The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRD-Net) has received with profound shock the news of the murder of two journalists in Mogadishu, Somalia. According to Network members in Mogadishu, Mr. Ali Iman Sharmarke, director of Horn Afrik radio and television died after his car ran over a landmine. Mr. Sharmake was on his way from the funeral of fellow journalist and Radio Capital Voice director Mahad Ahmed Elmi, who had been killed moments earlier. (12-AUG-07)
 
Based on EHAHRD-Net´s own release, this article has been prepared for publication here by HRH F / Niels Jacob Harbitz. Photo of Sheikh: HRH F / Harbitz.

A Reuters reporter Sahal Abdulle, who was sitting next to Mr. Sharmake escaped the horrific attack with slight injuries. Elmi is said to have been murdered by two gunmen on his way to the radio station. These two incidents bring to six (6) the number of Somali journalists murdered since the start of this year.
 
Hassan Shire Sheikh 100.jpg-We are deeply angered by the ceaseless murdering of journalists in Somalia and yet again call upon the Transitional Federal Government to account for these actions. The TFG and other players in the politics of Somalia must ensure the protection of journalists, whose work is considered pivotal in the struggle for democracy. The killings must be investigated and the perpetrators apprehended accordingly,´ says Hassan Shire Sheikh, right, Chairperson EHAHRDP/Net
 
All this happens at a time when human rights defenders including journalists are caught in between the crossfire of the TFG supported by Ethiopian troops and Islamist militias both sides receiving independent means of funding and procurement of deadly and sophisticated arms. The two warring sides are consistently violating the international human  rights and humanitarian law.
 
Appeal:
EHAHRD-Net appeals to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in Somalia to:
 
-Investigate into the murder of Ali Iman Sharmarke and Mahad Ahmed Elmi, and bring the perpetrators to book,
 
-Take all possible measures to ensure adequate protection of journalists in respect of their constitutional obligation to gather and disseminate news and information
 
-Strictly observe the right to life and freedom of the press as stipulated in the Somali Transitional Federal Charter, and in regional and international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the 1998 UN Declaration on the rights of human rights defenders.
 
All Network members across the sub-region are requested to write to the TFG authorities condemning these murders and ask them to take the necessasry measures to protect the lives of journalists and all other human rights defenders working in the country.
 
Please send appeals to;
The Somali Charge d´Affaires in Kenya, asking for them to be forwarded to Somalia´s President, Col. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed: TFG charge d´affaires, Mohamed Ali Nur, PO Box 623-00606, Jabavu Road, Hurlingham, Nairobi, Kenya 
Email: mali@somaliembassy.co.ke
Salutation: Dear Sir
 
For further information, please contact:
Tumusiime Kabwende Deo
Press Officer, +256-712-075721
Regional Coordination Office
EAST AND HORN OF AFRICA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS PROJECT (EHAHRDP)
Human Rights House, Plot 1853, Lulume Rd., Nsambya
P.O. Box 70356 Kampala, Uganda
Phone: +256-414-510263(general)/ext.112 
          +256-414-267118(direct)
Fax: +256-414-267117
E-mail: ehahrdp@yahoo.ca, hshire@yorku.ca
Website: http://www.yorku.ca/crs/AHRDP/index.html