NUSOJ Expresses Concern at Deterioration of Press Freedom Situation in Somaliland
August 19, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is concerned about continuing campaign against independent journalists in Somaliland following arrest, detention and torture of journalists.
On Thursday, 13 August, Somaliland police in port town of Berbera arrested online journalist Yasin Jama Ali for two opinions published on berberanews.com, a website that Yasin works for. The prosecutor charged Yasin Jama Ali and editor-in-chief of the website Mohamed Said Abdullahi (in absentia) for spreading "scandals against the nation". Yasin was brought to court on Sunday, 16 August but the prosecutor asked more time and the judge accepted.
Journalists in Somaliland told NUSOJ that the said opinions were from the public and were talking about the upcoming elections, misuse of the resources collected from Berbera seaport for one political party and criticism to Somaliland authorities for no action. Yasin Jama is also stringer for Radio Horyaal, which is banned in Somaliland.
On 30th July, Fowsi Suleyman Awbindi, who works for Radio Horyaal, was arrested by police in Buro' for sending "false report" to the Radio station, according to Radio Horyaal. He was neither brought to court nor charged formally, but still being detained at the police station.
On Monday, 17 August, four armed thugs had attacked and terribly beaten journalist Ali Adan Dahir in Erigabo, according to journalists in Hargeisa. The police arrested the four suspects in the same day but the Governor of Erigabo freed the suspected men from the police station yesterday, 18 August.
"We express our deep concern at the deterioration of press freedom situation in Somaliland. Outspoken journalists continue to be attacked and intimidated. Independent media houses are also chosen and pressured," said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.
NUSOJ calls on Somaliland President Dahir Riyale Kahin and his government to address the deteriorating press freedom climate in Somaliland, and to publicly state their arrangements to guarantee that the condition for journalists and the media houses gets better prior to the approaching election.
SOURCE
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ)
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