Human Rights Council: 18th Session
Item 10 – Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on Somalia
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
28th September 2011.

Delivered by Ahmed Mahamed Ali “kiimiko” Somali Human Rights Defenders Network (SOHRIDEN)/East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network.

The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network, Somali Human Rights Defenders Network and the Somali Human Rights Defenders Network would like to thank the Independent Expert on Somalia, Mr Shamsul Bari, for his report and presentation and to build on some of the key issues he has raised.

Human rights defenders continue to pay a heavy cost for ensuring that violations are monitored and reported. While no journalists may have been killed during the period covered by the report, two journalists have been killed in Mogadishu since its submission; others have been arbitrarily detained and tortured during 2011. In past fortnight, two other journalists were shot at close range and severely injured in Puntland. In such a context, we regret that civil society representatives were not included in recent consultative meetings on ending the transition, and call on the Government, donor states and UN agencies to offer political as well as logistical and financial support to civil society.

The Independent Expert has rightly given serious attention to the current food crisis, and the need to deal with the root causes of this catastrophe becomes ever more urgent and apparent. One significant factor is the culture of impunity and lack of accountability that fatally undermines the ability of government institutions to effectively tackle the serious challenges Somalia faces.

We therefore fully support Mr. Bari’s recommendation that all those who perpetrate abuses against the civilian population, in transgression of their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, should be held accountable in a timely and transparent manner. During Somalia’s UPR a number of States recommended the establishment of independent international commission of inquiry or similar mechanism to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity. Would the Independent Expert support the prioritization of this recommendation and others relating to the administration of justice?

Finally, news that preparations are underway to place more UN staff in Mogadishu, including the new Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, is very welcome. We hope that this will provide much needed support to civil society and allow more systematic monitoring and reporting of the daily rights violations committed by all actors to take place.

Thanks

For the webcast of this statement and the complete Interactive Dialogue with
the Independent Expert on Somalia, please see:
http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/2011/09/cihrs-interactive-dialogue-on
-somalia-33rd-plenary-meeting.html

Ka qeybgalayaasha shirkan ayaa si aad ah uga dooday doorka Saxaafadda ay ku yeelan karto labadaas qodob ee kala ah joojinta Gudniinka gabdhaha iyo Dastuurka hadda qabyada ah ee loo sameynayo Dalka Soomaaliya.

Waxaa furitaankii shirka ka hadlay Guddoomiyaha Dalladda Ururrada Soomaaliyeed ee FSAN Xuseen Qadiib, wuxuuna ugu horreyn soo dhaweeyay ka qeybgalayaasha shirka, kaddibna wuxuu faah-faahin ka bixiyay Dalladda Ururka FSAN, waxyaabaha ay qabato iyo sida loo sameeyay markii hore.

“Dalladda Ururrada Soomaaliyeed ee FSAN waxaa soo abaabulay Dhalinyaro Soomaaliyeed oo wiilal iyo gabdho isugu jira. Dadka qaar waxay isweydiiyaan sida Soomaali ay wax ugu heshiin karaan, marka annaga taas waxaan uga jawaabnaa Soomaaliya ayaa leh Dalladda FSAN”ayuu yiri Xuseen Qadiib.

Wuxuu intaas ku daray Guddoomiyaha FSAN in Ururrada ku bahoobay FSAN ay isugu jiraan kuwo ka shaqeeya Dalka Holland oo ay xaruntiisa tahay iyo Dalka Soomaaliya gudahiisa min Koofur ilaa Waqooyi.

“FSAN muhiimaddeeda ugu weyn waa in ay caawiso ururrada Soomaaliyeed ee dalkan ku sugan, ayna uga turjunto dowladda waxyaabaha ay u baahan yihiin. Ururro badan ayaana u caawinnaa siyaabo kala duwan, sidoo kalena waxaan caawinnaa Ururro ku sugan dalka Soomaaliya gudihiisa.

