March 31st, 2008 in English, Kulmiye_party | leave a response
March 30th, 2008 [News] |
Hon Birgitta Ohlsson, a member of the Swedish Folk Party who is a friend of Democracy and a friend of Somaliland has sent her own speech to be read on her behalf by Ms. Rhoda Elmi.
Hon. Ohlsson began her speech with the best Muslim greeting: ‘Peace be upon you.’
As a friend of Democracy and a friend of KULMIYE, I sent my greetings to the participants of the congress. I usually compare Somaliland to a young blossoming flower that needs nurturing which is surrounded with thorny dictatorial governments.
Somaliland’s democracy is like a tiny weak flower that needs nurturing and water to grow. It needs the support of its friends both inside the country like you and outside the country like me and other parties of the world.
I wanted to be here to take part of the conference of a major party in this country on its first steps to strengthen democracy but I am in Zimbabwe, a country now far from democracy. Therefore, I am hoping that KULMIYE will take the steps to enforce democracy in order to lead the country and the people in the right direction. I am hoping that KULMIYE will protect freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
I am hoping that KULMIYE will assign women posts of higher calibre. Otherwise the development of the country will stagnate and will not progress. KULMIYE should take the lead role of building the capacity of women and allowing them powerful positions so that they can be positive role models for women. I urge you to keep on protecting the human rights of citizens. Treating its citizens with dignity is Somaliland’s key to achieving recognition from the international community. Remember, there won’t be democracy if the people are not free. There won’t be democracy if there are no opposition parties. There won’t be transparency without free media. There won’t be fair society if there aren’t women in powerful positions. I hope that KULMIYE becomes successful in building a democratic, fair and equal society.
I am very hopeful that I will be with you on the coming election and that this election will be as peaceful as the last one. Somaliland’s strength is the path of democracy it has chosen to take. Continue on that path because that is the path of success.
Best Wishes
Birgitta Ohlsson