Mogadishu (Sunatimes) It is always the
talk of the Somaliland politicians and authorities that the region is an
example of growing democracy and peace in the war torn ofhorn of
Africanation.
At the international conferences and
when receiving diplomats the leaders do not shy away to be proud of what they
call as " an independent and peaceful republic, which is on its way
of seeking international recognition, despite Violations of Press Freedom and
ordeals subjected to the journalists.
It is unfortunate that democracy, the strongest
political tool for Somaliland, is not fully practiced.
We can think of democracy as a system
of government with four key elements:
A political system for choosing and
replacing the government through free and fair elections.
2. The active participation of
the people, as citizens, in politics and civic life.
3. Protection of the human
rights of all citizens.
4. A rule of law, in which the
laws and procedures apply equally to all citizens.
Have Somaliland
Authorities met with all these standards? No Really.
In a democracy, every citizen has
certain basic rights that the state cannot take away from them. These rights
are guaranteed under international law.
You have the right to have your own
beliefs, and to say and write what you think. No one can tell you what you must
think, believe, and say or not say.
There is freedom and pluralism in the
mass media. You can choose between different sources of news and opinion to
read in the newspapers, to hear on the radio, and to watch on television.
It seems that Somaliland authorities
think only democratic election through ballots can help claim a democratic
republic.
The federation of Somali Journalists:
FESOJ, has documented at least dozens of flagrant violations and abuses against
journalists in Somaliland, among them beating journalists, arbitrary arrests
and threats in the line of their duty.
The most recent freedom case in
Somaliland was decumented on Thursday Oct. 27, 2011 by FESOJ office
inMogadishu.
Journalist, MohamedAbdiKahin,
who works for both a Somali new website Ramaas and Royal Television 24, was
seriously beaten by Somaliland police with baston.
The police men who attacked the
journalist accused him of taking recently published photographs.
More badly, the journalist was denied
access to file a case against his assailants to the Police, something that
shows how also the justice system in Somaliland is not even-handed.
"They did what they could
and I was denied access to the police station, that is not fair" Mohamed
Abdi Kahin told FESOJ, with a very low and sad voice.
Repeated calls and appeals to the
Somaliland authorities to stop such unacceptable human rights violation against
journalists seem to have fallen into deaf ears.
"We condemn the act to our
strongest terms possible and call for Somaliland leaders to stay on the line of
real democracy and such unwelcome actions have to end ," said FESOJ
chairman, Mohamed OLad Hassan
FESOJ has also asked the Somali
journalists and organizations that stand for their rights and advocacy to show
solidarity with the Somaliland journalists.
FESOJ has also sent a letter of
request asking the United Nations and other Human right Organizations to mount
press on Somaliland authorities to respect the freedom of the media.
By Mohamed Olad Hassan
FESOJ OFFICE in MOGADSHU
+25261-554-0001 - deputy chairman Ibrahim Mohamed
Moalimuu
+1571-2167331- the
chairman - Mohamed Olad Hassan - the chairman
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Does harassing journalists help the Somaliland's claim of being Democratic?
Fesoj Chairman Mohamed Olad Hassan