SudaneseOnline: سودانيزاونلاين

MOGADISHU, Somalia, February 7, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has today welcomed the decision of the International Contact Group (ICG) on Somalia to condemn the escalating violence and attacks on journalists and media organizations in Somalia.

 

At its just ended 21st meeting in Djibouti, ICG, for the first time, took a strong position over the heightened attacks on journalists and the threats to media freedom in Somalia.

 

“The ICG strongly condemns all forms of violence and intimidation against Somali journalists and media organisations, and urges the Somali authorities to end impunity, investigate and prosecute those responsible”, the Group said in its final communique.

 

NUSOJ Secretary General, Omar Faruk Osman, said the union welcomed and appreciated the position adopted by the ICG and the statement it issued adding that it reflected “a growing awareness and appreciation within the world community and Somali authorities of the extreme danger facing journalists and the media organizations in Somalia.”

 

“We appreciate this spirit of growing recognition within international community and Somali authorities that the media situation in Somalia calls for concerted efforts by the international community to put pressure on the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia to discharge its mandate of protecting journalists and promoting media freedom,” said Osman.

 

The ICG’s statement followed intense engagement and lobbying by NUSOJ during the ICG meeting for international attention and intervention on the situation of journalists and media organizations in Somalia. Similar statements of condemnations have come from France, UK, United Nations, African Union and European Union.

 

The latest reactions have followed the brutal killing of Hassan Osman Abdi, who was the director of Shabelle Media Network and also an official of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) within Mogadishu. Abdi was shot dead on Saturday 28 January 2012 by gunmen as he arrived home in the Madina district in Mogadishu at 18:30 local time.

 

Participants of the ICG meeting were: African Union, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Djibouti, East African Community, Egypt, Ethiopia, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, Islamic Development Bank, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea (Republic), League of Arab States, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, Netherlands, Norway, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia (TFG, TFP, Puntland, Galmudug, Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a), South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Nations, United States of America, Yemen and World Bank.

 

SOURCE

National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ)