National Union of Somali Journalists (Mogadishu)
3 March 2008
press release
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) today condemnsin the strongest possible terms the shocking attacks on Radio Shabelle andRadio Simba in Mogadishu by the Armed Forces of the Somalia TransitionalFederal Government.
Today, 2 March 2008, the Armed forces forcefully enteredthe offices of Radio Simba and took away three computers, audio mixer, a computer laptop, two Audiotape recorders, two digital cameras and four studio microphones. During the attack, the forces had beatenreporter Abdiaziz Hussein Hassan, who was in the Simba news studio. Yesterday, 1 March 2008, a rocket hit thebuilding of Radio Simba and destroyed the Radio’s archive.
Few minutes after the attack onSimba radio, the armed forces broke down the doors of Shabelle Radio, which isnear to offices of Simba Radio, and took two audio mixers and main computer fromthe production studio. When leaving from Shabelle Offices, forces orderedDirector of Shabele Muktar Mohamed Hirabe to go with them.
Security Forces also visitedthe Horn Afrik Radio and ordered to shut down the radio, but did not take any equipment,according to Horn Afrik journalists.
According to the journalistsand management of these Radio stations, the attacks were tointimidate journalists and the media, and particularly these radio stations. ShabelleRadio contacted Government officials, when their offices were broken in, but noofficial came or ordered to end the attack, as said by Shabelle Management.
“We condemn these unacceptable attacks on the Radio Stationsand call on the Transitional Government to ensure that those who carried out theseattacks are identified and apprehended, together with whoever gave orders forthis operation” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.
“Freedom of Muktar MohamedHirabe must be immediately returned and the Government must guarantee thereturn of the equipment of the Radio stations without damage” said Omar Faruk.
Government Forces are carryingout security operation in Bakara Market and entire Howl-Wadaag District, which situatesin the centre of the city after heavy fighting inthe capital between insurgents and Somali and Ethiopian soldiers.
NUSOJ rejects any attemptto muzzle or control the media and restrict journalists in times of securityoperations. “We believe that journalists' ability to report freely is essentialto the nonviolent resolution of conflicts, and that suppression of the mediaduring periods of unrest or armed operations only increases fear and suspicionamong the people” Omar Faruk declared.
NUSOJ reiterates its deepest concernabout the escalating attacks on Media and worsening security and safety ofMedia professionals by the armed groups, despite blood-spattered violence againstjournalists and media assistants last year.
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