In a letter issued from the office of the Deputy Minister of Information, Communications and Culture of Puntland State of Somalia, the Ministry “has suspended the journalistic work of the VOA reporters in Puntland”.

The journalists whose work was suspended are Nuh Muse Birjeb, VOA Somali Service Correspondent in Garowe, Mohamed Yasin Isak, VOA Somali Service Correspondent in Galkayo, and Abdulkadir Mohamed Nunow, VOA Somali Service Correspondent in Bossasso.

Although the letter of suspension, which NUSOJ has received a copy, did not state the reason behind the suspension, reliable sources confirmed that the journalists were barred from work following an interview the VOA Somali Service aired on Wednesday, 30 September 2009. The interviewee was a man who claimed he was the chairman of Ahlu-Sunnah Waljamaca in Puntland, which the Puntland authorities view as rivals in the power play.

“The suspension is unjustified and deliberate suppression of independent reporting. The letter contravenes the constitution of Puntland and the Transitional Federal Charter of Somalia, which Puntland recognizes. This is gross violation of media freedom and freedom of expression,” said Omar Faruk Osman, right, NUSOJ Secretary-General.  

The letter, which was addressed to the suspended journalists and copied to the head of VOA Somali service and Puntland Presidency, also bars any other journalist from doing any journalistic reports for the VOA Somali Service.

“We call upon Puntland Authorities to immediately withdraw the suspension and allow the three journalists to carry out their work without any hindrances or conditions. The suspension is an affront on the peoples’ right to receive information. The suspicion will result in the people of Puntland not to get news and information which would have otherwise been provided by these journalists through the VOA. It is therefore a suppression of the public’s right to know what is happening in Puntland,” Omar Faruk Osman added.

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For further information, contact:
National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ)
Taleex Street, KM4 Area, Hodan District,
Mogadishu, Somalia, tel/fax: +252 1 859 944,
e-mail: newsletter@nusoj.org  
Internet: http://www.nusoj.org