Attacks Against Journalists Continue, As Another Journalist Shot And Severely Wounded In Puntland

Mogadishu, 22 Sept. 2011

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is saddened by the continued violence against journalists in Puntland as another broadcast journalist was shot and severely wounded in the commercial port town of Bosaso, in Puntland.

Journalist, Hassan Mohamed Ali known as Hassan Antenna, the Editor for the Voice of Peace Radio in Bosaso was shot and severely wounded by unknown gunmen at the tea shop next to the premises of the Radio Voice of Peace in Bosaso on Thursday around 10:20am local time, 22 Sept. 2011, where the journalist was having tea, among other people. Witness journalists and officials reported that two bullets hit the journalists, one hit his heart and the other hit his right arm.

The journalists was immediately rushed to General Hospital in Bosaso where he is now receiving medical treatment, according to Awke Abdullahi Ali, the Director of the Radio Voice of Peace's Bosaso station.

"Hassan is now being treated at the General Hospital in Bosaso, but he went unconscious as the bullet hit his heart." Awke Abdullahi Ali, the Director of the Radio Voice of Peace's Bosaso station told NUSOJ. "His condition is detoriarating and between life and death." Ali added

The doctors at the Bosaso General Hospital said that they can make operation (surgery) since a serious wound is on the hurt area. So far, no surgery was made for the journalist.

The management of the Hospital shortly after this afternoon held a press conference at the hospital on the current condition of the wounded journalist and said that they can not do more on this case, as the their medical facilities and the doctors' capacity is limited to deal with the case of the wounded journalist. So they advised that the journalist must be transferred to better medical facility where ever is is possible.

Journalists at the hospital reported the wounded came out of the "coma" unconscious but again went into to the unconscious situation again.

The shooting incident comes in two weeks time when another 20 year old female journalist Miss. Horriyo Abdulkadir Sheik Ali, working for the Radio Galkacyo, was shot with four bullets by unknown gun on 14 Sept. 2011 in the town Galkacyo. Journalists in Galkacyo have shown solidarity and support to Horriyo.

"We condemn these barbaric attacks against our members and colleagues. This is a direct attack against journalists working in Puntland meant to sabotage the freedom of expression and the freedom of the media." said Mohammed Ibrahim, NUSOJ Secretary General, "We will not tolerate these gross violations with impunity."

Hassan Mohamed Ali was among handful of journalists who fled the insecurity of Mogadishu and maintained his work in Puntland where a relative calm was restored, though, insecurity is threatening to the relative peace in Puntland.

"The Puntland government should guarantee the safety and the security of the journalists working in the areas under their control and urge to conduct an immediate investigation into the shooting and bring the killers to justice." Mohammed Ibrahim, NUSOJ Secretary General added.

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is urging all the journalists to be very cautious as attacks against journalists reached beyond controllable level.