“Dalladda FSAN waajibaadkeeda waa in uu dadka Soomaaliyeed wacyigeliyo, kuna wacyigeliyo wax kasta oo dhib uga imaan karo iyo wax kasta oo xumaan leh, waayo waxaan u shaqeyno waa dadka Soomaaliyeed guud ahaan meel kasta oo ay joogaan, waxaana rajeynayaa haddii aan iskaashanno warbaahinta in aan wacyigelin badan sameyn karno”ayuu yiri Xuseen Qadiib.

Dalladda FSAN oo la aas-aasay sanadkii 1994-kii ayaa waxaa ku bahoobay 56 urur oo kuligood Soomaali ah, waxayna dhaqdhaqaaqyo kala duwan ka hayaan dalalka Netherlands iyo Soomaaliya.
Sahra Naaleeye oo ka socotay Dalladda FSAN ayaa shirkan ka hadashay, waxayna si qoto dheer uga hadashay Dhibaatada gudniinka gabdhaha iyo sida loogu baahan yahay in laga qeyb-qaato in joojinta gudniinka.

“Dhibaatada waxaa ka mid ah Bakteeriya timaada marka caadada ku xiranto, iyagoo xitaa xanuun uu u dheer yahay, gudniinka marka lagu sameynayo oo aan dhiig-joojin lagu durin gabdhaha, xiliga guurka oo ay xanuun daran la kulanto gabadha”ayay tiri Sahra Naaleeye oo xustay in doorka culumaa’udiinka ee arrintan ku saabsan.
“Gabadha Soomaaliyeed ma faraxsano habeenka ugu horreeya ee ay aqal-geleyso marka la guursado, waayo waxay la socotaa dhibaatada lagu sameeyay markii sida xun loo jar-jaray ee haddana la isku qodbay, taasina waa dhibaato aan wada ognahay oo muddo dheer aan ku soo jirnay, loona baahan yahay in aan iska wacyigelinno”ayay hadalkeeda ku sii dartay Sahra Naaleeye

“Waxaa la dhahaa gudniinka gabadha wuxuu u keenaa nadaafad, guurkeeda ayuu u wanaagsanaaanayaa, laakin taasi waxaa la ogaaday in ay tahay mid xaqiiqda hareer marsan waayo gabadhii la qodbay ee caadada ku xiran tahay nadaafad ma heysato waxaaba taasi uga sii daran in ay xanuunno u yimaadaan.

Horraantii sagaashamaadkii ayay dowladda Holland joojisay noocyada gudniinka, iyadoo markaasna la joojiyay in la gudo gabdhaha, qofkii lagu helo qodobkaasna la gudayo”ayay tiri Sahra Naaleeye oo sheegtay in marka ay Dowladda Holland sharcigaas soo saareysay laga horyimdi sharci kale oo ay ku qafiifineysay xanibaadda gudniinka.

Labo film oo uu midna ku saabsanaa dhibaatada gudniinka fircooniga ah ee Adduunka iyo mid kale oo ku saabsan xiliga ay dadka Soomaaliyeed bilaabeen la-dagaalanka gudniinka fircooniga ah, kuwaasi oo macno weyn xambaarsanaa.

Sidoo kale waxaa furitaanka Shirka ka hadlay Guddoomiyaha Xarunta horumarinta Warbaahinta (Hayaan Media Development Center) Cali Daahir Ciid, wuxuuna ugu horreyn soo dhaweeyay ka qeybgalayaasha shirka oo uu uga mahadceliyay sida ay uga soo xaadireen shirka.

“Waxaan idin kaga mahadcelinayaa sida aad uga soo qeybgasheen shirkan aan isugu nimid, idinka oo dalal kala duwan ka yimid, Intaas kaddib Hayan Media waxay shirkan u soo qaban qaabisay sidii ay wariyayaasha Soomaaliyeed qeyb uga qeyb-qaadan lahaayeen joojinta halista gudniinka gabdhaha maadaama gudniinka uu dhibaato weyn leeyahay, warbaahintuna ay tahay tan bulshada ka wacyigelin karta”ayuu yiri Cali Daahri.

