International News
Somaliland urges people to take part in UK census
March 11, 2011 · 25 Comments
LONDON — The Somaliland Community in UK, Somaliland Community Census Campaign Committee, other Somaliland communities in EU and the government of Somaliland this week urged the Somaliland people in UK to take part in the 2011 Census, to “reflect accurately the various communities that live in the British diverse society.”
They also called upon Somalilanders in England and Wales to register themselves not as Somali but as Somalilanders, believing it will help the larger cause.
Here is their full statement:
On 27th March 2011 all households in England and Wales will be asked to complete the 2011 Census forms. The Census results will be used by public bodies to plan their services to the public. It is important that the Census results reflect accurately the various communities that live in the British diverse society. That is why questions about national origin, ethnic origin, religion ect are included in the Census.
There is a campaign to make sure that you record and identify yourself as a Somalilander. The data generated from this census can be useful to us for the next 10years in terms statistical date and predictions for the future- particularly in areas of remittance, micro development, date on age, education and earnings of Somalilands and Diaspora lead development (or lack of them in the future).
There is a large community of Somalilanders in the UK and considering they make up to almost 60% of Somaliland’s income it is vital and important for practical reason and for academic reasons that we know how many in numbers are here.
This census gives us an opportunity, for the first time, to highlight our Somaliland identity. You can do so by noting: Somaliland as your country of birth, if that is the case (Question 9), and Somalilander as your national identity (Question 15) and Somalilander as your ethnic group (Question 16).
Identity is important.
Question 15 (as can be seen below) asks you to describe your national identity. To indicate your Somaliland national origin, tick [√] “Other” and then write in the box: SOMALILANDER.
You can also tick [√] BRITISH or more of the other boxes, as appropriate, in your case
Question 16 asks for your ethnic group. To indicate your ethnic group, tick [√] again “Other” and then write in the box: SOMALILANDER.
SOMALILANDERS have lived in the United Kingdom for a century. However, we are invisible and our distinct Somaliland identity has not been reflected in official statistics.
“Personal census information is kept confidential for 100 years and is not shared with government’sdepartments”.
For more information:
Contact the Somaliland Community Census Campaign Committee on 0208 848 1180 for West London, 07951016681 for North London and 07903712949 for East London.
For further info visit: http://2011.census.gov.uk/en/index.php
Published by the Somaliland Community Census Campaign Committee 2011
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Readers Comments (25)
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WAXAAN KA CODSANAYNAA BULSHADA REER SOMALILAND EE KU DHAQAN UK INAY IS DIIWAAN GALIYAAN OO AY QAATAN FORMAKA SIDA LOO OGAADO TIRADA SOMALILANDERKA AH WAXNA LOO GU QABTO ICTIRAAFKUNA UU U FUDUDAADO
WAXAAN KA CODSANAYNAA BULSHADA REER SOMALILAND EE KU DHAQAN DALKA UK INAY IS DIIWAAN GALIYAAN OO AY MUUJIYAAN MUWAADINIMO OO AY U HIILIYAAN DALKOODA IYO DADKOODA MAANTA
TAASOO WAXS BADAN KA QAADAN DOONTA ICTIRAAF KA SOMALILAND
MARKAA QOF KASTA OO KU ABTIRSADA JAMHUURIYADA SOMALILAND WAA INUU IS DIIWAAN GALIYAA MAANTAA OO AH CHANE WEY OO DALKA UK U FIDIYAYA DADKA REER SOMALILAND OO LA OGAANAYO TIRADOODA IYO RABITAANKOODA
MAANSHAALH MAR HADII DAWALADA UK AY I FIDISAY BULSHADA DIIWAAN GALIU TAASOO WAX BADAN KA TARI DOONTA JIRITAANKA SOMALILAND
Well its good to have an identity, I do not agree you should tick all boxes or put "Others". I will explain to you how you should do it. Before I suggest that, lets first understand something. What is the census asking for? What is Somalia? Who is Somali? What is Somalilander?
First of all we have to differentiate between two things; ethnicity and nationality. People have to decide, which is more important, ethnic group or nationality?
An ethnic group (or ethnicity) is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture (often including a shared religion).
While Nationality is membership of a nation or sovereign state. Citizenship is determined by jus soli, jus sanguinis, or naturalization. In some areas of the world, one's nationality is determined by their ethnicity, rather than citizenship.
Now let me explain, first of if I take us (Somalilanders) as an example, are we "Somalilanders"? or are we "Somalis". The answer is we are both. Ethnically we are Somali, so are the people of Djibouti, east Ethiopia, Northern Kenya and those in Somalia. We are also Somalilanders politically or by citizenship. Its just like Arabs, they are all Arabs by ethnicity but politically they are all citizens of a different state (Iraqis, Palestinians, Jordanians, etc).
So decide, are u loyal to citizenship (Somaliland) or ethnic?
Basically where it says ETHNIC tick or put SOMALI
Where it says NATIONALITY put BRITISH and SOMALIALNDER.
