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Call
for Urgent Actions on Deteriorating Press Freedom Situation
and Journalists' Safety, Government's Program Hailed
(Somalia,
January 11,
2008 Ceegaag Online)
The
National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is calling on
Somalia's Transitional Federal Government to take urgent
actions on rapidly deteriorating state of press freedom
and journalists' safety following the Somali Parliament's
endorsement of new cabinet and its working program.
Throughout 2007, nine media persons were killed as a
result of hostile action with the exception of one that
died by accident; 4 media persons were wounded; 53 media
persons were arrested; five media houses were closed down
whilst more than 55 journalists fled from the country.
Scores of journalists and media workers were intimidated
and robbed. Apart from these, many journalists were
verbally abused by political groups. Violations of press
freedom in 2007 increased 85% compared to the year 2006.
So far
this year, two journalists were injured, while two other
media professionals are detained incommunicado. All these
cases happened in Mogadishu and Puntland.
"This
terrible record has given Somalia the unwelcome titles of
most dangerous country in Africa for journalists and the
second most perilous place to a journalist in the world,
after Iraq" said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary
General.
Although, safety of media professionals depends on the
general situation of the country, their journalistic work
singles them out and raise the dangers they are exposed
to. Journalists are with ordinary people, have no special
defence and are frontline targets.
"We
are deeply concerned by the shockingly high number of
journalists victimized and lack of political determination
to end these gross violations and abuses against media
community, which are mostly politically motivated attacks"
Omar Faruk declared.
"It is
time for the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to show
confidence to journalists and Somali people as whole by
protecting its citizens that included journalists,
punishing criminals, and valuing press freedom and
democracy" Omar added. "Crimes committed against
journalists must not be ignored and we demand an end to
the culture of impunity which has flourished in many years
as these violations have gone on for too long, and far too
many lives have been wasted".
The
National Union of Somali Journalists welcome the New
Cabinet and the working Program of the government of Prime
Minister Nur Hassan Hussein. "We hail the government's
program of prioritizing the respect and defense of the
fundamental rights of Somali people and the establishment
of a secure and peaceful environment centered on the
respect of law" Omar Faruk said.
We
demand that TFG takes trustable actions to improve press
freedom situation and journalists' safety" Omar declared.
"We shall continue our fight for a safe, free and
independent media".
NUSOJ,
the only journalists' trade union, has more than 240
member journalists in all regions of Somalia and is
affiliated to the International Federation of Journalists
(IFJ), International Freedom of Expression exchange (IFEX)
and the Eastern Africa Journalists Association (EAJA).
National Union Journalist
Press
Release
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