COMMUNIQUE : CAFIS Conference in Turku

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COMMUNIQUE

CAFIS Conference

5^th– 6^th July 2017

Turku – Finland

CAFIS (Forgiving) Conference on 5^th -6^th July in Turku, Finland was held through the arrangement of self-designated Somali journalists. Participants of the Conference were prominent Journalists, international scholars and civil society organizations from Finland, England, Switzerland and Somalia. The conference had enjoyed as well the participation of Djibouti Lawmaker. After Discussions and genuine and true case studies the Somali Forgiveness Campaign was kicked off.

Finnish Peace Defenders (Suomen Rauhan puolustajat) with the collaboration of The Somali Association of Western Finland (LSSRY) and Finland- Somalia Association facilitated this Conference, which was architected by Somali Journalists, who deeply contemplated to perceive their obligation to take a leading role for the revitalization of the craved Somali peace through media

The conference was opened by Elina Rantanen, Chairwoman of the city Council of Turku, whose town hosted the Conference in the historic Turku Castle has welcomed and praised the importance of this Conference for the current Somalia and promised to support the Conference and the upcoming Forgiveness Campaign.

The Executive Director of the Finnish Peace Defenders Committee, Mr. Teemu Matinpuro in his opening remarks called the initiative of forgiveness among Somalis an important Step for Building a better Somalia.

“As we know the political development in Somalia is now in a new face and there is a lot of hope in the new government and new political leadership in the Somalia government.” Teemu Matinpuro, Executive Director of Finnish Peace Committee said in his opening remarks, “But I think any change for better in Somalia would need all Somalis whether they are Finnish Somalis or somewhere else in the diaspora or in Somalia.”

“I think in this process of forgiveness after all those years of complicated conflict is the first step for building a better Somalia. Lets hope that this conference would be a staring point of that process” Mr. Matinpuro added.

Wali Hashi, who is one of the founders of the forgiveness program, took the floor, which after greetings told the participants the Forgiveness campaign has been initiated by several journalists in Finland and Somalia.

“After thorough consultations, we have realized that we as journalists can initiate this very historic program named Forgiveness. ”Wali Hashi, a veteran Somali journalist who is one of the founders of this program said, “Through this program we aim to spread the message of forgiveness with practical case studies.”

“We will not stop our forgiveness campaign until this message reaches every Somali household whether in Somalia or abroad.” Mr. Wali added.

Sagal Kahie, from Somali Association of Western Finland (Länsi-Suomen Somaliseura ry) and Yusuf Mubarak from Finland-Somalia Association whose organizations facilitated the conference were among the keynote speakers at the opening session of the conference.

During the two days of the conference participants acknowledged that Forgiveness issue is necessary and vital for the health and wellbeing of individuals and of the community as well.

Participants of the conference also debated and at the end and emphasised that only people does not need to forgive each other, but Somalis should ask Forgiveness their trees and land for the desertification guilty.

CAFIS Conference participants praised activities of self-designated youth and scholars behind the idea of this Conference and appealed as well to continue their efforts tirelessly until the fruits of Forgiveness are harvested and verified that Forgiveness message reaches every household and person.

The most emotional thing during the Conference was question among other question that 11-years old Somali girl asked the participants, question that compelled everyone in the Conference to shed tears. This heart-touching question asked by this girl was ”I am a child, but I can not understand why day in and day out Somali children just like me are killed”.

1. The conference participants acknowledged that the Somali people are tired of endless violence and are now ready to break the walls of the conflict, “followed by application of Forgiveness among all Somalis which will become the pillars of re-conciliation and the re-birth of the new Somalia.

2. It is necessary every peace activist should start the Forgiveness campaign to create an atmosphere of start creating an atmosphere of Forgiveness by starting himself and his family.’

3. It was agreed that Forgiveness is not designated to a special group and every body either officials or civilians must contribute his role in the Forgiveness campaign

4. The participants unreservedly and unconditionally has shown how they are happy and are willing to take active role toward the Forgiveness campaign promising that the process of Forgiveness should not be left here but advised to be continue similar conferences among the diaspora communities and inside Somalia in support of this campaign.

5. The conference participants call for reconciliation process held in Somalia between13-17 June 2017 by the Somali government to give the Forgiveness issue high priority as part of the reconciliation program.

Appeal

The launch of the CAFIS (forgiveness) campaign in Turku calls for the Somalis wherever they are to forgive one another and demand Forgiving.

In the end of CAFIS Conference some of the historic verses of Reconciliation poem by Abshir Nuur Farah (Ba’adle) were recited

You elders and intellectuals, take this golden opportunity,

You people support the reconciliation,

You women and children, seek the peace from your hearts,

You assailant youth put off the brimstone,

You well invested scholars, pay back your loans,

You religious sect leaders, tell honestly,

You loathed places, re- fraternize again

The end

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