In a separate incident, Puntland authorities in Galkayoarrestedthree journalists: Kasmaal Media editor, Said Abdullahi Kulmiye (known as Said Nadara); SBC TV reporter, Abdiwali Jama Agarane and the director of Radio Voice of Peace (Codka Nabadda) Ahmed Mohamed Ali. The three were covering a protest by the local business community complaining against taxes hike and subsequently led to theclosure of businesses in Galkayoon Thursday.

According to Said Nadara, the police confiscated their journalistic equipment and started punching and beating with their guns before arresting the three journalists. The police officers were accompanied by the accountant of Puntland’s Ministry of Finance, Ismail Nur Gesey who, according to the journalists ordered the arrest and physical harassment against the journalists.

"They [police] together with the accountant of the Ministry of Finance, Mr Ismail Gesey punched us and beat us with their guns. Mr. Gesey further threatened that he will harm us if we report the news of the protest,” journalist Said Nadara told SJS.

The three journalists were released after intervention from Governor of Mudug, Mr. Ahmed Muse Nur. There were no charges brought so far against the trio.

"We condemn the unlawful detentions and intimidations meant to stop journalists from covering certain issues of public interest. These actions are violations against the right to freedom of information,” Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, Secretary General of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) said, "We call for the regional and the federal authorities to investigate the matter and bring those responsible to justice.”

"Independent reporting is the only way to flourish a democratic and healthy society and attacking, arresting and intimidating journalists might constitute rights violation and therefore officials responsible for these violations should never get away with it.” Mumin added. (END)

SOMALI VERSION

SJS oo cambaareysay xarigga wariyaal loogu geystay Puntland iyo Hirshabelle

MUQDISHO, Soomaaliya, 20 Febraayo, 2020 – Ururka Suxufiyiinta Soomaaliyeed (SJS) ayaa cambaareeyay xarigga sharci darrada ah ee afar wariye loogu geystay magaalooyinka Buulo Burde iyo Gaalkacyo maalinimadii Arbacada 19 Febraayo iyo Khamiista 20 Febraayo.

Weriyaha Radio Hiiraan Weyn ee ku sugan Buulo Burde, Muumin Muxumed Biyow ayaa ciidamada milateriga Soomaaliya xabsiga u taxaabeen maalinimadii Arbacadii abbaare 10:00 subaxnimo xiligaasi oo uu wariyuhu u socday in uu warbixin ka diyaariyo odayaal dhaqameed ka soo horjeestay magacaabista muranka dhalisay ee Guddoomiyaha cusub ee Buulo Burde Feysal Haajir Aadan. Agabkii weriyaha ku shaqeynayay sida kaamiradii, taleefoonka gacanta iyo cod duubihiisii ayaa lagala wareegay sida maamulka idaacadda u sheegay SJS. Suxufiga ayaa habeenimadii Arbacaddii laga soo daayey xabsiga isagoo aan wax dembi ah maxkamadi lagu soo oogin.

"Weriyaheena wuxuu u socday in uu soo wareysto odayaal dhaqameed markii ciidamo militari ah oo uu hoggaaminayay Dhamme Cabdulqaadir Cali Nuur oo ka tirsan Ururka 41aad, Guutada Shanaad qeybtiisa 27 ay qabteen. Waxaana lagu xiray xerada militariga dhexdeeda illaa 8:30 fiidnimo, xiligaa oo la sii daayey,” Agaasimaha Idaacadda Hiiraan-Weyn Maxamed Cusmaan Makaraan oo SJS u waramay ayaa intaa u daray in agabkii weriyahana dib loogu soo celiyey.

Dhanka kale, Maamulka Puntland ayaa magaalada Gaalkacyo ku xiray saddex saxafi oo kala ah: tifaftiraha Kasmaal Media, Saciid Cabdullaahi Kulmiye (Saciid Nadaara); wariyaha SBC TV, Cabdiweli Jaamac Cagaarane iyo agaasimaha idaacadda Codka Nabadda, Axmed Maxamed Cali. Saddexda saxafi ayaa warar ka tebinayay ganacsato ka gadoodsan canshuur kordhin maamulku Puntland ku soo rogay oo sababtay in suuqa Gaalkayo uu xirmo Khamiistii.

Siciid Nadaara ayaa SJS u sheegay in ciidamada boolisku ay ka qaateen qalabkii ay ku shaqeynayeen, isla markaana saraakiishu oo adeegsanaya feer iyo qoriga afkiisa ay garaaceen ka hor intaan la xirin. Saraakiisha booliska ayaa waxaa wehlinayay xisaabiyaha Wasaaradda Maaliyadda Puntland, Ismaaciil Nuur Geesey oo sida ay suxufiyiintu sheegeen bixiyay amarka xarigga iyo jirdilka loogu geystay suxufiyiinta.

"Ciidamada booliska oo uu wehliyo xisaabiyaha Wasaaradda Maaliyadda, Ismaaciil Nuur Geesey ayaa xarig iyo jirdil noo geystay, iyadoo xisaabiyuhu noogu hanjabay in uu na dhibaateyn doono haddii cabashada ganacsatada aan warbaahinta gelino,” Wariye Siciid Nadaara ayaa sidaa SJS u sheegay.

Saddexda saxafi ayaa la siidaayay kadib markii uu soo farageliyay Guddoomiyaha gobolka Mudug ee Puntland Axmed Muuse Nuur. Suxufiyiinta ayaa la sii daayay iyagoon wax dembi ah maxkamadi ku soo oogin.

"Waanu cambaareyneynaa xarigga sharci darrada ah ee loo geysanayo suxufiyiinta taasoo looga gol leeyahay in lagu khalkhal geliyo suxufiyiinta si ay uga joogsadaan tebinta wararka ay ku jirto maslaxadda iyo danta guud ee dalka,” Xoghayaha Guud ee Ururka Suxufiyiinta Soomaaiyeed (SJS) Cabdalle Axmed Mumin ayaa ugu baaqay maamulada Hirshabelle iyo Puntland iyo dowladda Federaalka inay sida ugu dhakhsiyaha badan baaritaan deg deg ah ugu sameeyaan dhacdooyinkan, isla markaana caddaaladda la horkeeno shakhsiyaadka lagu helo dembiyada ka dhanka xuquuqda aadana ee suxufiyiinta.

"Warbaahin madax-bannaan waa habka keli ah ee lagu dhisi karo bulsho dimuqraadi ah oo caafimaad qabta. Xarrigga sharci darrada ah, weerarada iyo handadaada ka dhanka ah suxufiyiinta waa is-hortaag xaqa helista xogta, waxaana ka dhalanaya xadgudub dhanka xuquuqda aadanaha ah.” Xoghaye Cabdalle Mumin ayaa intaa ku daray.(DHAMAAD)

PHOTO CAPTION:Journalists Said Abdullahi Kulmiye (Said Nadara) and Ahmed Mohamed Ali photographed while in detention in Galkayo on Thursday 20 Feb, 2020. | Photo/Courtesy/Private.

For more information, please contact:

Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS)
Address: Osoble-Adde Building, KM4, Near Hayat Hotel,
Wadajir, Mogadishu, Somalia
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