EHAHRD-Net decries continued murdering of Somali journalists

What began like a year of hope for Somalia with the removal of the Islamic Courts militias that had been accused of causing havoc in the war-torn country has sadly turned out to be the deadliest year ever for Somali journalists. The Human Rights House Network joins the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network in condemning the growing number of killings of Somali journalists. (24-AUG-07)
 
Based on EHAHRD-Net´s release earlier this afternoon, this article has been edited and supplemented for publication here by HRH F / Niels Jacob Harbitz. Photos of Sheikh and Osman: HRH F / Harbitz.

EHAHRD-Net has just received information from the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), a founding member of the Network, that another journalist, Abdulkadir Mahad Moallim Kaskey formerly working with Radio Banadir in South-Western Somalia, was killed this morning. Reports say that unknown gunmen opened fire to the Minibus that he was riding in early today (Friday, 24 August 2007), in El Ilan village. The deceased is the seventh journalist to be murdered in Somalia since the beginning of this year, and the third in just two weeks.
 
-This has been a terrible year for the human rights defenders´ community in the East and Horn of Africa with the needless loss of courageous media workers. The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) is duty-bound to ascertain the circumstances under which journalists continue to be targeted by murderous elements. The TFG backed by Ethiopian troops and the African Union troops currently in control of Mogadishu, must trace the murderers and ensure that they are held accountable. The time is now for the African Union and the UN to wake up to the call for protection of not only journalists but all other human rights defenders as well as the innocent civilians of Somalia, says Hassan Shire Sheikh, left, Chairperson EHAHRDP/Net.
 
Background:
War-torn Somalia has been stateless for over 16 years, and within this period, journalists have experienced grave violations of their rights from all sides of the conflict. By mid last year when Martin Adler, 47, an award-winning Swedish journalist and photographer was shot dead by an unidentified gunman while filming a demonstration in the Somali capital in June 2006, he was the 14th journalist to be murdered in Somalia since the fall of former dictator Siad Barre in 1991. This year alone, four months to its close, has already recorded half the number killed in the previous sixteen years. Worldwide, Somalia has continued to be one of the most insecure places of work for journalists both on and off duty, despite the pledge of security by both the TFG and the African Union forces.
 
Appeal:
EHAHRD-Net appeals to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in Somalia to:
 
-Establish details about the murder of  Abdulkadir Mahad Moallim Kaskey, and ensure those behind it receive their due punishment;
 
-Avail adequate security to journalists in view of their legitimate role of gathering and disseminating 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.
 
We also call upon the international community to intervene in the security situation in Somalia which has escalated to unbearable levels. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the United Nations must rise up and condemn the continued killing of journalists, and use their mandates to ensure a return to normalcy.
 
All Network members across the sub-region and beyond, are requested to write to the TFG authorities condemning the murder of Abdulkadir Mahad Moallim Kaskey and ask them to take the necessary measures to protect the lives of journalists and all other human rights defenders working in the country.
 
Please send appeals to;
The Somali Ambassador in Kenya, asking for them to be forwarded to Somalia’s President, Col. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed: TFG Ambassador, 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

International Federation of Journalist’s appeal:

IFJ Condemns Killing of Radio Journalist as Wave of Violence in Somalia Claims Seventh Victim in 2007

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the shooting of a Somali radio journalist – the seventh killing this year – and reiterated calls for international action over the crisis in Somalia where reporters have become prime targets in spreading violence.

“This latest killing confirms our fears that journalism has become more dangerous than ever in Somalia,” said IFJ General Secretary Aidan White. “The deteriorating political crisis and increasing levels of violence make independent reporting almost impossible. International organisations need to think hard about action now to calm the situation.”

Abdulkadir Mahad Moallim Kaskey, the regional correspondent of Radio Banadir in the south-western province of Gedo, died after unknown gunmen opened fire on the minibus that he was riding in this morning in the village of El Ilan. Another passenger was wounded in the attack. This is the third media death in two weeks in southern Somalia and the seventh journalist killed this year says the IFJ.

“Deadly attacks on journalists and violations of press freedom are increasing day by day,” said Omar Faruk Osman, right, Secretary General of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ). “It’s time for the international community to investigate this crisis and do more to protect media staff.”

The IFJ supports this call for the UN and other bodies to act over the violence against media staff. The IFJ itself is planning a campaign to highlight attacks on press in Somalia.

“We need to do more to improve levels of safety for journalists and we need action to bring those responsible for this wave of violence to justice,” said White. “The scandal of impunity in the killing of journalists must be brought to an end.”

For more information contact the IFJ at 32 2 235 2207
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 114 countries worldwide