8 December 2005 The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has won a prestigious international press freedom award, the first ever international prize for a journalists’ organization in the history of Somalia’s defense of press freedom. The Reporters Without Borders - Fondation de France International Press Freedom Defender Award is an exemplary recognition of the union’s tenacious fight to defend the international principle of press freedom in a country ravaged by internal warfare, which has gone almost 15 years without effective government or law enforcement bodies. Omar Faruk, NUSOJ Secretary General (Left) and Robert Menard, RSF Secretary General (Right) Press freedom is highly imperilled in Somalia by armed thugs and repressive regional authorities who are seeking to gain control of the country’s various territories. Murderous warlords, who are battling to rule the country, increasingly use confrontations with rival warlords as justification for infringing the freedom and rights of journalists. Accepting the award at a ceremony in Paris last night, NUSOJ Secretary General Omar Faruk Osman said “I would like to thank Reporters Without Borders and Fondation de France for honouring the National Union of Somali Journalists with this celebrated international Press Freedom Defender Award. I hope it will have a momentous impact on the current state of freedom of the press and expression in our war-wracked countryâ€. Omar Faruk Osman said in his acceptance speech that NUSOJ had in 2005 alone monitored, investigated and reported on more than 15 cases of murdered reporters, detained journalists, suspended media institutions, censored media houses and constant intimidation against media professionals. “Journalists are abused because of what they write, say or what they bring into the open – information that someone else wants to stay hiddenâ€, he added. http://www.nusoj.org/

^^^ Lets not make it too complicated sxb. I can assure you, the project is in the hands of qualified men and women who are trying to do the right thing.

Castro Where did you get this Cheney quote saaxib? Could you provide us the source please? Here is your source sxb. But don't ask me why the CNN, Aljazeera and the BBC did not consider this a news worthy. http://datelinehollywood.com/archives/2005/11/28/cheney-calls-syriana-movie-of-the-year/ Castro Arabs were shown to be intelligent, educated, generous and aware of their wealth and how it's being squandered. Castro sxb, the movie has some positive as well as some negative sides to it as far as how the Muslims and the Arabs are portrayed. However, on a positive note, I have to concede Syriana as well as Kingdom of heaven is not your typical Us(American) VS them (Arab/Muslim) type of movie. Which is a good start sxb. Positive statements such as "Arabs are family oriented" said by the wife of one of the main character(Matt Damon)is rare in Hollywood and a step in the right direction. Two powerfull and controversial movies to watch are Paradise and Munich.

I am thinking of seeing it too although I am the type who does not give a f**k about what happens outside his doors.I saw the preview on Apple and it seems interesting. When FBI breaks into your home, because your name sounds Arab or Islam, then you'll give much thought before saying such a statement. I saw Syriana and its cleverly designed to mislead the World as most Hollywood movies are when it comes to how they portray Arabs and Muslims. Anything bad or uncivilized that they discussed in the movie happens to be a Muslim country. The most troubling part of the movie is when they portray Islam as a backward and violent religion. High class hotel in dubai was even given to Spain in the movie to get their point across that there is no pretty things to be seen in that part of the World except death and destruction. This is what Cheney had to say. Vice President Dick Cheney: "Syriana" "the best film I’ve seen in years. Syriana’ is the first film I have ever seen that recognizes and celebrates the power of America’s greatest friend, oil.†Although the movie sends mainly a negative message, it has some positive parts including digging the dark side of the big oil companies, the CIA, and the US government. And my favourite the Arab Emir who is trying to imporove the lives of his people.

This is a noble project designed to benefit the noble people of Somalia. If I'm not mistaken we are all agreed about that fact, working together to achieve for the common good.

I don't see no funny pics here. I see respected elders discussing some serious business. Having lunch on a Mattress is quite funny!! I don't see no mattress here. Maybe what you see is fadhi carbeed.

