SOMALI COALITION FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION (SOCFEX) › 2009 › jan › socfex_annual_2008.pdf ·...

SOMALI COALITION FOR FREEDOM OF

EXPRESSION (SOCFEX)

SOCFEX Press Freedom Monitoring Section

Somali Coalition for Freedom of Expression (SOCFEX), Maka Al-mukarama Street, opposite of Tree Piano

building, Hodon District, Mogadishu, Somalia, Telfax: +252 1 850 040 / 236 012

Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Somali Press Freedom Situation SOCFEX 2008 Report

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Contents Executive Summary…………………………………………………………….. 3 Introduction………………………………………………………………………..3 Activity report……………………………………………………………………...3 Monitoring Media Safety…………………………………………..……………..4 The overall media and freedom of expression situation………………………4 Media situation in South and Central regions…………………….……………4 Media situation in Puntland……………………………..………………………..4 Media situation in Somaliland……………………………………………………4 Media situation in Islamists controlled areas…………………………………..5 Summary lists…..……………………………………………………….……….5-8 2008 statistical report…..……………………………………….…………..…….9 Press freedom campaigns………………….……………….………………..….10 Media Support………………………………………….……………...…………..11 Challenges Faced………………………………………….………………………12 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………….…12 Future plan…………….……………………………………………………………13


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Executive Summary The general situation faced by the media houses and journalists has not changed. Attacks on media and freedom of expression was just as petrifying as in 2007 The attacks in south and central region on the media by the TFG security forces eased due to the workshop partly organized by SOCFEX between TFG senior officials and members of media houses on 21st Jan 08 The media situation in the regional autonomy of Puntland deteriorated as authorities shut down media houses for reporting unfavorable news bulletins The media continues to receive harsh treatment from the breakaway region of Somaliland in the north of the country. Media houses are shut down for playing music and song in areas controlled by extremists and fundamentalists

Journalists killed

Journalists wounded

Journalists jailed

Journalists kidnapped

Journalists assaulted

Journalists attacked

Total

2 8 37 9 21 2 79

Media station closed down

Media station attacked

Media station bombarded

Media station threatened

Total

8 2 4 7 21 Introduction This report aims to give comprehensive information about the works of SOCFEX in Somalia. The report will discuss both the activities of the organization in the past twelve months to December 2008. The report is compiled and prepared by SOCFEX staff. Activity Report The activity report is divided into the following sections:

• Monitoring media safety • Freedom of expression campaign • Media workers support


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Monitoring Media Safety

The overall media and freedom of expression situation

Somalia for the 18th consecutive year completed the 2008 year with renewed violence, increased instability as forces against the transitional federal government reinforced their war against the TFG force backed by the Ethiopian forces. The media suffered in the process as warring parties attack journalists and media houses arbitrarily. Strangely, the semi autonomous region of Puntland and the breakaway region of Somaliland, where there is relative peace compared to south and central regions saw an increase of media attacks due to officials became abusive, ill tempered and control freak.

The fate of media was worse in areas under the control of the extremist and fundamentalists in southern regions. They viewed the journalists as unbeliever servants at worse and enemy spy agents at best. Nevertheless, they still used media when they wanted to spread their extremism propagandas.

Media situation in South and Central regions

It is the regions in south and central Somalia are where the violence and conflict is highly concentrated. The media houses that operate in these regions bear the blunt of the violence as warring parties either compete for media attention in their favor or treat them with adverse effect.

However, the number of attacks on the media eased ever since a SOCFEX partly organized workshop to harmonize the relations between security force and media house operators. The workshop held on 21 January 08, achieved to a degree, to iron out negative perception between the media and security forces. It also secured assurance of senior TFG officials including the prime minister.

Media situation in Puntland

The region enjoyed peace and stability compared to southern parts of Somalia but, unfortunately, that peace were not extended to the press and freedom of expression. The media in the regions suffered arbitrary shut down just because of unfavorable news bulletin the media prints or broadcast. Morse worse, there is no process of law that media houses can use to challenge decisions of novice officials, who believe that they are the law itself rather than law enforcers.

