Somaliland Forum Media Release Monday March 26, 2001 Ref.SF/EC-30-2001
The Somaliland Forum is delighted to learn that the President of the Somaliland Republic has confirmed that the referendum on the Republic’s Constitution will now be held in May or June 2001.
The Constitution, which was in operation since early 1997, re-affirms the nation’s democratic state structures and the fundamental rights of all individuals. The Constitution, which was preceded by the National Charter adopted by the nation in 1993 and the declaration of the re-assertion of the sovereignty of the Republic of Somaliland in May 1991, also confirms the unequivocal voice of the Somaliland people to decide their own destiny as a free, independent nation, which is keen to live in peace and harmony with all its neighbours. We are confident that the referendum shall carry that voice across all continents.
The Somaliland Forum pledges that it will support, in anyway possible, the people and the Government of Somaliland in conducting the referendum. We applaud the Government’s determination to conduct the referendum at a time when the ban on livestock export to the Arabian Gulf countries has led to serious financial difficulties.
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We would welcome the referendum to be held on or before the 26th June – a date which marks the birth of the Somaliland Republic in 1960 and the first period in which the Republic stood as an independent country before the ill-fated voluntary union with Somalia in July 1960.
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We call on all Somalilanders to use this opportunity to send another clear message to the whole world, as they have already done, by their own deeds, since 1991.
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We call on all countries and non-governmental agencies to extend to the Somaliland people any assistance they can in making this endeavour a success.
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We impress on all nations and the international organisations to heed the voice of the Somaliland people and to extend to them the formal recognition their Republic so richly deserves.
SOMALILAND FORUM
Background: The Somaliland Forum (SLF) is an international organization that brings together Somalilanders from all parts of the world mainly, through the medium of the Internet. The primary objective of the Forum is to work with the Somaliland communities around the world in order to provide some lasting solutions to the needs of the Republic of Somaliland and its people. For more information, Please visit forum’s web site at:
www.somalilandforum.com