Somaliland regime is the press freedom Antagonist in this era compared to the rest of Somali regions

[Daud Abdi Daud]

Somaliland regime is the press freedom Antagonist in this era compared to the rest of Somali regions
The Somali Journalists’ Rights Agency (SOJRA) is to day happy with to know the political viewpoint of Somaliland administration in terms of freedom of expression and press. While SOJRA was participated to day the launching of steering committee for Somali AIDS Response event held on Jacaranda Hotel to day at 3:30 PM-5:00 PM afternoon in Nairobi, Kenya.

SOJRA recently started to take a close look for what is going on Somaliland and the aggressive attacks against independent Somaliland journalists and media professionals. The today’s event was really an exceptional for SOJRA’s activities and its commitment for protecting journalists’ rights and keeping all about press freedom situations.

During the event, SOJRA’s executive director Daud Abdi Daud who was representing Somali journalists at large decided to take a private conversation to Somaliland minster of health Dr. Abdi Haibe Mohamed in order to know the current viewpoints and political vision of Somaliland to the independent Somaliland media outlets that are momentary victim for political persecution by the Somaliland regime.

During the tea break, Mr. Daud and the Somaliland minster of health Dr. Abdi Haibe Mohamed discussed over the mutual concern of Somaliland and media watchdogs.

While the two dignitaries discussed several issues for Somalia Mr. Daud asked a question to the minster towards Somaliland journalists and media professionals who are currently under pressure, attacks and intimidations from the self declared Somaliland government.

“These people you are talking about are not real professional society as government of Somaliland we have to act our social interests as result of that we have the rights to do any steps that we could protect our constitution and the government might be arrest or kill any person who wants to violate the country” said Dr. Abdi Haibe Mohamed the Somaliland minster of health.

Dr. Abdi Haibe Mohamed speech was not his own viewpoint but it’s really the general vision of Somaliland cabinet and authorities extensively.

The minster noted that in general Somaliland media society are not well experienced and skilled professionals hence no one among them knows his personal aim for his journalistic work and even though nation coexistence Dr. Abdi Haibe Mohamed added.

Regrettably Somaliland minster of health Dr. Abdi Haibe speaks as enemy personal for press freedom and freedom of expression and this short discussion between Mr. Daud Abdi Daud, SOJRA’s current leader and Dr. Abdi Haibe Mohamed was really a great victory for SOJRA’s activities because we assure everybody in this world that Somaliland regime is currently press freedom predatory in this era.

SOJRA calls for Somaliland leaders in general to stop the obvious violations against the international laws and treaties for freedom of expression and speech.

In conclusion the Somali Journalists’ Rights Agency (SOJRA) appeal to the international community to take necessary steps as soon as possible against these press freedom violators and lash out the authorities of Somaliland to stop any action or violence against freedom of speech and journalists rights.

Background Information

Somaliland administration was recently arrested and beaten local journalists. On 30th July 2009 a radio Horyal active prominent journalist Fowsi Suleiman Owbindi was arrested and the police blamed him of releasing and broadcasting a false reports to the public.

Both journalists Mohamed Said Abdulahi the editor of of online independent news website www.berberanews.com and Yassin Jama Ali who is one of the staff was arrested on 13th August 2009 in port city of Berbera for airing stereotypes against Somaliland government which is really far from the truth and justice. While that is existence on 23rd August 2009 sentenced Mohamed Said Abdulahi as convicted to three years prison while Yassin Jama Ali was sentenced to stop the work during anonymous period and the judge of that court ordered the policy to be arrested if they see that he is doing again his journalism work.

On Monday, 17 August, 2009 in Eregabo district an armed militia men attacked and beaten a journalist Ali Adan Dahir, the police arrested the suspected people on the same day but the local administration of Eregabo freed the suspected men from the police station on, 18th August 2009.