Media situation in Somaliland

Despite the peace and tranquility enjoyed by the people in the regions of Somaliland the media is one part of the society that continues to experience hardship and ill treatment in the disguise of media licensing. The authorities appear to be uncomfortable with the idea of freedom of expression. Arrest of journalists without charges became a norm within the authorities.

The presidential and security forces pick on journalists to react so that they can justify their disproportional heavy handedness at later stage. In spite of proclaimed democracy by the Somaliland authorities, the media houses are operating in an environment of tensed, pressure and fearful.


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Media situation in Islamist controlled areas

The Islamists and fundamentalists who took control of majority of southern regions continued to treat media and journalists with hostility. The extremist authorities issued orders to intimidate the media such as “no music and songs on air” furthermore; unfavorable news broadcasted will result in station closure and/or stringent punishment. The monitoring section of the organization has really been the eyes and ears of the media houses in the country. It highlighted the plight of journalist detained, harassed and/or physically abused by forces that want to control or manipulate the rights of individuals to freedom of expression. It increased the awareness of both local and international organizations of attacks on media houses and journalists through effectively communicating incidents instantaneously as press releases. In addition to the real time press releases, the monitoring section produces monthly reports detailing the attacks on media houses and journalists and circulates to various stakeholders locally, regionally and internationally. The monthly reports have been very useful tools to reinforce the messages on the press releases and most important of all as record keeping for future references. Below are the summary lists of all the monitoring section’s report that have reflected on situations on the grounds. For clarity and accuracy reasons the statistical summary are divided into attacks on journalist and attacks on media houses. Summary lists

JOURNALISTS NO. JOURNALISTS KILLED Place Media organization Date

1. Hassan Kafi Hared Ahmed Kismayo SONNA/Gedonet 28 January

2. Naasteh Dahir Farah Kismayo BBC-Somali/AP 07 June

NO JOURNALISTS WOUNDED Place Media organization Date

1. Mohamed Bashir Hashi Mogadishu Shabelle Media 3 January

2. Abdi Kheyr Mohamed Jama Galkacyo Radio Galkacyo 10 January

3. Ali Muhumedd Roble Mogadishu Radio Voice of peace 25 January

4. Hussein Mohamed Goje Mogadishu SOMBA Radio 19 August

5 Mohamed Harun Ahmed Hargeisa Somaliland Space Channel

29 October

6 Jamal Abdi Mohamed Hargeisa Hegan Newspaper 29 October

7 Abdi Hamud Hargeisa Somaliland Space Channel

29 October

8 Rasmi Mohamud Mohmamed Mogadishu Somaliweyn Radio 4 December

Table 3

NO JOURNALISTS ASSAULTED Place Media organization Date

1. Abdihakim Yusuf Moalim Bosaso SBC 25 January

2. Abdirisak Yusuf Abdalla “Kambala” Mogadishu Koranik Radio 29 January

3. Mohamed Hassan Pakistan Mogadishu Radio Somaliweyn 29 January

4. Ismaaciil Tifow Xasan Mogadishu Radio Banadir 29 January


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5. Mohamed Dahir Alasow Mogadishu Radio VOD 29 January

