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Somaliland
Releases 22 Journalists, Urged to Release the Rest and Allow
the Television to Resume Operations
Mogadishu, January 17, 2012
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) welcomes the
release of the 22 journalists who were detained by the Somaliland
authorities in a systematic media crack down campaign that continues
the second week and appeals the release of the three other journalists
still held without charges and allow the Horn Cable television
to resume its operations.
The Somaliland authorities released 21 journalists on Monday
16 January, 2012 without any further condition and their names
are written here below as confirmed by the Somaliland Journalists
Association.
HORN CABLE TELEVISION (Editors, Reporters,
Presenters and Newscasters)
1. Hamsa Ali Bulbul, Head of News Programs
2. Ahmed Abdirahman Hersi, News Editor
3. Nimco Mohamed Sabriye, Presenter
4. Nimco Diirie, Producer
5. Ayaan Diirie
6. Hodan Ali Ajabi,
7. Safia Sheik Nuh,
8. Suhur Barre,
9. Mohamed Ahmed Kurase
10. Abdirahman Sheik Yonis
NEWSPAPERS (Editors and Reporters)
11. Mohamoud Abdi Jama (Xuuto), Editor in Chief of Waaheen Newspaper
12. Mohamed Omar Abdi, Chief Editor of Jamhuuriya Newspaper
13. Khaalid Hamdi Ahmed, Reporter of Waaheen Newspaper
14. Jama Omar Abdullahi, Reporter, Waaheen newspaper
15. Saleban Ali Kalshaale, Reporter of Waaheen Newspaper
16. Mohamed Mohamoud Haybe, Reporter of Geeska Africa Newspaper
17. Ahmed Adan Dhere, Reporter of Haatuf Newspaper
ONLINE NEWS WEBSITES (Reporters)
18. Najah Adan Unaye, Hadhwanaagnews
19. Abdiqani Abdilahi Asparo, Hardhwanaagnews
20. Mohamed Said Harago, Berberanews.
FREELANCE
21. Muse Siyad Ali - Freelance reporter
The journalists were arrested on Sunday January 15, 2012 by
Somaliland police, some of whom severely beaten during
a protest at the presidential palace which the journalists
were demanding from Somaliland authorities to stop its attacks
against the journalists and the media station.
The journalists' protests follows after the Somaliland police
raided the offices of the privately owned Horn cable televisions
on Saturday evening, forcing all the media workers and the journalists
to leave, followed by a week long campaign of arrests by the
Somaliland police.
The journalists were released by Col. Mohamed Saqadhi Dubad,
Somaliland Police Chief with the orders of the Somaliland Minister
of Interior, Mohamed Nor Arale better known as Duur after meeting
with journalists leaders led from Somaliland Journalists Association
(SOLJA), a NUSOJ partner. During the meeting, the Somaliland
Interior Minister, Mr. Arale agreed the release of the journalists
who were detained on Monday unconditionally. Though, the television
still remains under suspension.
In a separate incident, the National Union of Somali Journalists
(NUSOJ) learned that Somaliland police detained Abdirisaq Haghi
Ahmed, a SomaliSat Television, a privately owned Television
that broadcasts via satellite on 14 January, 2012 around 8:00am
local time in the town of Erigabo of Sanaag region. Mr. Ahmed
was arrested after he interviewed youth that was in support
of a recent Taleeh conference that announced its own independent
regional state, which infuriated the Somaliland authorities
and led to the major journalists' detentions.
However, Ali
Aareye, Waheen Borama Correspondent, who arrested on January
12, 2012 for allegedly taking photographs on petrol station
owned by the vice president, Abdirahman Abdullahi Ismail better
known as Saylici is still in custody. He was supposed to appear
in court on Saturday and Sunday, but delayed to Tuesday. Meanwhile,
A court in the town of Boorama ordered Royal TV reporter
Yusuf Ali who was arrested on January 8, 2012 to remain in jail
for 45 days on January 10, 2012, until the police investigations
are completed, which is unlawful and even contrary to the Somaliland
constitution and the Somaliland Media law.
"We call for the Somaliland authorities to respect the
freedom of expression and free the journalists illegally kept
in custody without charges immediately or put them before fair
court, while we welcome the release of the 22 journalists released."
Mohamed Ibrahim, NUSOJ Secretary General said, "Keeping
journalists more than 48 hours is a total violation to the basic
human rights principles and therefore stop its campaign in silencing
the independent press."
In another development, Somaliland Police released Abdiqani
Hassan Farah Gadari, a universal TV reporter on Sunday 16
January, 2012. Gadari was detained on January 9. 2011 in the
town of Laas-Anod, after he was accused of reporting a conference
which the Somaliland authorities were not happy with it. He
was released after 8 days in custody without charges. Gadari
informed NUSOJ before he was arrested that his arrest was ordered
by the Somaliland minister of information through the Mayor
of the Las-Anod town, numbering the total of released journalists
on Sunday and Monday to 22.
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