Mogadishu 12,Nov.07 ( Sh.M.Network)-The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) with UN Somalia, East & Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRD-Net), Article 19 and Amnesty International (AI) today marked International Human Rights Day at Silver Springs Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.

The event's title was "Celebration of Human Rights Day 2007 - In solidarity with Somali journalists".

The Secretary General of NUSOJ Omar Faruk Osman expressed at the event the union's concerns for human rights violations committed against journalists as this year turned the worst on record for the number of media people killed, imprisoned, injured and intimidated in Somalia.

" The recent hostility in Mogadishu with its unparalleled level of targeting media people and disrespect for the physical safety of news men and women reflect the unpleasant reality that journalists, because they have the capacity to expose violations of human rights, are unavoidably among the first victims in the conflict" said Omar Faruk Osman.

The event which was attended by Ambassadors of Somalia, Italy, Sweden and representatives from UN Somalia, and French & Portuguese Embassies in Nairobi attracted more than 60 participants of exiled Somali journalists, Somali NGOs, International NGOs and Kenyan & International Press.

In his speech at the occasion, Omar Faruk said: "Today's celebration reminds us of the importance of this remarkable declaration to people the world over, and to future generations, but Somali journalists have today little to celebrate. With 8 deaths, including targeted assassinations, 5 wounded, 47 arrested and with growing evidence of heartless disregard of media rights by political groups, 2007 almost turned into a year of brutality and abuse"

These tragic stories of human rights abuses of journalists and other media workers in Somalia made the country the most deadliest one for journalists in Africa and the second most dangerous place to be a journalist in the world after Iraq. As Secretary General of the union, I can report to you as of today that the number of our members, at least 50 of them, have had to go to exile in fear of their lives, particularly in the recent months, Omar Faruk added.

The systematic human rights violations of journalists have helped to perpetuate the restrictive climate in which Somali journalists work. Journalists who have tried to expose human rights violations and render professional service to the public, have been arbitrarily detained, unfairly accused, forced to flee the country, or have been assassinated for their journalism work.

NUSOJ Secretary General declared that the right of freedom of expression and the right to seek, receive and impart information of any kind are set out in international standards, but the pervasive culture of impunity in the killing of media people is a cruel fact of life for media in Somalia that undermines professional journalism, freedom of expression and the free flow of information to the public.

" Dozens of our colleagues endanger their lives regularly because there is a great hunger for news. But information comes at too high a price when it leads to the death or injury of journalist or a media worker. All sides in the conflict qualified as fierce enemies of the media and they don't tolerate independent reporting, detailed examination and criticism of their activities and performance" Omar Faruk told the participants of the celebration.

Omar Faruk stated that it is a positive development that the Transitional Federal Parliament of Somalia voted for a New National Media Law on Saturday, 8 December. We hope that the new law will not restrict freedom of expression, including freedom of the press, as there are few amendments made to the draft that we were consulted with by the government, and the new law has not been submitted to the media and so far we cannot judge the law. We also hope that it will supersede provisional decrees which were conditioned to the closed media houses in Mogadishu to sign in order to resume operations.

"As we defend the rights of journalists whenever they are attacked, imprisoned or threatened for their work, the National Union of Somali Journalists demanded an explanation and an independent inquiry of these crimes against journalists, but journalists are still routinely subject to brutal intimidation and media continue to be censored and closed down. These desperate groups want to manipulate media and to shape public opinion, and when the media resists they commit these crimes" he added.

" But today on behalf of the National Union of Somali Journalists, I want to send a message to violators of media and freedom of expression that media do not exist in order to promote their policies or aims. Good journalistic practice guidelines should not, therefore, be dictated and imposed" he said.

Omar Faruk said to UN and International Community " The United Nations system and the broader international community must be entirely engaged in finding out what happened in these cases and action must be taken to ensure it never happens again".

" We believe that all those responsible for violations of journalists' rights should be punished for their crimes. The international community should put in place procedures and structures to hold those responsible for crimes against media freedom and journalists in Somalia to be brought to justice" he stated.

" The Somalia's Transitional Federal Government must respect and protect journalists' rights to freedom of expression and act in line with their international human rights laid down by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights" Omar stated.

