Liibaan Posted April 24, 2012 MOGADISHU, Somalia, April 24, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) welcomes the release of the union leader in northern Somalia on the same day later April 19, 2012 by Somaliland Police. Somaliland police arrested Mohamed Shaqale, a correspondent for the Somalisat television, who is also NUSOJ's Public Information officer in the town of Laas-Anod, the regional headquarters of Sool region on Thursday 19 April, 2012, around 8:00am. Shaqale was released on the same day late Thursday April 19, 2012 after couple of hours in detention. “I was detained for couple of hours, but late Thursday I was released.” Mohamed Shaqale said, “We are determined in working for the journalists rights and will continue.” “We welcome the release of our colleague and call for the Somaliland Authorities to respect the freedom of Expression and the freedom of the press.” Mohamed Ibrahim, NUSOJ Secretary General said, “We call for an immediate end for the arbitrary arrests and detentions without giving the opportunity to appear them before a court.” “We also call reiterate our call for the release of Awke Abdullahi who is detained more than a month in Bosaso jail, in Puntland.” Mr.Ibrahim added. Somaliland administrations' crack down for independent the media, follows the announcement of Khatumo State, an independent state of Sool, Sanaag and Ceyn, which declared independent from Somaliland regions, in January, which Somaliland authorities arrested dozens of journalists and silenced media stations that covered that conference. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites