The chairman of Associated Somali Journalists (ASOJ) and Waagacusub Editor-in-chief, Mr. Dahir Abdulle Alasow discussed in his address to the participants about the journalism role in the community and how it can be contributive to the peace

Somali journalists living in Holland have held a broader meeting in Amsterdam in which they have deeply discussed about a number of crucial issues and easiest ways to assist Somali journalists operating in the hard time.The meeting which was in good atmosphere held was concluded in Amsterdam following other conferences in close doors which Somali-Holland based journalists have recently been daringly engaged in their hardest efforts to meet the needs of Somali journalists in home and beyond There were many Somali prominent journalists who made speeches in the meeting with full participation from Somali journalists in Netherlands . The members who happened to address were as follows:

The chairman of Associated Somali Journalists (ASOJ) and Waagacusub Editor-in-chief, Mr. Dahir Abdulle Alasow discussed in his address to the participants about the journalism role in the community and how it can be contributive to the peace. Mr Alasow has so much thanked for the members who made the holding of the meeting possible.

One of senior officers of Somali-speaking Dayniile site, Mr. Abdi Shakur Elmi Hassan who in his part took the opportunity at the stage and said noteworthy words in gathering. Mr. Abdi Shakur has recently come from Somalia where the journalists are the prime targets of torture, masterminded killings, harassment and all violations against freedom of expression.

Nur Ahmed Mohamed (Bicir) from Hornafrik station in Mogadishu and Mohamed Abdi Abuna, a senior editor from Radio Dalmar in Netherlands have seized their opportunities in the meeting and talked at length about the importance of press in the human life. They also stressed that press triumph could only be reached if Unity in the press personals is surely secured.

Other important Somali journalists including Saleh Hassan Omar from Wehelmedia editor-in-chief and a former Radio Banadir reporter, Abdirahman Gurre Gentlemen, the director of wehelmedia site who is also a former reporter of Radio Banadir in Mogadishu, Ali Muhyadin Ali, the Editor-in-chief of Hidigta Panaroma newspaper in Mogadishu and Fardowza Mohamed Abdulle who was a reporter for HornAfrik station and Universal Tv in Mogadishu had tangibly spoken in the conference. They all unanimously underscored the great importance of unity among Somali journalists and the way of living of Somali journalists in Europe and manners to assist needy Somali journalists suffering beyond the country specially in East Africa, keeping in mind that there are a lot of works which Somali journalists need to come up with to improve the life and media skills of journalists

Similarly, journalists including Shukri Moalim Abdirahman, Farhiya Mohamed Mohamud, Mohamed Osman Sheikh Qadafi, Rage Ali dhere, Ahmed Mahdi addressed in the meeting stressing the indispensability of unity among journalists in Europe , Netherlands in particular. Journalists attending the meeting vehemently reiterated the significant role of Somali journalists in the peace pursue in Somalia and providing a meaningful assistance to Somali journalists in exile in many parts of the world.

The participants in the conference have come to comprehensive conclusion with many raised matters on the current situation of Somali journalists in home and beyond. The conference has finally issued many articles under a general conscience of members. The agreed articles are written as follows:

1- To form a journalism Association whose base as proposed is Holland so that it can strengthen the unity of Journalists in Netherlands and enhance the media skills of journalist in Holland .

2- To organize a fundraising campaign in which Somali – Holland based journalists are supposed to help the children of Somali journalists killed in Somalia and neighbouring.

3- To nominate a technical committee to work out the formation of Association and to decide what name it deserves to take.

4- To have a regular contact among Somali journalists in Holland and to encourage the small number of Somali journalists still operating on the ground morally and economically.

5- To enable the proposed Somali-Holland based journalism association when it comes in place to help Somali journalists living in other countries in Europe in a paving way for the formation of Somali general media umbrella

6- To create precious opportunities for Somali professional journalists by appealing to Agencies involved in Media development to provide Somali journalists with enhancement of journalism courses to avoid facing a complete despair in journalism career. This is a plan greatly exist in Europe and North America

7- To urge Somali journalists to play a vital role in the peace restoration in Somalia where chronic hostilities and Humanitarian crises permanently prevail.

8- To prioritize Somali women in Somali journalism and reason them to have seminars of journalism upgrading.

In the end, the participants paid many thanks to the organizers of the conference in Amsterdam and the administration of Somali Diaspora in Amsterdam who hand fully played in a great part in the hold of the conference of Somali journalists

The participants have appointed a committee of six members: three males and three females giving care to a gender balance and they are:

1-Mr Dahir Abdulle Alasow

2-Mr Saleh Hassan Omar
3-Mr Mohamed Osman Sheikh Qadafi
4- Mrs Fardowsa Mohamed Abdulle
5-Mss Shukri Moalim Abdirahman Shuuto
6- Mss Farhiya Mohamed Mohamud (Sabaax)

The nominated committee will organize the preparation of the next session of journalists’ conference and to prepare the agenda of associated Somali journalists in Holland under the consultation of all journalists

We will be glad to submit the audio-visual speeches of the participants and the exchanged ideas during the meeting

This conference of Somali – Holland based journalists was the result of other series meetings which had been taking place for weeks in close doors

Translated By: Ustaad Nur Hirisi Abdi
[email protected]
Nairobi,Kenya