6. Guhad Sheikh Hassan Mogadishu Radio VOD 29 January

7. Mohamed Moalin “Whiteman” Mogadishu Radio Mogadishu 29 January

1. Mohamed Moalim Osman (Allman) Dinsor somalitalk.com 19 February

1. Nuh Musse Birjeb Garowe VOA Somali 27 April

2. Mohamed Yasin Garowe Radio Dalkir 27 April

2. Abdulahi Arig Mogadishu Universal TV 30 April

3. Faarah Aden Mogadishu Freelancer 30 April

4. Mohamed Dahir Salim Garowe, Puntland

Radio Garowe Editor 2 June

5. Abdinasir Yasin Mire Garowe Radio Garowe 2 June

6. Abdifatah Mursal Hargeisa Ogaal Newspaper 22 June

7. Faisal Mohamed Hargeisa Heegan Newpaper 22 June

8. Ahmed Nur Ibrahim Bosaso SBC 9 December

9. Said Abdilahi Jama Bosaso SBC 9 December

10. C/casiis Koronto Baidoa Somaliweyn 14 December

Table 4

NO JOURNALISTS INTIMIDATED/ ABDUCTED/ THREATENED/ ATTACKED

Place Media organization Date

1. Mohamud Mohamed Dahir Mogadishu Radio Voice of Peace (Reporter)

17 April

2. Bisharo Maxamed Waceys Bosaso Eastern Television Network (ETN)

04 May

3. Yusuf Sheik Isse Mogadishu Radio Mogadishu 3 June

4. Ismail Muktar Omar Mogadishu Radio Mogadishu 3 June

5. Hamdi Abdulahi Hassan Mogadishu Radio Mogadishu 3 June

6. Ali Bashi Abdulahi Abdi Mogadishu Radio Mogadishu 3 June

7. Burhan Dini Farah Mogadishu Radio Mogadishu 3 June

8. Mohamed Moalim Hassan Mogadishu Radio Mogadishu 3 June

9. Sagal Said Farah Mogadishu Radio Mogadishu 3 June

10. Abdi Said Farah Mogadishu Radio Mogadishu 3 June

11. Abdi Mahad Hussein Abtidon Mogadishu Radio Mogadishu

12. Abdirahman Mohamed Hassan Hudeyfi Mogadishu Somaliweyn radio director

4 June

13. Nimca hassan Abdi Mogadishu Shabelle 10 June

14. Mucaawiye Ahmed Muse Mogadishu Shabelle 10 June

15. Abdinur Ahmed Keridye Mogadishu Universal TV 10 June

16. Khaalif Maki Xaaji Mogadishu Universal TV 10 June

17. Cali Xasan Aden

Mogadishu Universal TV 10 June

18. Cabdifitax Mohamed Ali Mogadishu Al-arabiya TV 10 June

19. Mohamed Abraham (JK) (briefly detained) Mogadishu Universal TV 23 July

20. Basher Dirie Naleie (briefly detained) Mogadishu Universal TV 23 July

21. Bebe Mohamed Babe (briefly detained) Mogadishu Universal TV 23 July

22. Liibaan Abdullahi Farah Galkaio SBC 11 August

23. Amanda Lindhout Near Mogadishu

Freelancer journalist 23 August

24. Nigel Brenan Near Mogadishu



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25. Abdifitah Mohamed Ilmi Near Mogadishu