Its not about your nationality (British/Dutch or Something else). Its about your ethnicity. We want to set our ethnicity to Somalilander and not Somali. This will help us to know how many Somailanders are in UK. If we are big number than we have quite a lot of advantages. If you use Somali than you are helping those people from south Somali. Its very important for our identity to register your self as Somalilander.
No, you emphasise your Somaliland-ness and thus put Somaliland and Somalilander in where appropriate. Please, don't mislead people. People of Djabouti do not identify themselves as Somali in any form, and Somalilanders should do no different.
Plus, not every so called Somali speaks Somali language, and I am not sure if those who are slaughtering people in Somalia can be called Muslims. So, our differences are major and more then people, who know little about these nations and communities, often suggst.
Calm down. I am one of the biggest Somaliland supporters but I am been realistic. We are all Somali by ETHNIC which means nothing because if ethnic matters, a lot of groups in Ethiopia would not be considered "Ethiopian". We should be loyal to citizenship and state, rather than tribes, ethnics.
Ethnic vs citizenship? Are You British or Somalian (from Somalia), British or Somalilander? British or Muslim?
No question asked the first thing we always choose is MUSLIM, then Somalilander, then Somali, then tribes, then sub, then family name then dividual.
Somali means nothing just like Arab means nothing, its just a group name but no unity no love no government nothing. Its empty shell.
Sorry I forgot to add, you should take this census because its good to have an identity within multicultural UK. Like I said, for Somalis from Somalia maybe ethnicity matters to them which is premitive and never works, in the developed world its all about nationality and citizenship. What I mean by that is see, you can be ethnic Somali and a BRITISH, if you have British citizenship, you are British regardless of your ethnicity. So that means in places like Somalia who advocate for "one language, one culture, one religion"–others can not become a "Somalian".
Somaliland has to define it self different and give meaning to identity, Somalilanders is not Isaaq, Daroods, Samarons or Isse but also Oromos, Ethiopians, Brits for example John Drysdale, he lived in Somaliland since 1940s. He is not Somali by ethnic but he is a Somalilander.
So if you are in UK and have the citizenship, please be loyal to UK and enjoy all your rights, value citizenship above ethnicity. Do not see your self as a foreigner if your citizen, this is how things operate in your new country so follow their system and express yourselves.
You can be a British other, and in this case; British/Somalilander. Not a rocket science, and GB does not reject its citizens to hold one more nationality.
oh please somaliland= clan ( a sub tribe ) lets not insult our inteligence. somaliland happy for you for wanting to be independent as long you let dhulbahante people choose their futue.
because it means one problem down.
the truth face of somalidiid kkkkkkk
just leave us alone we dont want to be somalia we are somaliland and we are proud we dont want you people from somalia do you understand that. we dont want you, we are not the same peopel
you right we are not the same people becaus you are ethiopian.
lo! I just got that census posted to me this week. Thanks for the advice.
Sanaag,
What is more somalidiid than killing somalis? and making wars?and conflict?
I agree with kayse on the point of anyone being a Somalilander,as long as they lived long enough in Somaliland and pay their taxes as a tribute to being Loyal to the state.
The should launch a census in America as well..I lived in America for 21 years but was born in Burco 1987 and even though I with hold an American citizenship, I still declare myself loyal to my birth place Somaliland..It's never where you live, its where you from…Just my opinion, because even America treats their own citizens as dirt..
That's misleading. The American citizenship becomes the naturalised nationality and the
country of origin remains as a backup dual bilateral heritage assets depending on any given bilaws
of different countries laws. Somali Americans are in no hurry for such moves yet and can wait untill
such time the Somaliland Somalia settle their differences and their Immigration laws are clearly
defined and legal universal travelling passport(s) are agreed upon then these exercises would be
simplified and executed in proper fashion.
Cheers.
If you are not born in the UK, just put Somaliland instead of Somalia.
Somaliland embassy and community leaders should take aggressive campaign for creating awareness in all somaliand citizens in UK.
Stop misleading people Keyse. You are either a Somali or a Somalilander you Cant be both. Tick the other and write proudly Somalilander
i usually ignore these kind of things from the goverment but now i will have to do it so i can make sure that somaliland identity is recognised i will do anything it takes to tell people that somalia and people from somaliland are different. we all not somalies, us somalilanders are somalilanders, leave us alone haters we are not the samre people, just like djaboti are different from somalia we are different from somalia, long live somaliland
Mr. Kayse i always fellow your comments and i admire your beautifull ideas. Knowing that you are a through Somalilander from heart NEVER compare Somali with Somalilnder.ok.
For Somalilanders in UK: It is a wonderfull pride not to loose our own roots and identity. OK
Please fill the form proudly with SOMAILANDER.
GOD SAVE PRESIDENT SIILAANYO. OK. HA HA HA.
Mr. Kayse knowing that you are a through somalilander from heart NEVER compare somalia wih somaliland.ok.
Fo somalilanders in UK: It is a wonderfull pride to know your roots origen and identity.ok.
Please fill the form with SOMALILANDER: ok.
GOD SAVE PRESIDENT SIILAAYO. OK.