) to the present, has the territorial integrity, identity, rights, livelihood, humanitarian concerns, the very existence of the indigenous people of the Benadir and Dhowoy as rightful citizens of the county, being exposed to so much danger and threat; and that this initiative represents a timely and much needed awakening of over 2 million people, living in the most densely populated region of the country.

9. That the notorious 4.5 discrimination clause under the current constitution which affords full rights to political representation to certain clans, half rights to certain other clans, and no rights whatsoever to other clans, constitutes a flagrant violation of the rights of the citizen, an attempt to deny political representation to the indigenous people of Southern Somalia, and an extortion that there can be no peace in Somalia unless certain set asides are granted to certain clan chauvinists.

So have the indigenous people
of the Benadir and Dhowoy of Southern Somalia resolved and declared
this February 12, 2011 the foundation of the United Benadir and Dhowoy State:

1. The foundation of the ancient United Benadir and Dhowoy State, from Mogadishu to Kisimayo, inland from the Indian Ocean Coast to both banks of the Shabelle River, northwards from Mogadishu along both banks of the Shabelle River as far as Mahaddei Weyne, and southwards along both banks of the Juba River from Jilib to the Indian Ocean, and that this is historically a legitimate and compelling claim;

2. That this territorial claim is based on undeniable historical facts, of peoples and cultures that molded together throughout the centuries to form a common identity, to live in peace and harmony with each other and with neighboring communities, with a view of the world based on the harmonious relationship of all elements of the universe, in which the human being is only one additional element, in which hard work and legitimate income is well appreciated, and that “soor” (maize), “cambuulo” (beans), “bun” (coffee), and marine resources are sacred symbols around which the Benadiri and Dhowoy culture revolves;

3. That the common philosophy of the indigenous peoples of the Benadir and Dhowoy is based on the principles of the Islamic religion, a legacy of agricultural, technical and marine knowledge, artistic and aesthetic values of their own, a collective historical memory, a community organization based on solidarity, tolerance, equal rights, and respect for one’s neighbors, and a concept of authority based on ethical and moral values;

4. That all forms of violence, and discrimination, namely ethnic, cultural, color, religion and gender are illegal, that all members of the community shall have equal rights in front of the law, equal rights to representation on a one man one vote platform, equal opportunity to benefit from the resources of the

FOUNDATION OF THE UNITED BENADIR AND DHOWOY STATE, SOUTHERN SOMALIA

region, to live in peace, prosperity, and happiness, and that these values are essentially the peaceful foundation upon which the Benadiri and Dhowoy culture was founded for centuries;

5. That these historic considerations bring together the indigenous peoples of the Benadir and Dhowoy to seize this historic moment to come together and unite in preserving their history, their identity, their very real existence, and that the foundation of the United Benadir and Dhowoy State has the full support of the indigenous peoples who live in this region and reflects their utmost desire.

6. That all matters of direct interest to the indigenous peoples of the Benadir and Dhowoy need to be dealt with by and with them and that the present declaration seeks to create, expand and strengthen the structures, conditions, opportunities and guarantees regarding the right of the Benadiri and Dhowoy people to establish their own state;

7. That the United Benadir and Dhowoy State welcomes the recognition and support that the international community, through the United Nations and other international agencies and instruments give to the aspirations of those indigenous peoples who wish to gain control over their own institutions, resources and forms of life as peoples, especially the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2007;

So shall the Government of Somalia take notice and recognize the terms of this declaration, pave the way for negotiations between the Federal Government and the ancient United Benadir and Dhowoy State, rendered necessary and binding because of the right that these indigenous peoples have to decide their future like all other peoples in the nation.

This declaration shall be disseminated widely in all the principle languages and dialects of the indigenous people of the Benadir and Dhowoy, and not limited to Hamarani, Merkani, Barawani, Jiido, and Kizigwa, as well as in Somali, English, and Arabic.

(See Map of Southern Somalia Showing the Benadir and Dhowoy (1952) )

Map_Showing_the_Benadir (UN Doc 1952). Photo by: FOUNDATION OF THE UNITED BENADIR AND DHOWOY STATE (the voice of the voiceless) – www.kismaayodaily.com – the your gateway of Somali and Somali Indigenous news that matters around the world.

Cc:

H.E. Dr. Augustine P. Mahiga
UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS)

P.O. Box 30552-00200

Nairobi, Kenya

Contact emails: price3@un.org,

cusumano@un.org, unpos_pio@un.org

Media Accreditation & Liaison

Unit United Nations Headquarters L-248

New York, NY 10017

Telephone: (212) 963-6934 or (212) 963-6937

Fax: (212) 963-4642

Email: malu@un.org
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Palais Wilson 52 rue des Pâquis CH-1201

Geneva, Switzerland.

Telephone: +41 22 917 9220

Email: InfoDesk@ohchr.org

FOUNDATION OF THE UNITED BENADIR AND DHOWOY STATE, SOUTHERN SOMALIA

International Secretariat

Amnesty International

1 Easton Street London WC1X 0DW, UK

Telephone: +44-20-74135500

Fax number: +44-20-79561157

amnestyis@amnesty.org

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Email: hrwpress@hrw.org

Source: FOUNDATION OF THE UNITED BENADIR AND DHOWOY