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From: Human Rights Watch, hrwpress@hrw.org
For Immediate Release
Somalia: Radio Stations Shut Despite Contact Group Meeting
Transitional Somali Government Must Respect Freedom of Expression
(New York, June 7, 2007) - The transitional Somali government's decision toclose three leading radio stations in Mogadishu is a serious blow tofreedom of expression and the right to impart and receive information inSomalia, Human Rights Watch said today.
On June 6, while the International Contact Group on Somalia was meeting inLondon, the Somali minister of information, Madobe Nunow Mohammed, signed adecree ordering the management of HornAfrik Media, Shabelle Media Networkand Radio Holy Koran to close their stations with immediate effect.HornAfrik and Shabelle run two of the largest and most popular radiostations in Somalia.
"This decree sends the signal that the transitional government does nottolerate independent media in Somalia," said Peter Takirambudde, Africadirector of Human Rights Watch. "Local radio stations give millions ofSomalis access to news and opportunities to voice their opinions. Thetransitional government must stop trying to muzzle free expression andprevent dissemination of information."
The decree accuses the three stations of inciting hostility, support forterrorism, violating independent media laws, confusing the public and being"anti-government." But the decree does not specify which laws were violatedby the media organizations, nor does it provide examples of mediamisconduct. All three stations have gone off air since receiving thedecree.
Journalists in Mogadishu have been under pressure for years from successiveauthorities, including the Union of Islamic Courts, which controlledMogadishu until late last year. Since January, when the TFG and Ethiopianforces ousted the Islamic Courts movement, efforts to clamp down on majormedia outlets have intensified. The decree is just the latest example in apattern of closures of media companies and arbitrary detentions ofindividual journalists by the Transitional Federal Government (TFG).
"The Transitional Federal Government is entitled to regulate the media, butits efforts must be in line with international law," said Takirambudde."International donors should immediately call on the Somali government toreverse this decree and ensure freedom of expression and the media."
HornAfrik, Shabelle, Radio Holy Koran and the international televisionbroadcaster Al-Jazeera were all temporarily closed after the TFG andEthiopian forces entered Mogadishu in January. In February the TFGthreatened to censor HornAfrik, Shabelle and Radio Benadir. In March,Al-Jazeera's Mogadishu bureau closed after the Somali National SecurityAgency sent a letter ordering it to stop operations but without offeringany further explanation. Al-Jazeera's office in Mogadishu has remainedclosed since March 21.
Since January, at least five journalists have been arrested and detainedwithout charge. Three journalists working for Universal TV were arrested inApril simply for asking questions in an exclusive interview with the TFGspokesman. They were accused of "inciting confrontation" and released after46 days in prison. Two journalists working for Shabelle Media were brieflydetained without charge by Somali government officials in March.
The International Contact Group on Somalia - comprising the United States,the European Union, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Tanzania - met in London onJune 6, days before Somalia's National Reconciliation Congress is scheduledto open in Mogadishu on June 14.
For additional Human Rights Watch reporting on Somalia, please visit:
http://www.hrw.org/doc?t=africa&c=somali
For further information, please contact:
In Toronto, Georgette Gagnon (English): 416-893-2709 (mobile)
In Brussels, Reed Brody (English, French, Portuguese, Spanish): 498-625786
(mobile)
In London, Tom Porteous (English): 20-7713-2766; or 79-8398-4982 (mobile)
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