26. Colin Freeman Bosaso Daily Telegraph 26 November

27. Jose Cendon Bosaso Freelancer 26 November

28. Awale Jama Salad Bosaso Freelancer 26 November

Table 5

NO JOURNALISTS JAILED Place Media organization Date

1. Mohamed Shidane Daban Mogadishu Banadir Newspaper 4 January

2. Idle Moalim Umar Boosaaso Somaliweyn 5 January

3. Bashir Mohamed Abdulkadir (Al-bashir) Mogadishu Radio Somaliweyn 13 January

4. Abdirahman Mohamed Hassan (Hudeyfi)

Mogadishu Radio Somaliweyn 13 January

5. Ayanle Hussein Abdi Hiiraan BBC Somali Section 15 January

6. Cabdiraxmaan Maxamed Habbane Borame-Somaliland

Jamhuriya Newspaper 15 April

7. Shafi’i Muhidin Islow Mogadishu Radio VOP (Editor) 17 April

8. Abdikamil Yusuf Mohamud Mogadishu Radio Voice of Peace (Reporter)

17 April

9. Mohammed Ali Boston Mogadishu Radio Voice of Peace (Reporter)

17 April

10. Mohammed Kafi Ali Mogadishu Radio Voice of Peace (Reporter)

17 April

11. Ibrahim Abdi Hassan Mogadishu Radio Voice of Peace (Reporter)

17 April

12. Musse Mohamed Osman Mogadishu Somali sports journalists Chairman

17 April

13. Abdi Mohamed Ismail (Abdi Ud) Mogadishu Radio Shabelle 21 April

14. Jama Yusuf Jama (dabarani) Bosaso Horseed Media 08 May

15. Mowlid Haji Abdi Bosaso SBC Radio director 09 May

16. Osman Yusuf Dhegjar Buhodle (Somaliland)

SBC 26 May

17. Mohamud Abdullahi Farah Qardho Puntland

SBC Radio Bosaso 26 May

18. Abdulkadir Mohamed Nunow Bosaso Puntland

VOA Somali / Horsed Media

25 June

19. Abdirisak Mohamed Said Bosaso Puntland

Horsed Media 25 June

20. Mohamed Abraham (JK) Mogadishu Universal TV 23 July

21. Basher Dirie Naleie Mogadishu Universal TV 23 July

22. Bebe Mohamed Babe Mogadishu Universal TV 23 July

23. Abdulkadir Mohamed Nunow (briefly detained)

Boosaaso Horsed Media / VOA Somali

25 July

24. Mohamed Aw-aden Hargeisa Universal TV 30 July

25. Mohamed Mohamud Welcome Bosaso Radio Daljir director 17 August

26. Abdiasis Saleban Garowe Freelancer/Jidbaale website

19 August

27. Abdighani Ismail Goh Las anod Radio Daljir director 17 September

28. Abdirizak Ana Baidoa Freelancer 31 October

29. Ali Ilyas Abdullahi Baidoa Freelancer 06 October

30. Liiban Abdulahi Faah Galkaio SBC 06 November


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31. Xadith Mohamed Xadith Hargeisa Freelancer 08 November

