Liibaan Posted July 17, 2009 Journalists arrested, beaten in Somalia's breakaway regions: RSF (AFP) – 3 hours ago NAIROBI — Two journalists were arrested and a television station shut down in Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland while several others were beaten in the self-declared state of Punltand, a media watchdog said Friday. The two Somaliland journalists Ahmed Saleban Dhuhul and Sayid Osman Mire were arrested Monday after police raided a private radio station in the region's capital Hargeisa, Reporters Without Borders said in a statement. They were accused by Somaliland president Dahir Riyale of stirring a tribal dispute that killed four people, while the region's attorney general ordered a local TV station shut for airing the same dispute. In Puntland, police attacked and beat up several journalists covering a trial of pirates in the port city of Bossaso. "While the international community?s attention is focused on the abduction of two French government advisers who were posing as journalists in Mogadishu, the real journalists continue to be arrested and attacked with complete impunity," the group said. France has denied reports that the two security advisers kidnapped Tuesday in a Mogadishu hotel were posing as journalists. Somalia is one of the world's most dangerous countries for journalists. Media houses have been routinely shut down by the authorities and many reporters, Somali and foreign, have been kidnapped by armed groups. Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More » Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Liibaan Posted July 17, 2009 Two journalists arrested amid growing crackdown on media Two journalists arrested amid growing crackdown on media Published on 17 July 2009 In the same country 14 July 2009 - Concern for journalists mounts after abduction of two French security advisers 5 July 2009 - Radio reporter shot dead in Mogadishu 12 June 2009 - Heightened fears over the fate of Amanda Lindhout and Nigel Brennan Reporters Without Borders is outraged by the arrest of two journalists and the closure of a TV station in the northwestern breakaway territory of Somaliland and the beatings which several journalists received from police in the northeastern semi-autonomous region of Puntland. “While the international community’s attention is focused on the abduction of two French government advisers who were posing a journalists in Mogadishu, the real journalists continue to be arrested and attacked with complete impunity,” Reporters Without Borders said. “The international community should help Somali journalists, who are exposed to enormous risks.” Ahmed Saleban Dhuhul and Sayid Osman Mire, both members of the Somaliland Journalists Associations (SOLJA), were arrested without a warrant on 13 July when police raided Horyaal Radio, a privately-owned station based in the Somaliland capital of Hargeisa. Accused by Somaliland President Dahir Riyate of stirring up a tribal dispute that led to the death of four people, they are still being held at the headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department in Hargeisa. A local television station, Horn Cable TV (HCTV), has been closed on the orders of the Somaliland attorney general for broadcasting a report about the same dispute. In Puntland, several journalists, including Aweys Sheikh Nur of Horseed Media Radio, were attacked and beaten by police while attending the trial of a number of Somali pirates in the port city of Bosaso. The journalists were attacked after some of them took photos of the prosecutor although they complied with a request to delete the photos. The judge and other court officials did not intervene while the police beat them. When the journalists complained, one police officer said: “We do not like what you report; you journalists are against the government.” Africa’s deadliest country for the news media, Somalia was ranked 153rd out of 173 countries in the 2008 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index. Kidnappings of journalists and humanitarian aid workers are now common in Somalia and six journalists have been killed since the start of the year. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thankful Posted July 17, 2009 Horseednet Somalia: Puntland releases suspected pirates Friday, July 17th, 2009 at 12:05 pm By: Mohamed Osman Horseed Media Ahmed Taaran, Puntland Prosecutor in Bosaso Court (File Picture - Horseed Media) This week four suspected Somali pirates were released from Bosaso jail, while a journalist was beaten up by guards for taking pictures in the court room. On Wednesday the trail of four suspected pirates convened in the coastal town of Bosaso. In Bosaso jail more than 60 suspected pirates are still awaiting their day in court. These suspected pirates were captured by the NATO forces patrolling the Gulf of Aden and then handed over to the Puntland administration (Northeastern Somalia). So far half of the suspected pirates are sentenced to jail terms. Assault in a court room Journalists and other guests were invited by the Puntland government to attend the hearing, on Wednesday. Though before the hearing could start the court room turned chaotic, when several guards in the court room attacked a journalists working for Horseed Media. The journalist took some pictures of the government’s prosecutor Ahmed Taaran, as he was talking to the relatives of the defendants. The Journalist, Aweys Haji Nur sustained minor injuries after the Prosecutor’s private bodyguards beat him up in the court room. The guards who attacked the journalist started their assault when the prosecutor Ahmed Taaran asked not to be photographed while he dealt with the relatives of the defendants in the court room. According to Aweys, the guards were against the pictures that he took of the Prosecutor Mr.Ahmed engaged in a long conversation with the relatives of the defendants just before the hearing started. “….they continued to beat me up, with Ak 47 rifles even after I showed them, that I have deleted the pictures…..” says Aweys who was upset that none of the Puntland officials including the judge did not intervened, the assault in the court room. In Puntland the media is allowed to cover and broadcast in the court room, during the hearing and sentencing. Most of the times the Puntland administration invites the journalists to cover the trails of suspected pirates. “…the behaviour of the prosecutor was strange ordering the attack in the court room, even without the consent of the judge..