Parliamentarians encouraged the journalists to meet with Somali Parliament’s sub-committee on Media, and formalize their grievances over the draft bill. Ridwan Haji Abdiweli, The Somali Government Spokesman who was delegated by the Somali PM joined the meeting with a message from the Prime Minister.

PRESS RELEASE -Somali Independent media professionals today held their 4th meeting in relation to the draft bill of the media. The meeting has been attended by nearly hundred journalists from 40 different parts of the media, national union of Somali journalists and parliamentarians as well.

Journalists reiterated their concern of number articles of the draft media law, and their role in the amendment. They also highlighted to the extent to which the draft law can be used as a tool to silence the independent Somali media should it has been endorsed per se by the Parliament.

Journalists denounced particularly the way Eng. Abdirahman Osman Yarisow, Spokesperson ofSomali Presidenthandled yesterday’s meeting between the Somali President and would-be independent Somali journalists, which Mr. Yarisow allowed single handedly a group of selected favored individuals to speak on behalf of the Somali media fraternity, while denying others the opportunity to voice their concern.

Media professionals openly denounced so-called meeting on draft media amendments meeting between Minister of Information, Deputy Minister of information, three foreigners led by Steve Turner and other government officials while sidelining the media community.

On the other hand, journalists today denounced unnecessary meddling by one Steve Turner and his associates in media law development process and called the government to stop the interference in the media law by Steve Turner and his organization. Media consider Steve Turner and his associates as masqueraders. Independent Media community pledged to mount campaign to resist disruptive moves of Steve Turner.

Parliamentarians encouraged the journalists to meet withSomali Parliament’s sub-committee on Media, and formalize their grievances over the draft bill. Ridwan Haji Abdiweli, The Somali Government Spokesman who was delegated by the Somali PM joined the meeting with a message from the Prime Minister.

It is worthwhile to note that during the meeting, special security forces cordoned off the hotel where the meeting was taking place and sought the arbitrary arrest of the participants, but Mr. Ridwan quickly intervened.

Eventually, journalists elected ten-member Independent Somali Media Task Force, who’ll in turn scrutinize, identify, and draft proposal of amendment on the erroneous media law, and subsequently work with the relevant authorities to find a common solution.

The independent media community once again urges to stop those who are out to profiteer in the name of Somali media such as Steve Turner and his associates.

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