December is a horrible month for Somali Journalist.

This month, December 2009, is going to be a month that Somali journalists were experiencing tough new threats, the Hotel Shamow suicide bombs which killed 3 journalist and injured 7 others, a rocket thrown by AMISOM or Alshabab forces fighting in Mogadishu which hit and destroyed a Radio station in Mogadishu and injured the radio director and killed his wife who visited him, A Threat from Minister to the Somali journalist and the arrest of Somali journalist in Galkacyo by Punt-land Intelligence Service the last attack of Somali journalist was done on 21 December, 2009 and unknown men with Pistols attacked a freelance photographer Khaliil Moalim Bashir. The journalist was injured and rushed to the hospital

TFG and Journalist

TFG Defense State Minister Yusuf Siyad Indhacade, former warlord and enemy to the journalist when he was controlling Middle Shaballe, blamed Somali journalist that they are working with Al-shabab, his speech was immediately translated an indirect threat, that is to say, should the journalist are not working with TFG they must face killings or arrest.

His threat came following when a journalist questioned him in an interview about the TFG knowledge or awareness of Ethiopian troops crossed to the Somali border and then stationed the main road that connects the southern Somalia to the northern, where Ethiopian forces are investigating all business vehicles according Somali journalist reporting from Beletweyn (Hiiraan).

 Punt-land Authority and Journalist.   

On Punt-land Authority side, Punt land Intelligence Service arrested Mohamed Yasin Isxaq who was reporting from Puntland to VOA. PIS entered the house of the journalist without permission and managed his arrest. SOJRA is urgently demanding the release of the journalist immediately.

Alshabab and Journalist

The Alshabab of Kismayo issued a statement that was restricting the Somali Journalist to report directly to the media houses and demanded their permission. The statement was covering all the territories that Alshabab are contrloing in SOmalia.

It was a move that Alshabab aims to cover their continuous human rights violations against the Somali citizens including the women, children, humanitarian workers and government officials.

All the above are indicating the new and tough threats that has been facing the Somali journalist is going to be more, and the new year 2010 more killing, arresting and detaining will be expected to face the Somali journalist as the security of Somalia is also expected to deteriorate more.

Killing, threatening, detaining and torturing  of the Somali and international reporters will only pave the way more human rights violation and NO Peace and security in Somalia. It will also lead to Somalia that the private sectors which still exist in Somalia to total shut down.

The TFG has to know that the international communities are strongly considering media reports as source of information, where decision to grant fund to the governments is also based. Freedom of speech is an international treaty that Somalia has signed and the current TFG charter is also stated about it, thus, the TFG must strongly support it asit is its own interest.

Media corrects and explores ways governments solve the existing problem, and media support to the government is a opportunity to the weak TFG.

Recommendations.

SOJRA is recommending International Communities, Human rights organization and international organization to make early preparations for the possible assistance to the Somali people and in particularly the journalist who are the only source reporting from Somalia news.

We also urge the donor countries to pressure the TFG and the authorities not to oppress the Somali media and the freedom of speech.

Abdirizak M Diriye

From the desk of SOJRA Executive Director.

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