Mogadishu broadcasters go silent to protest clampdown

[BiLaaL]

MOGADISHU (AFP) - Mogadishu-based broadcasters on Monday went on a 24-hour-boycott to protest against the Somali government's clampdown on press freedom, station directors said.

 

Six radio stations -- excluding three shut down last week -- and HornAfrik TV, the only operational television station in the capital, went off air at 1200 GMT.

 

"The local stations decided to stop broadcasting for 24 hours starting at 3:00 pm to protest against the violations on independent media," said Mukhtar Mohamed Hirabe, the acting director of Radio Shabelle.

 

Hirabe hoped the boycott would highlight problems facing media in the lawless capital, where joint Ethiopian-Somali troops are battling Islamist-led insurgents.

 

"We need to show solidarity with other muzzled media houses," Said Tahlil, the director of HornAfrik, told AFP.

 

Last week, the Somali military ordered Radio Simba, Radio Banadir and Radio Shabelle off air, sparking a firestorm of protests from press rights watchdogs, the United Nations and the European Union.

 

Authorities have accused the independent media of fanning conflict in the capital, notably interviewing anti-government elements, broadcasting propaganda and involvement in the insurgency.

 

Ethiopia, whose forces are fighting alongside government troops in Somalia, said Somali media was awash with propaganda.

 

Authorities have defied calls by rights groups and foreign nations to relax its heavy-handed clampdown on press freedom, which has been choked by the conflict.

 

So far this year, at least eight journalists have been killed and dozens others either detained, ambushed or robbed, ranking Somalia the second deadliest country worldwide after Iraq for journalists, press groups say.

 

Bloody clan conflict and power struggles that intensified after the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Said Barre have scuppered many bids to stabilise Somalia.

 

AFP - Nov 19, 2007

[BiLaaL]

Idaacadaha madaxa-bannaan ee magaalladda Muqdishu, oo muddo 24-saacadood hawada ka wada maqnaan doona

 

Muqdisho Isniin , November 19 2007 SMC

 

Agaasimayaasha Idaacaddaha madaxa bannaan ee ka hawlgala magaalladda Muqdishu, oo maanta kulan khaas ah yeeshay, ayaa waxay go’aamiyeen inay muddo 24-saacadood ah hawada ka maqnaadan.

 

Kulankaasi ayaa waxaa ka soo wada qeyb galay Madaxda Idaacadahaasi oo djhan (kuwa xiran iyo kuwa shaqaynayey), waxaana si aad ah loogu lafa-guray xaalladaha la soo gudboonaaday Idaacadaha madaxa bannaan ee magaalladda Muqdishu, gaar ahaan Idaacadaha Toddobaadkii hore albaabadda loo laabay.

 

Madaxda Idaacadaha, waxay si saraaxad leh uga wada xaajoodeen sidii ay Talo-mideysan uga qaadan lahaayeen xaalladaha taagan ee saamaynta ku yeeshay Nashaadaadka Warbaahinta madaxa bananaan ee ka hawlgala magaalladda Muqdishu, waxayna cabasho ka muujiyeen Idaacadaha Shabele, Simba iyo Banaadir ay muddo ku dhow hal Toddobaad hawada ka maqan, kadib, markii ay Ciiddamadda DFKMGS albaabadda u laabeen Idaacadahaasi weli hawada ka maqan.

 

Tallaabadda ay Madaxda Idaacadaha ku guddoonsadeen inay ku xireen Idaacadahooda, ayaa waxaa looga dan leeyahay sidii DFKMGS loogu muujin lahaa in si wadajir ah looga danqaday go’aanka lagu xiray Idaacadahaasi.

 

Sidoo kale, Mas’uuliyiinta Idaacadaha haatan hawada ku jira, waxay guddoonsadeen inay joojiyaan hawlaha Idaacadahaasi muddo 24-saacadood ah, taasi oo ka bilaabanaysa 03:00 galabnimo ee maanta ilaa 03:00 galabnimo ee berrito Inshaa Allaah.

 

Maamulka Sare ee Idaacadda Somaliweyn, waxay si xushmad leh uga raalli-gelinayaan Dhegeystayaasha ku nool magaalladda Muqdishu, Goballadda dalka iyo Caalamka adeegyaddii ay Idaacadda u haysay muddada 24-saacadood ee ay hawada ka maqnaan doonto.

 

Si kastaba ha ahaatee, Reer Muqdishu, ayaa waxaa saamayn xooggan ku yeelan doonta Idaacadaha sida KMG hawada uga maqnaan doona, maadaama ay Warbaahinadda madaxa bananan kala socon jireen Xogaha Wararka xasaasiga ee arrimaha gudaha ee dalka Somalia.

[Faarax-Brawn]

This is just counter productive...We need them to broadcast the atrocities to the entire world,urgh!

[Xoogsade]

This works in favour of the warlords. They should broadcast to let us know and the world the suffering of the people.

[Baashi]

What you expect from a warlord. Why would this be a news anyway. I mean you have war criminals running a makeshift militia backed by existential enemy killing, maiming, looting, and committing all sort of unspeakable and heinous crimes and Xoogsade is acting up yet again as usual as if an accountable gov violated the supreme law of the land.

 

Talk about comedy!

[Xoogsade]

LOL, saxib, despite the realities on the ground of what the TFG is, it was unwise decision for these Radio stations to protesst this way. They were the voice of the people to some extent.

[Naxar Nugaaleed]

thank God, nothing good from gossip masquerading as journalism anyway

[BiLaaL]

This is a limited boycott aimed at drawing international attention to the TFG's illegal and reckless practice in relation to Somali media outlets. It is unfortunate that it had to come to this but these broadcasters have been left with no other choice. This boycott is politically savvy and I applaud it. By the end of this 24 hours, it is the reputation of the incompetent TFG that will dive even further. The broadcasters, on the other hand, would have summoned much-needed international attention and support for the cause of free press in Somalia.

[rudy-Diiriye]

yup! lets show our support to the ones who stand for free press!!

 

good job there to the press folks who dont wanna be puppets! like so many who sold themselves to the devil.

[Faarax-Brawn]

Originally posted by BiLaaL:

This is a limited boycott aimed at drawing international attention to the TFG's illegal and reckless practice in relation to Somali media outlets. It is unfortunate that it had to come to this but these broadcasters have been left with no other choice. This boycott is politically savvy and I applaud it. By the end of this 24 hours, it is the reputation of the incompetent TFG that will dive even further. The broadcasters, on the other hand, would have summoned much-needed international attention and support for the cause of free press in Somalia.

Thats a rational way of putting it...