32. Hassan Mohamed Jama ‘Jidka’ Galkaio Radio Galkaio 16 November

33. ABdirashid ABdulle Abikar Elder/ Galgadud

Freelancer 24 Novembar

34. Abdulahi Yasin Jama Elder/ Galgadud

Radio Shabelle 24 Novembar

35. Mowlid Abdi Abdulle Elder/Galgadud

Freelancer 24 Novembar

36. Hilal Mohamed Shueb Baidoa Warsan Radio Director 25 November

37. Abdullahi Hirsi Adde Gakacyo Radio Galkacyo 28 December

MEDIA

No. MEDIA STATION ATTACKED/ SURROUNDED

PLACE MEDIA TYPE DATE

1. Radio Shabelle Mogadishu Electronic Media 05 March

NO. MEDIA STATION BOMBARDED Place Media type Date

1. Radio Voice of Peace Mogadishu Electronic Media 25 January

2. Shabelle Media Mogadishu Electronic Media 28 January

3. Radio SIMBA Mogadishu Electronic Media 01 March



NO RADIO STATION THREATENED PLACE MEDIA ORG. DATE

1. Radio Voice of peace Muqdisho Electronic Media 4 February

2. Somaliweyn Radio Mogadishu Electronic Media 05 March

3. Radio Banadir Mogadishu Electronic Media 05 March

4. Radio IQK Mogadishu Electronic Media 05 March

5. SBC Radio and TV Bosaso Electronic Media 9 May

6. Horsed Media Bosaso Electronic Media 9 May

7. Daljir Radio Bosaso Electronic Media 9 May

No. MEDIA STATION CLOSED PLACE MEDIA TYPE DATE


2. Radio HornAfrik Mogadishu Electronic Media 02 March


4. Radio Voice of Peace Mogadishu Electronic Media 17 April

5. Universal TV Hargeisa Electronic Media 30 July

6. Radio Voice of Peace Mogadishu Electronic Media 17 April

7. Radio Galkaio Galkaio Electronic media 16 December

8. Radio Markablei Bardere/ Gedo

Electronic Media 10 December

9. Radio HornAfrik Kismayo Kismayo Electronic Media 12 December


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2008 STATISTICAL REPORT OF VIOLATIONS AGAINST

SOMALI JOURNALISTS

Month Journalists/ killed

Journalists wounded

Journalists jailed

Journalists kidnapped

Journalists harassed

Journalists attacked

Grand Total

January 1 3 5 7

February 2 1

March 2 7

April 1 2

May 4

June 1 8 1 3

July 2

August 1 2 3

September 1 1

October 3 2

November 7 4

December 1 1 3

Sub Total 2 8 37 9 21 2 79

2008 STATISTICAL REPORT OF VIOLATIONS AGAINST SOMALI MEDIA

Month Media station closed

Media station attacked

Media station bombarded

Media station threatened

Media station stopped

Grand Total

January 2

February 1

March 3 1 1 3

April 1

May 3

June

July 1

August 1

September

October

November 1

December 2 2

Sub total 8 2 4 7 0 21


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Press freedom campaigns The press freedom campaign of SOCFEX has, among others, two major focuses.

1. Policy level advocacy 2. Media Training

As for policy advocacy, SOCFEX have been working tirelessly to ensure that the press freedom is safeguarded in the policy formation process of the Somali Transitional Federal Government. Although it is difficult to secure a perfect press freedom but at least SOCFEX is trying to have the press freedom on a live document so that pro-press freedom can refer to them for future references. SOCFEX initiated a campaign to create a momentum of freedom of expression associations collaborating with other fellow media houses to generate a significant boost for press freedom awareness by the general public. At present there are now several radios, TVs and newspaper that operate freely expressing the views of the society disseminating all types of available information. Unfortunately, the existing media houses entities lack unified national policies where the nascent TFG sometimes reveals disagreement with the style of the media house approaches thus undertaking certain harassments that scare the journalists and reporters. Therefore SOCFEX had to balance the delicate extremes of dynamic and vibrant media houses against the novice officials who are emotional and sensational to the use of authority. On the one side, SOCFEX had to work hard to persuade the TFG officials that Professional media are a central component of stable plural democracies. On the other side, it had to engage with the media houses through workshop training to ensure that the media houses and their associate employees are not attracting adverse attention as a result of reporting conflict news. Series of meetings, letter writing campaign and engagement with high level TFG officials to both influence and engage them. In terms of media training, there have been concerns that some media houses and their employees unwittingly through their use of inflammatory language give the warring parties an excuse to attack the media. SOCFEX had, therefore, work harder to first raise the issue with the media houses and secondly organize workshops and seminars to address the concerns of reporting in war zone. Media Support

Media support provided by SOCFEX to its members of media houses are in terms of working towards the creation of safe working environment so that media houses can operate freely without the fear of persecution, harassment and physical abuse. It is the working philosophy of SOCFEX to make the changes on the policy level and so that civil servants are obligated to follow, the policies set by the politicians. A very special case where SOCFEX has been compelled to deal with is the support of around 60 Somali journalists exiled in Kenya. February and March


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2008 two workshops held for the exiled journalists. The aim of the first workshop was to find out the level of their knowledge, skill and experience of journalism. The second workshop was more like interactive seminar where the head of the BBC Somali Language was the keynote speaker. With support of International Media Support (IMS), the training officially opened in November 08 in Nairobi Kenya for 20 journalists.

Opening ceremony from left: Former Mogadishu Opening ceremony guests Governor, Deputy Speaker of parliament Mohamed Omar Dalha and Osman Moallim (SOCFEX Coordinator)

