Reporters sans Frontières (Paris)
18 November 2008
press release
Reporters Without Borders today expressed dismay after police in the semi-autonomous Puntland region in north-eastern Somalia, raided and shut down Radio Galkayo and arrested its head, Hassan Mohammed Jama.
Police, led by Col. Abdirisak Ismail, alias "Darwish", arrived at the studios on 16 November forced the radio off air and arrested its director. Darwish said he was acting on the direct orders of the president of Puntland, General Adde Muse.
The raid was prompted by a report aired on the radio accusing the president of involvement in a secret deal to obtain weapons from abroad to guarantee his safety during forthcoming elections in December, according to Partner organisation of Reporters Without Borders, the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ).
"These allegations are completely false and that is why the radio station has been closed", a police official told Agence France-Presse on condition of anonymity.
"Whatever the objection to Radio Galkayo, it is outrageous that police should raid a radio station and shut it down", the worldwide press freedom organisation said. "Keeping its director in custody without telling him what he is accused of is absurd and unjust. Behaviour like this only reveals the weakness of the authorities and makes them enemies", Reporters Without Borders added.
Reporters Without Borders defends imprisoned journalists and press freedom throughout the world. It has nine national sections (Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland). It has representatives in Bangkok, London, New York, Tokyo and Washington. And it has more than 120 correspondents worldwide.
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Radio Galkayo returned to the air on the day after shutting day. Radio Galkayo is now operating normally. The Director of Radio Galkayo was released from jail the day after he was taken. The Director of Radio Galkayo is now free and will be appearing at a court hearing. Regards, Sam Voron VK2BVS, 6O0A. Email somaliahamradio@yahoo.com Web http://somaliaradio.blogspot.com