Mogadishu, 24 December, 2011

Mourning ceremony co-organized by the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) and Somali National Women Organization (SNWO) was held at the Somali National Youth Center in Mogadishu on Friday 23 December 2011, meanwhile the government announced the arrest of a suspect linked to the killing of the journalist.

The remembrance ceremony, which was attended by members from the Somalia's Transitional Federal Parliament, Somali National Women Organization, National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) and some of member journalists in Mogadishu was part of a wider campaign initiated by the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) to show the feelings of Somali media fraternity to the Somali government following the shooting of late Abdisalan Sheik Hassan, who was gunned down at Hamarjajab neighborhood on 18 December, 2011.

Mrs. Habibo Ahmed Jimale, a veteran journalist and NUSOJ Supreme council Vice chairman who was one of the officials who spoke at the event on Friday voiced loudly that the Somali journalists had been working in a very difficult situation and especially for the last decade, reminded how many journalists whose killers are yet unknown. She briefly described how painful it was to witness dozens of colleague journalists killed, whose killers stroll unpunished and urged unity among journalists for justice.

"Abdisalam was innocent, friendly, social and was the voice of the voiceless. We ask Allah to give him Paradise." Mrs. Habiba Ahmed Jimale, NUSOJ Supreme council Vice chairman said, " We must fight for justice."

Mrs. Asho Omar Gesdir, Chairman of Somali National Women Organization (SNWO) whose organization co-organized the event expressed how sadly the death of Late Abdisalam Hiis has touched the whole society especially the Somali National Women Organization, a body that represents the voice of the Somali women and on behalf of the Somali women stated that Somali women share with the Somali journalists the heartfelt tragedy that happened to the Somali media society at large.

"We share with you your cheerless feeling for your colleague and Somali women will stand shoulder to shoulder to the Somali journalists in campaigning the justice." Mrs. Asho Omar Gesdir, Chairman of Somali National Women Organization (SNWO) said, "We join with NUSOJ's call for justice and will never rest until the murderer faces justice."

Lawmaker, Ali Omar Ghedi (Garabey) who spoke on behalf of the Somali parliament condemned the nasty shooting incident that led to the death of the journalist. He sent messages of condolences and solidarity to the family, friends and colleague and the journalists union. He vowed that the Somali parliament will support the Somali journalists fight for justice. Mr. Garabey who is one of handful of Somali lawmakers who still practice journalists and several media outlets said that "He feels the same feelings you are feeling and I know how serious is to seek justice at the same time encouraged the media community to continue their campaign for justice."

Finally, the Secretary General of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), Mohamed Ibrahim raised his closing remarks the need fundraise the family of the slain colleague and seek justice for his killing.

Mr. Ibrahim called the Transitional Federal Government to provide the land and urged the Somali media community and Somalis in and outside Somalia to contribute in order for the family of our colleague to have a house built through this contribution. He finally thanked the Somali women and Somali journalists and media community as a whole for their efforts in taking part such campaigns.

"We must not forget our colleague, we need the Somali people to contribute and call for the Somali government to contribute the land in order to build a house for the family of our beloved friend." Mohamed Ibrahim, the Secretary General of the National Union of Somali Journalists announced, "We will not rest until the murderer faces justice."

Two committee has been elected on Wednesday following two days consecutive meeting between the Somali Media executives, editors, journalists and the union offices. The committee are follow up and awareness raising committee and fundraising committee and both committees are composed of 30 individuals of editors, union offices, media managers and journalists.

The Somali journalists also vowed that they will have the signs of white and red on their faces till the killer is caught.

All the participants stood for 5 minutes prayed for Allah in rememberance of the murder of the journalist.

In a separate incident, Somali security services, on Friday 23 December, 2011, detained at the Central Investigation Department (CID) a suspect identified Mohamed Yusuf Nor, 37, who was believed to be behind the murder of late Abdisalan Sheik Hassan (Hiis).

Mr. Nor who was the chief security and driver of the mayor of Mogadishu threatened to Late Hassan to death on Sunday saying that he would kill him an hour or so before his death, according to witnesses accounts. Late Hassan was killed by a gunman with military uniform around 4:00pm at Madina Hotel in Hamar Jajab neighborhood an hour or so after the death threats.

Upon learning the arrest, the Somali Journalists took buses from the center where the mourning was taking place to the CID Headquarters.

Col. Barise, the chief of Central Investigation Department (CID) who briefed the journalists said that he was surprised by what the journalists are doing, which he said, he never witnessed such events and urged to be calm and not create activities creating insecurity. Col. Barise told the journalists that the main suspect had been arrested and investigations are going on and will let you know once the investigations are complete.

"I am surprised by your solidarity. I have never seen for the five years I have been the spokes person of the Somali police." Col. Abdullahi Barise said, "We have so far arrested one suspect and will investigate and you should be patient while we continue our investigations."

"I understand your feelings and concerns and will try to bring the killers to justice soon." Col. Barise added.

The operation of the surprise seizure of the suspect was taken part besides the police by members of the presidential guards, led by brilliant officer, Captain Abdi Mohamed Ulusow known as "Abdi Madobe", who showed the Somali media community their solidarity at the onset of the funeral on Monday.

The presidential of the transitional federal government, Sharif Sheik Ahmed provided security team for the Somali journalists attending the burial of their colleague led by Captain Abdi during the funeral and burial ceremony on Monday.

"We felt the same pain you are feeling and express our solidarity with you." Captain Abdi Madobe told the journalists at the CID Headquarters in Mogadishu, "We will stand with you until the murderer tests the justice."

The Secretary General of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), Mohamed who briefed the journalists at the CID HQ in Mogadishu thanked for the Somali Security services for their urgent response to the call for justice for the murderer of Late Abdisalan Sheik Hassan (Hiis) and called the arrest of the suspect, "A significant development."

Mr. Ibrahim also thanked the all the security sectors of the government namely Central Investigation Department, the presidential guards and the NSA for pledging cooperation with the follow up committee during the investigation. He pointed out that the journalists are not willing to create an environment of insecurity but have been campaigning for justice since the death of their colleague, which has not harmed and will not harm the security of the city.

He specially thanked for the presidential guards led by Captain Abdi Madobe for showing solidarity during the funeral day on Monday till the arrest of the suspect.

He called for the Somali Security services to work with the media committee responsible for following up the case until the case in concluded, which CID chief, Col. Barise accepted.

"On behalf of the Somali journalists, we warmly welcome the arrest of the suspect, which is a really good development." Mohamed Ibrahim, NUSOJ Secretary General said, "Our Follow up committeewill work with you (CID) during the investigations."

More than two dozen journalists have been killed in Somalia and none of the killers been punished. But Somali journalists will continue their campaign against impunity.