The aims of the training program were to support the exiled Somali journalists to stay in the journalism professional as well as update their journalistic skills, and on completion to return at the earliest convenient date to Somalia. 20 of both genders (9 female and 11 male) have been selected to participate in this training. More than sixty journalists have been exile in Kenya since late 2007. Representative attended the opening ceremony included members of Somali transitional Federal Parliament (TFP), EU office for Somalia, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and other distinguished guests. The trainees learnt key ethical and conflict sensitive journalism requirements namely:- Accuracy and Fairness, Opportunity to Reply, Unnamed Sources, Confidentiality, Misrepresentation, Obscenity, Taste and Tone in reporting, Paying for news and Articles, Plagiarism, Discrimination, Covering Ethnic (clan), Religious and Sectarian Conflict, Recording Interviews and Telephone Conversations, Privacy, Intrusion into Grief and Shock, Sex Discrimination, Financial Journalism, Protection of Children, Victims of Sex Crimes, Use of Pictures and Names, Innocent Relatives and Friends, Acts of Violence


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Training in action

Challenges Faced In the abundance of hostility towards the media it is becoming extremely difficulty to operate in violent environmental. These difficulties include:

• Increased violence and attacks on media houses and journalists • Media continues to suffer brain drain of skilled full journalists through

unlawful killing of journalists and forced fleeing into neighboring countries. • Absence of journalist accreditation system to both protect media integrity

and attract creative minds • Clan partisan and highly opinionated media organizations continue to

attract adverse attention from warring parties that in turn bring negative effect the overall image of other media houses

Conclusion

It is becoming continuously violent environment for media houses to operate in Somalia. This is due to the deterioration of the political fragmentation of the warring parties. The general situation faced by the media houses and journalists has not changed. Attacks on media and freedom of expression were just as petrifying as in 2007. The attacks in south and central region on the media by the TFG security forces eased due to the workshop partly organized by SOCFEX between TFG senior officials and members of media houses on 2nd February 08. The media situation in the regional autonomy of Puntland deteriorated as authorities shut down media houses for reporting unfavorable news bulletins. The media continues to receive harsh treatment from the breakaway region of Somaliland in the north of the country. Media houses are shut down for playing music and song in areas controlled by extremists and fundamentalists.


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Future Plan

• Continue to fund raise to provide training for journalists to upgrade their skills

• To provide news syndication service to provide background analysis, promote peace through ethical journalism and as a role model for other media houses.

• To continue to search on accredited training program for Somali media houses

• Reinvigorate the campaign for the review and implementation of the media law by the Transitional Federal Parliament.


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Hassan Kafi Hared killed in

Kismayo

Nasteh Dahir Farah killed in Kismayo

Mohamed Moalim harraded by

TFG forces

Hassan Kafi Hared

the first journalist

killed in Kismayo,

South Somalia in

January 2, 2008

Nasteh Dahir Farah

BBC reporter killed in

Kismayo South

Somalia June 7, 2008

Mohamed Moalim

Online journalist

assaulted by TFG

forces in bay Region

February19, 2008

Bisharo Mohammed

Waeys, a talk show

presenter on ETN

escapes an assassin-

ation attempt May 4,

2008.

Amanda Lindhout, a Canadian freelance reporter, and Nigel

Brennan, a freelance Australian photojournalist are kidnapped in Mogadishu.

British correspondent Colin Freeman and Spanish photographer Jose Cendon just after their release

Somali journalists detained by police and threatend with their lives. Front (from left): Shafici Mohyaddin, Muse

Mohamed Osman. Back (from left): Mohamed Abdullahi, Mohamed Kafi Ali, Abdi Kamil Yusuf, Ibrahim Abdi Hassan

The funeral of Nasteh Dahir Farah

Somali Coalition for Freedom of Expression (SOCFEX), Maka Al-mukarama Street, opposite of Tree Piano

building, Hodon District, Mogadishu, Somalia Email: [email protected], [email protected]

In Puntland

independent media

directors face

arbitrary detention

Mowlid Hagi Abdi SBC

Radio director arres-

ted on 09 May 2008

Director of Radio

Daljir Mohamed

Mohamud detained

on 17th August 2008

Abdulkadir Mohamed

Nunow deputy

director of Radio

Horseed arrested on

25 June 2008

Hassan Mohamed

Jama “Jidka” director

of radio Galkayo

arrested on 16

November 2008

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