Omar Faruk Osman made sincere appeal that the time has come for world community to go with Somali Journalists not only strengthening the voice of Somali journalists but also to make Somali Journalists much stronger and more determined to take on the challenges ahead so that the Somali journalists can make important contributions to Somalia's Transitional Democratization Process and play key role in peace-building efforts.

He expressed NUSOJ's sincere thanking to the French Embassy in Nairobi for its open-handed support for Somali journalists who fled from the violence in the country so that they cannot abandon from the journalistic profession.

Chairperson of East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network Hassan (EHAHRD-Net) Shire Shaik spoke at the event. "Human Rights Defenders, including journalists, in Somalia work in a situation of armed conflict between the Somali government forces supported by the Ethiopian army, and the insurgents, characterised by grave violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, causing numerous deaths, including amongst their own active members in the past" he said.

" Particularly the Somalia Journalists have been hardest hit by all sides of the conflict. The TFG has increased its practice of repeated closure of media houses and arrests of journalists by its security forces. Such actions have created an environment where attacks against journalists by the TFG security forces and armed opposition groups in reprisal for their reporting have become commonplace. Intimidation of journalists has become a common practice by all parties to the conflict in Somalia" Hassan added.

"EHAHRD-Net is calling on Transitional Federal Institutions in Somalia to recognize and respect the legitimate role of journalists by ending their ongoing attacks and by according to them effective protection as provided by the Transitional Federal Charter and Article 19 of the UDHR" Hassan declared at the meeting.

Hassan Shire asked The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to conduct independent and impartial investigations into the unlawful killing and increasing threats of violence against journalists and to bring those responsible to internationally accepted fair trial without recourse to death penalty. "The TFG must also put to an end to its practice of repeated closure of media houses and arrests of journalists by its security forces".

The Chairperson of EHAHRD-Net also appealed to all parties to the conflict in South/Central Somalia by saying "We appeal to all parties to the conflict in South/Central Somalia to stop immediately all attacks against civilians and staff members of the AMISOM; to facilitate free access and the work of humanitarian organizations and UN agencies in the country; to adopt a ceasefire without further delay; to respect the right to freedom of speech of journalists and human rights defenders; to continue and reinforce negotiations to create representative national institutions emerging from an inclusive political process as envisaged by the Federal Charter of Transition, with a view to achieving stability, peace and reconciliation in the country.

Paul Gomis, representative for Somalia of the United Nations Organization for Education, Science, Culture and Communication (UNESCO), spoke on behave of UNESCO and Eric Laroche, Coordinator of the UN Country Team Somalia.

"Within its mandate to promote communication UNESCO also takes a keen interest in the work of the media and freedom of expression and we will continue to echo all condemnations of the violence that too often targets the Somali journalists and media organizations" said Paul Gomis. "Without free flow of information and adequate communication; human rights cannot be protected, and violations of such rights will not be reported. Silence is the first sign of encouragement to perpetrators to enjoy impunity. Silence also increases risks that victims will never be able to find ways and means to redress acts posed by perpetrators in the absence of rule of law".

The UNESCO chief also added that Human Rights are basic human non-negotiable common denominators in Somalia as well as in the rest of the World, And it is therefore paramount that Somalia institutions at all levels fully adhere to, and enforce human rights as set by the international community to which they belong to.

"Journalists are responsible for ensuring accurate and proper information of the citizen, and as such they have rights and obligations. While we agree to join hands to increase their level of professionalism, it is worth mentioning that even in cases they oversee their obligations; there are legal frameworks to any unprofessional act. Preventing Somali journalists from doing there work is denying Somalis and their partners their right to information, and subsequently their rights to informed decision. This, sometimes can lead to missing opportunities that could positively improve their lives" Paul Gomis said, who also spoke on behalf of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour.

Representative of Amnesty International also spoke at the event and some of the findings of Amnesty International's mission to Somalia.

Mr. Renaud Detalle, Human Rights Adviser of Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator Office of UN Country Team Somalia, led and moderated the celebration.

All speakers thanked the French Embassy in Nairobi for sponsoring the event and the journalists' training.

Shabelle Media Network Somalia
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