So my friend, ONLF might indeed be representing the interests of a certain qabiil, but that should haven't stopped other Somalis from working with ONLF since both are working towards the same goal. This is simply a case of Tuuk tuuk kale dhahaaya tuuk. You can't accuse ppl of the very thing you indulge. Sxb, are you suggesting all other Somali clans in Somali galbeed to create their own clan-based militias like the O N L F or that of Somalia. Don't you think other Somali communities would have taken thier part to achieve this "same goal" if there was no O N L F but a united Somali group like that of Western Somali Liberation Front (WSLF).

Che-Guevara These men had one time the oppurtunity to free their people, and infact every Somali district south of Xamar from the chains of the Maxaa tiri boys from North, instead they decided to dance to the tunes of IndhaCade and Yeey, and Baydhabo becomes a place of contention everytime some " Somali Peace reconciliation" is concluded. Very true. self-serving and opportunistic Warlords are all the same. They only Protect their own interests, not that of the country and the people.

it looks too much like a mosque. don't mean to sound unsupportive but it looks too unrealistic. with the bridge and the drive way and well........the whole thing. might as well draw a castle in a wooden clearing. i say if you are going to dream, don't go all the way into the clouds but stay with reality;just draw a building or buildings that do look extradinory forget the rest and use it as maybe... scholarships. What is wrong with looking like a mosque? Remember, Mosques were once the top learning centers of Islam. And what is wrong with dreaming doing big things? What makes you think this project will not be successfull. Clarify your cloudy ideas, make usefull connections and share it with us.

Warlord Yusuf fits in perfectly. Dictators, Warlords, Kings, Killers...the list goes on.

Somalia today=survival of the fitest. Might makes right. Remember some Somali clans will choose to stay within Ethiopia than to be part of a clan state ruled by the ONLF.

Tukaale sxb, This is long-term project. It will start functioning as soon as enough faculties get built. Don't be pessimistic. Don't you think they did feasibility studies before they start this huge project./ Tukaale OOoh and Proper government is a must or otherwise any thug malitia's will take over and ruin what was built in years less than seconds. Is this a joke or what? We have more Universities now than under dictator Siyaad../

Unique architecture! I love it. Positive news sxb.

Scholars Set OIC Summit Agenda "The report has been turned into a 10-year plan to restructure the Islamic nation," said Prince Saud. RIYADH, December 5, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – For the first time ever in the history of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Muslim scholars have played a pivotal role in setting the agenda of the Islamic summit, due to kick off Wednesday, December 7, in the holy city of Makkah, a Saudi daily reported Monday, December 5. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal said, in statements published by the English-language Arab News, that scholars have prepared a detailed report on the Muslim world’s pressing issues and predicaments to form as the agenda of the summit. "The report has been turned into a 10-year plan to restructure the Islamic nation," he said, adding that the plan "will pave the way for more Islamic integration and cooperation." Kings and presidents from the 57-member OIC will meet for a special two-day summit called by Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz. Presidents of Iran, Syria, Sudan, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates as well as the kings of Morocco and Bahrain have already confirmed their attendance. OIC foreign ministers were expected to meet on Tuesday in the Red Sea city of Jeddah in western Saudi Arabia to draft the summit agenda. Fighting Extremism The plan drafted by scholars includes proposals to strengthen an Islamic academy of jurists to counter militants who use religion to justify violence. Prince Saud explained that by issuing unified fatwas, the academy would prevent the deviants from spreading their evil ideologies. Officials say the OIC leaders will highlight Islam’s peaceful message -- with the twin aim of tackling domestic extremism and answering critics who link Islam with terrorism. The summit will agree on two documents: the "Makkah Declaration" which contains "the true principles and common vision of a moderate Islam," and the "Program of action to modernize the OIC," according to Agence France-Presse (AFP). AFP has further learnt that the attendees will confirm a name change for the body to become the "Organization of Islamic Countries". OIC spokesman Atta Manan said the scholars also made proposals for tackling Islamophobia, for managing conflict and dealing with problems faced by Muslim minorities in the West. “Makkah Visa†"We don’t seek a UN-style body, but we want to have a crucial say in the resolutions adopted by the world body," said Ihsanoglu. The summit will also discuss proposals for a "Makkah Visa" to reduce obstacles to business and raise trade between Muslim countries to 20 percent of their trade from 13 percent now, Reuters reported. "The Makkah Visa will be a kind of Schengen visa," said Manan, referring to the bloc of European Union nations which allow document-free travel across their borders. He added that the scholars also made proposals on women empowerment. "Women should play a role. They are largely marginalized now, but they should play an effective role in society." The summit will also focus on economic issues and challenges facing the nation. The establishment of a crisis fund by the Islamic Development Bank will be discussed by the summiteers. At the 21st annual session of the OIC's permanent committee for economic and commercial cooperation (COMCEC) in Istanbul on November 24, OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu called for a free trade zone among Islamic nations "in the near future." Turkey also proposed that OIC member countries collectively design and build a passenger plane. OIC Charter Ihsanoglu on Sunday, December 4, said the current charter of the pan-Muslim body was no longer able to rise to the demands of the Muslim peoples and countries. He told the Saudi Al-Watan daily that the summit would debate proposals to amend the 34-year-old charter. The OIC chief said the proposed changes include activating the only on-paper Islamic court of justice through signing up to an agreement. Turkish Ihsanoglu, who took office in January, pledged that the OIC would play a key role on the international and regional arenas. "We don’t seek a UN-style body, but we want to have a crucial say in the resolutions adopted by the world body," he told the newspaper, adding that the OIC was eyeing a permanent UN Security Council seat. The OIC was set up in Rabat, Morocco, on September 25, 1969 in reaction to an Israeli arson attack against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on August 21, 1969. The 57-member OIC groups Muslim nations in the Middle East, North and West Africa, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent in addition to Albania, Guyana, and Surinam. In March 1970, the first meeting for OIC foreign ministers was held in Jeddah. The participants appointed a secretary general and chose Jeddah as the headquarters of the OIC, pending the liberation of Al-Quds, which would be the permanent host.

Cheerleaders, I wonder if you will ever end your blind date with warlord Yusuf.

Togane is not a good role model KIDS! Stay away from his R-rated website.

What do women find attractive in Man's body. Its an open question?

ONLF has always been representing the interests of a certain qabiil in Somali Galbeed. Nothing more sxb.

We all have disease called qabil and culture that has nothing to do with Islam. I agree you 100%. Success of our Ummah will only come when we sincerely follow the Quran and the Sunnah NOT THE EVILS OF CULTURE. It's good that somalis are 99% muslims alhamdululah, It's really a gift from God. I would say that somalis are good people. But There is a problem with them. You touched important issues that we have to deal with if we want to create a better Somalia. I would urge you to figureout ways to work with ignorant Somalis in your area instead of throwing eggs at them. It has gone now 8 months since I prayed in a mosque, I've taken that desicion in my lifem, To never pray in a mosque with false people whom prey on each other. Huge mistake! The Masjid is the house of Allah - Subhaanahu wa Ta 'Aala. I kindly advice you to reconsider your decisions. wcs

The vote was rigged, I tell ya!! Liibaan, should we do a re-count? Curling Waterfall, this makes SOL more interesting.

Given Al-Jazeera's history of being a mouthpiece of US's opponents, I'm not all too surprised the US wanted to bomb them Then can we rightly claim that you are the mouthpiece of US government.

Yes there are Somali families living NB. Are you planning to move there?

What if it's your work that was stolen? I would be mad thats for sure. Lets help expose the ugly face of plagiarism.

code: it snows in London? MMA beautiful images sxb... wish i was there. The pics are from Toronto I believe. Bone-chilling cold in T.O. is just starting to make love to its residents, more honeymoon months coming.

ONLF is no different than USC and the other numerous Somali factions, all claiming to be fighting for Pan-Somalism-But one basic truth remains, they are all Qabiil based and only serve the interests of Qabiil Hebel.