Violence against journalists now routine in Somalia

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has appealed to the international community to urge the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to stop infringing journalists' rights and to respect the fundamental principles of freedom of press. The freedom and safety of journalists in Somalia have come under heavy siege in the first half of 2007, as hostilities escalated in Mogadishu, with three journalists behind bars as of May 10.

"This government was founded with the help of the international community and the world community is proactively engaged in supporting this government, financially and politically," Omar Faruk Osman, Secretary General of NUSOJ told RAP 21. "The international community can make a difference because they can make preconditions to further support the government."

Press freedom violations rose in Somalia from 1 January to 1 May, with the NUSOJ recording 16 attacks on the press, an increase of more than 43% compared to the same period in 2006.

Mohamed Amiin from Shabelle Media Network reported the toll in Somalia to be "one journalist murdered in Baidoa, two journalists injured in Mogadishu, three journalists arrested and tried in Somaliland and a fourth journalist tried in absentia, the operating license withdrawn from an independent newspaper, five journalists and one media assistant arrested in Mogadishu, three of whom are still behind bars, four journalists beaten, four media outlets attacked in Hargeisa and Mogadishu, five journalists ambushed and robbed, three media institutions briefly closed down, and unauthorized media events in Puntland banned."

The TFG, the regime in Somaliland, authorities in Puntland, and armed groups have reportedly all committed violations of media freedom. "These predators often accuse journalists and media outlets of producing biased, slanderous and inflammatory reports and of deliberately stirring up violence," Osman said.

"Violence against journalists is now routine in Somalia. No predator was punished for any crime against journalists and this impunity is the main enemy of press freedom in Somalia," Osman continued.

NUSOJ has also found that the private interests of several media owners have hindered the credibility of certain media outlets, causing a conflict of interest that in turn undermined editorial independence, hindered free and fair reporting, and consequently exposed journalists to risk.

"We also call on the media owners to enable journalists to exercise editorial freedom and respect their work rights so that a free press can flourish and people can seek dialogue as an alternative to violence." Press freedom is also reportedly under attack from political authorities who keep critical journalists and independent media under constant pressure.

"We are deeply disturbed by these repeated violations of press freedom and the permanent risks facing journalists in the course of their work," said Osman. "We urge the Somali authorities to end the culture of targeting journalists and media professionals with impunity," Osman concluded.

Information partly taken from AllAfrica.com

Article by courtesy RAP 21