somali journalists killed in somalia

 Somalia is one of the few countries in the world where journalists are highly succeptible to voilence in their line of duty. Some are killed,others kidnapped and intimidations are orders of the day. Some stories happening in Somalia are not reported to the world media,not because there are not journalists in that area,but due to fear among the journalists. Since 1990 when the central government of Somalia was overthrown by tribal warlords,the number of journalists killed in Somalia is estimated about fifty journalist both locals and the international journalists. The journalists,some are assisinated,others are shot dead in a day light muder,however their hunting had increased with in the last five years. The increase was as a result of extensive power struggle between the transitional federal governments of Somalia and the islamic courts of union and finally al-shabab. As a result of this,some journalists have run away from the country,others left their jobs for their lives and others are still working under the miserable conditions. Since the down fall of general Siyad Bare's governments,there were no constitutional rights for the journalists,and even it is said that some assisinations,the transitional federal government had either directly or indirectly involved. In 2008 when the the islamists had taken over the control of the somalia,the situation had become jumping from frying pan into the fire. The islamists had put alot of pressure on the media,some broadcasting centres were broken into and looted,others were banned. Since the eve of the journalists were killed in Somalia,including a radio presenter at Galgacayo. -August 24th in 2007,Abdikadir Mahat Maalim kaskey of Radio Banadir was killed in Bardhere in southern somalia while performing his duty. -October 19th 2007,Bashir Noor Gedi of Radio Shabelle was shot dead in Mogadishu . - january 28th 2008,Hassan Kafi of Somali national news agency was killed in kismayu while going to his home. -January 17th 2008,Nasteh Farah Bbc correspondent was shot dead in kismayu. -January first in 2009,Hassan Mayow,of Radio shabelle was killed in Afgoye. -February 2nd 2009, Said Tahlil,of Horn Afrik sustained serious shots,and died in Madina hospital in Mogadishu. -May 22nd 2009 Abdirizack Mohamed Warsame of Radio Shabelle was killed in Mogadishu. -May 26th 2009, Nuur Muse Hussein of IQK was killed in Baladweyn. -June 8th 2009, Mukhtar Mohamed Hirabe of Radio shabelle was assisinated at Horiwaa district in Mogadishu. -July 4th 2009,Mohamed Mohamud Yusuf of IQK was killed in Mogadishu. -December 3rd in 2009,Mohamed Amin of Radio Shabelle and Abdulkhafar Abdulkadir,Freelance journalist were killed in Mogadisho. -4th of may in 2010 sheikh Noor Mohamed Abkey of Radio Mogadishu,was killed in Hamarweyn, Mogadishu. -August 24th 2010, Barkhat Awale,of Radio Huruma killed in Mogadishu. - September 2nd 2011 Noram Feizul Mohamed of Bernama T.v.was also killed in Mogadishu. - December 18th 2011 Abdisalam Sheikh Hassan Hiis of Horn cable T.v.was attacked and killed in Mogadishu. Only this year,2012,so far six journalist were killed in Somalia. * January 28th 2012, Hassan Osman Abdi,of Shabelle media network was killed in Mogadishu. * February 28th 2012 Abubakar Hassan Mohamed of Somaliweyn Radio was also killed in Mogadishu. * 4th March 2012,Ali Abdi Mohamed of Radio Galgacyo,Puntland was assisinated in Galgacyo. * 5th of April 2012, Mahat Salad Adan,of Shabelle media network was killed in Baladweyn. * 2nd May,2012, Farhan James Abdulle of Radio Daljir was shot dead at Galgacyo by gunmen. *And lastly 24th May 2012,Ahmed Adow Anshur.freelance journalists was also killed in Mogadishu. It is embrassing that none of these perpetrators was punished and brought before justice. Impunity is proudly prevailing in Somalia as the number of killings had increased at an alarming rate. For the last five years the somalia journalists in Somalia were caught in an iron grip by the warring parties in southern and central somalia. Repressive practices against journalist increased in the last five years,though the number of killing had notably gone up. In 2008,five media houses in Mogadishu and Galagayo were shut down as part of the sophisticated intimidation. Due to national and global outcry against media in Somalia implemented tactics of terrorising the journalists through phone calls and face to face communications and many of them were plainly threatened to death. Some were plainly ordered not to report such cases. Some of the accusations suggested to journalists include: Reporting false information,undermining security,waging war against authorities or co-operating with terrorism. Further more managers of the media were subjected to various pressure such as political and financial inducement to conceal information. All voices interviews Hanad Sheikh Hurdaye of radio Horn Afrik who run away from somalia after he faced serious intimidations. Hanad lives in Dadab refugee camps as a somali refugee. Thank you Mr.Hanad for your interview briefly tell us your experiance as somali journalist? Thank you for giving this opportunity to let the know about the circumstances under which we work.infact its not only me who was subjected to brutal punishment in the performance of my duties so i can conclude that my experiance as ajournalist was never favouring. 2.What forms of mistreatment were you subjected personally? Infact they are many from starting threats to trial of murdering.in many instances i was threatened through phone calls,messages and emails and all of them delivering the same message thus posing my life agreater risk so i was forced to be extra vigilant and limit my movement and nature of work. 3.Why were you targetted and what accussations were you subject to? In somalia press have limited freedom and the main why somali journalists are targetted is the nature of news they report and i was not exceptional and i was accussed of reporting biased reports and they tried to hinder the delivery of my services and this necessiated my departure to the refugee camps. 4. Who is responsible for the killing of journalists in Somalia? Propably the killing of journalists in Somalia mainly is masterminded by the authorities.I can remember,previously,the tribal warlords were responsible for the killing of the journalists,but since the TFG and the islamists group had come into existance,the killings per year has doubled. To me the transitional federal government,al-shabab,Ahlu sunna waljamaca and putland governments are responsible for this. For example,Abdisalam sheikh Hassan Hiis of horn cable T.v. was assisinated at Mogadishu and it is believed the government had an upper hand,and so far there is no response. 5.Do you have a union,as somali journalists working in Somalia that advocates your rights? Yes there is one called National Union of Somali Journalists(NUSOJ). This union fights for the rights of the journalists and the oppressed media. Our union mainly co-ordinates the relationship between the government,groups and the journalists. It also refers our complains to the government. 6. Is it true the you journalists of Somalia are accused of engineering political wrangel through media propoganda? No,defintely that is not and i shall term it as ' false allegations'. Personally i see that as mere excuse of killing the journalists. This country is also already burning,what is the assense of igniting more? That is not an excuse,if they want to kill us let them kill but we shall continue telling the truth,and if they are not comfortable,let them do the necessary. I even remember several cases the media kept quite for public interest,then if that is how we create problem in Somalia,we leave the matter in their hands. Remember where the hyena is the judge,a goat has no right. 6. There are many somali exile journalists here in kenya,who is supporting you here? Do you any assistance from international agencies.? No,there is no such kind of assistance. Here in kenya,it is true there are many exile journalists,and each one of us leads an independent live.some work with the local Fm's,and that is how we survive. 7. Do you personally work? No,for the last years i have been idling,i don't work as per now. 8. What would you suggest to your friends in somalia who are still working under the miserable conditions in Somalia? I want to congratulate my collegues in somalia for their bravery work and sincerity to serve their community with the correct information. Yes i wish to tell them not fear death,but fear fear itself. Thank you Mr.Handa for your interview. ABDIHAKIM WARSAME