DREAM OF A FIELD

Beneath the overplanted field, the tangle of roots obstructs what burrows, and a shower is no sooner squandered than despised for its brevity.

In the field’s dream, a drought starves nearly all the crop but for a few scattered slips. Then, then, the rain.

Carrie Etter

newspaper, Haatuf. They were only released at the end of March, after being detained for 86 days on charges of allegedly spreading false information and offending the President. This worrying abuse of press freedom was, however, an exceptional curtailment of what is nowadays a fairly open and free media. Despite these flaws, Somalilanders have demonstrated, without any pressure from the West, that a Muslim country can build a peaceful, democratic state committed to upholding human rights. It is a model for Africa and the Middle East. Yet Somaliland remains unrecognised as a sovereign nation. While the United Nations and the international community focus their attention on the civil war in Somalia, Somaliland’s achievement in building a stable, harmonious nation is unacknowledged and unrewarded. Betrayed by the Arab League and the African Union, it stands alone. Instead of singularly condemning Africa’s failures, isn’t it time the West did more to recognise and support its successes? Sweden and Germany are moving towards diplomatic recognition, but not Britain. Somaliland wants to join the Commonwealth but has so far been

rebuffed. This rejection sends all the wrong signals. It is time Britain changed course. We should push the Commonwealth and the European Union to recognise Somaliland as an independent, sovereign state; and lobby the African Union, the Arab League and the United Nations to do likewise. A modest increase in British and EU aid and trade would go a long way to strengthen Somaliland’s economic base. Tackling poverty and unemployment, and improving health, education and housing, would help underpin and enhance Somaliland’s development as a beacon in the region. Over to you, Gordon Brown.

Peter Tatchell is a leading human rights campaigner. For more information about his work, visit www.petertatchell.net

AND SO IT CAME TO NOTHING

And so it came to nothing – all that had been so fine to behold: no chambers of stone, no palace or dwelling; no shambles, no suet, no Temple or offering; no wheels, no immersion, no flesh for transgression; no altar, no wine, no loaves in a row; no blood, no veil, no incense or coal; no smoke, no ashes no splendour, no robes; no priest, no wilderness, no appointment by lot; no scapegoat, no cliff, no country cut off.

Shelomo Ibn Gabirol (1021/22–c.1057/58) trans. Peter Cole

WASTED SUMMER

Fallow soil crumbles without seed or root.

Only dust in dry weather sticks to the boot.

In rainfall the mud runs like blood underfoot.

Ben Markovits

CASA DE PILATOS

It is too hot to think. Even if we could think all we would think is Hot. Plant-like shade trembling grows out of a plant. Walls of tile insist on walls of tile. Observe how slight the increments of variation.

Palm statuary and mosaic interrupt each other. Shadow and sunshine exaggerate. The trees have stopped. Only the fountains drip. From the balcony on the roof the view extends over other balconies and roofs.

A man in overalls holding a thin brush stands on a scaffold and erases the brown accretion of years inch by inch while day by day imperceptibly the brown accretion of years pursues him.

Ben Markovits

Autumn 2007 | The Liberal | 17