…but he did got away with it….” says Abdirashid Ali who attended the hearing. The release of suspects On Thursday, the four suspected pirates were released from Bosaso jail, no further information were given to the media. “… I believe the release of these men might be linked with the prosecutor Ahmed Taaran, who didn’t wanted to be seen mingling with some of the relatives of the pirates….Many people in Bosaso will tell you it is not the first time that the prosecutor releases people with out a proper trail…..” Says Mr.Ali. When Horseed Media tried to contact the Judge Mohamed Aware who presided the case, he was not available to take the call. One court, One Judge and One prosecutor Mohamed Abdi Aware, Bosaso District court Judge (File Picture: Horseed Media) Puntland administration currently has only one court that it uses to trail suspected pirates, which is Bosaso district court. Puntland’s Minister of Justice Abdirisak Gesod told Horseed Media in an interview, that they use Bosaso court for such trails because of security reasons. The court has one permanent judge Mohamed Abdi Aware and one single prosecutor Ahmed Taaran. Many people question whether such a court can handle both civil and criminal cases in the biggest city of Puntland region. No international backing to combat piracy Abdurahman Farole, Puntland President who is currently visiting London, blamed the international community for not supporting his administration financially with their plans to combat piracy. In an interview with the BBC Somali service President Farole, said that his administration successfully prosecuted and sentenced some Somali pirates without any help from the international community. The pirates den ‘Eyl’ Abdurahman Mohamed Farole President of Puntland President Farole, who’s birth town of Eyl is named the pirates den of Somalia, said he was using the help of religious and clan elders to convince those pirates in Eyl to stop their piracy activities. He says this approach is working. Still Somali pirates continue to attack vessels off the coast of Somalia. On the latest hijacking, Somali pirates successfully hijacked a small boat from India, just miles off the coast of Bosaso, the commercial capital of Puntland. The pirates forced the boat towards Bab el Mandeb, north of Somalia, and tried to hijack MVA Elephant, a Liberian tanker on Monday. The small boat was later freed on Wednesday after a joint operation by the Indian and French navies. Horseed Media Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thankful Posted July 17, 2009 Court Assault Somalia: Puntland Police assaults journalists in open Court Wednesday, July 15th, 2009 at 6:15 pm By: Hussein Farah Horseed Media Aweys Haji Nuur Aweys Haji Nur a well known Somali journalists working for Horseed Media FM Radio, was assaulted by police officers in Bosaso court, on Wednesday. Aweys Haji Nuur was severely beaten by Puntland police in the court room, as he attended the trail of Somali pirates. “….We were invited by the Puntland officials to attend the trail of several men accused of Piracy….as we arrived Bosaso district court, we identified ourselves as journalists….we were allowed to take pictures and audio during the trail….” Said Aweys the journalist who sustained minor injuries from the beating. It was not clear why the polices officers attacked the journalists during the hearing. “….I took three pictures from the court, one from the public, I took another pictures of the men who were on trail, and the third picture that I took was the Prosecutor greeting a family member of one of the defendants….” said Aweys, adding that he suspects that the prosecutor didn’t wanted to be photographed as he mingled with relatives of the pirates before the hearing started. “….I told them that I will delete any pictures that they were protesting to, and I deleted that last picture, but it didn’t stop them, they continued to beat us with AK 47 rifles…” said Aweys. “….it was strange and sinister how the governments officials acted…they even encouraged the actions of the soldiers….” said Abdikani one of the other journalists who came to Aweys’s rescue. Puntland officials in the court, including the judge did not intervene as the soldiers assaulted the journalists in the crowded court room. We don’t like journalists One Puntland official even openly welcomed the actions of the soldiers. “….We don’t like what you broadcast, you journalists are against the government….” Said a Provincial Police officer as the journalists outside the court room complained about the beating. “….we are calling for the Puntland government to apologize for this attack on Aweys ….we call them to Investigate and Prosecute the Perpetrators ….” Said Mahad Mussa head of Horseed Media. Aweys Haji Nuur is one of the radio producers and reporter of Horseed Media, an independent popular FM radio based in Bosaso city. The authorities in the region regularly target independent media for reporting the uncensored news to the local public and the Somali Diaspora living abroad. On Monday another two journalists working for Horyaal FM Radio were arrested in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, they were accused by the President of Somaliland Dahir Riyale of reporting recent clan conflict in his home region of southern Somaliland district of Gebiley. Such acts are common to Somali journalists, who frequently face threats, kidnappings, beatings and even death. Since 2009 six journalists were killed in the country and more fled their homes, for fear of reprisals. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sool_boy Posted July 17, 2009 people acting like 5 years old children , my father got better car than your father... lets play that game. some folks need to grow up for real. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rudy-Diiriye Posted July 18, 2009 same ole bs...when the temperature rises, blame the media man! When will African warlords thugs learn that they cant blame their fups when they are the ones who start these types of clan fightings. Very ill moves by these moron thugs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Somalia Posted July 18, 2009 And now for a brief haitus... ********** A wadaad/Xaakim in Puntland having sentenced a pirate to prison was proceeding to point out to him the disadvantages of the criminality of piracy and the profit of reformation and tawbah. "Yaa sheekh," said the pirate, interrupting, "would you be kind enough to alter my punishment to 5 years in the xabis and nothing else?" "Why," said the wadaad, surprised, "I have given you only two years!" "Yes, I know," acquiesced the pirate - "two years' imprisonment and all that preaching. If you please, I should like to commute the preaching." **************** AND STOP. As you were ladies and gents! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
