PRESS FREEDOM
VIOLATIONS IN SOMALIA
(August 2002-
August 2003)
August 28, 2003:
The Transitional National Assembly (TNA) passed a new press law
obliged all media to be licensed by the government and forbidding
the publication of any material supposed contrary to the common
interest. Also this law forbids criticizing government officials
or reporting on government secrets. Following another round of
strikes and protests by journalists, the president promised to
return the law to parliament for revision. The issue remained
unresolved as of August 31, 2003.
January 17, 2003:
Armed militias owned by Mohammed Dielaf, famous businessman in
Mogadishu, attacked Horn Afrik Media Inc.,. in retaliation of a
HornAfrik’s news of a book that identifies the businessman as a
terrorist . This action happened a Friday afternoon that people in
Mogadishu were resting and listening the radio. Both equipment and
employees were harmless, and the radio was aired near the mid
night of the same day after serious talks. SOJON team visited the
HornAfrik premises for examination of the situation.
January 24, 2003:
Abdullahi Madkeer was gunshot in the airport of Baidao, the Bay
region, by one of the airport militias for nameless purpose. He
died at Baido Hospital few minutes after he was brought. Abdullahi
Madkeer, a famous journalist in Bay and Bakol regions, was working
with private radio station called DMS in Baidoa. Before DMC, late
Abdullahi was working with Radio Baidoa. Baidao is under the
control of Rahanweyn Resistance Army (RRA).
January 26, 2003:
Mr. Hilaal Sheik Shuab, a reporter working with Radio DMC Baidoa
was roughly injured in Baidoa. Militiamen fired Hilaal and other
people in the center of Baidoa; Bullets went through some part of
his head and scratched some of his nerves. Mr. Hilal was treated
in Baidoa, and he is still managing to be normal.
February 18,
2003:
Nux Musse Birjeb was arrested in Bosaso after the Puntland
regional state of Somalia accused him for the publication of Ra’yi
Press, which was not authorized by the regional state. But after
days he was released for the demand of journalists. Nux was
working with Somali Diaspora based website. Journalists in
Puntland are suffering great pressure from the local authority.
April 16, 2003:
Omar Faruk Osman was harassed in Mogadishu by the police forces of
the Transnational National Government of Somalia. This hunting was
about a picture published on Ruukinet.com (Web site) on 26/03/03
by the management of Ruunkinet in London, where as the Presidency
stuff gave him earlier a warning about this photo. Police sought
him at his home and SOJON’s office in Mogadishu. Omar Faruk Osman
is head of correspondents of Ruunkinet and at the same time is the
Secretary General of Somali Journalists Network (SOJON). Omar
escaped from Mogadishu, and is now in Nairobi, Kenya.
May 12, 2003:
Militias demanding ransom kidnapped Eng. Sharif Mohammed of Radio
Banadir in Mogadishu. The Engineer was held in Towfiq district,
but was released after more than a month of detention without
payment. Sharif Mohammed is the technician of Radio Banadir.
Business people in Mogadishu created radio Banadir Broadcasting.
May 31, 2003:
Ali Mohammed Halani, Somali journalist, was threatened and abused
by US troops in Baghdad, as he was the Islamic online
correspondent in Baghdad. Ali said that a U.S. patrol stopped
their car and snatched their digital camera, while five soldiers
pointed their weapons at him, took them forcibly to an
out-of-the-street post and treated them inhumanely. He said the
soldiers violently pushed him and knocked him against the car,
leaving him with bruises covering his arms, knees and his
collarbone. After half an hour he was released, and left from
Baghdad.
June 25, 2003:
Maka’il Rashid Barre of Shabelle Radio was arrested in port town
Marka, Lower Shabelle region, by the area responsible military
forces of the Transitional government after his station published
a military destruction of markets in the region. Mak’il was
released after days in jail without any legal action.
July 01, 2003:
Abdurahman Mohamed Hassan (Hudeyfi) and Hussein Mohamed Geddi (Heynuf)
of Radio Banadir in Mogadishu were jailed by the police of the TNG
after the deputy mayor of Mogadishu accused them that they had
stolen his mobile telephone. But the mobile was taken from the
deputy mayor by other journalist so as to get in touch with his
station and then returned to the deputy. Abdurahman Hudeyfi and
Hussein Heynuf were in CID without eating and drinking for illegal
detention, but they were freed after torture as they said in a
press conference.
August 24, 2003:
Two Somali independent Journalists were imprisoned In Galkaio of
Puntland regional state without any obvious purpose. Those victims
are Adam Nur Mohamed, Member Of Somali Speaking Pen and Editor of
Yameyska Weekly Press in Galkaio, and Dahir Abdulkader (Afloa),
member of Ex. Bulsho Weekly News Paper. Galkaio Adminstration of
Puntland ordered this action that detained the journalists, and
were in the detention center about 28 hrs as Adan Nur Mohamed told
SOJON Information Officer. Always the administration of Puntland
put worry on journalists and does not permit them to do their
profession unreservedly.
By:
Somali Journalists Network (SOJON)
|