“Hayan Media waxay sii wadi doontaa shirarka noocaan oo kale ah ee waxtarka u leh Wariyayaasha iyo qeybaha kale ee bulshada, annaga oo la kaashan doonna Dalladda FSAN iyo ciddii aan iska kaashan karno” ayuu yiri Daahir Ciid oo Wariyayaasha ugu baaqay in ay hirgeliyaan dhammaan waxyaabihii shirka ka soo baxay.

Nafiso Nuur Cusmaan oo ka tirsan Wariyayaasha ku sugan dalka Holland ayaa ka hadashay doorka Warbaahinta ay ku yeelan karaan joojinta gudniinka fircooniga ah, waxayna sheegtay in warbaahinta ay dalkooda iyo dadkooda wax u qaban karaan haddii ay wanaagga ka shaqeeyaan.

Ugu horreyn waxay ka hadashay awoodda saxaafadda iyo sida ay dadka u saameyn karto xumaan iyo sammaan, “Warbaahinta haddii ay si wanaagsan u shaqeyso waxay bedeli kartaa wax badan, marka waxaan leeyahay warbaahinta door muhiim ah ay ku yeelan kartaa joojinta gudniinka fircooniga ah”ayay tiri Nafisa Nuur Cusmaan.

“Gudniinka waxaan iri eray-bixin ahaan {Gudniinka wuxuu la mid yahay adiga oo caafimaad qaba oo dhaqtar u tegay oo qalliin laguugu sameynayo}, taasi oo xanuunkeeda leh si kasta oo xanuunka loo ilowsiiyo”ayay hadalkeeda ku sii dartay Nafiso Nuur Cusmaan oo sheegtay in saxaafadda ay hadda ku dadaaleyso sidii ay arrintaas gacan uga geysan lahayd.
Axmed Maxamed Cali Kiimiko oo ka socday Ururrada u dooda Xuquuqda Aadanaha ayaa ka hadlay shirka, wuxuuna sheegay in arrintan gudniinka gabdhaha ay tahay mid xadgudub ku ah Xuquuqda Aadanaha, sidoo kalena aan raad ku lahayn diinta Islaamka, “Haddii uusan gudniinka gabdhaha sal ku lahayn diinta Islaamka waxaa muuqata in waxani xadgudub yihiin, loona baahan yahay in si wadajir ah looga hortago”ayuu yiri Axmed Kiimiko.
Laki Xaaji Waceys oo Wariye/Fannaan ah ayaa waxay ka hadashay doorka Warbaahinta iyo Fannaaniinta, waxayna sheegtay in ay labadaba ka sameysay Wacyigelin, haddii ay ahaan lahayn barnaamijyo wacyigelin ah oo ay ka sameysay iyadoo la shaqeyneysay TV-ga ETN iyo Fanka oo ay heeso ku saabsan dhibaatada gudniinka gabdhaha sameysay.
Doorka Warbaahinta ee Dastuurka loo sameynayo Soomaaliya.
Shirka qeybtiisa labaad waxaa looga hadlay Doorka ay Warbaahinta kaga aaddan Dastuurka Qabyada ah ee dalka Soomaaliya loo sameynayo. Qeybtan oo dood ahayd, isla markaana uu guddoominayay Wariye C/Salaan Hereri, waxaana ka qeybgalay wariyayaashii shirka fadhiyay.

Inj. C/qaadir Macallin Shaakir oo aqoonyahannada ku dhaqan dalka ayaa ka hadlay xuquuqda dastuurkii Soomaaliya loo sameeyay 1960-kii iyo midka haatan loo sameynayo Soomaaliya ay siiyeen Warbaahinta madaxa bannaan ee Soomaaliya, wuxuuna sidoo kale ka hadlay madax bannaanida saxaafadda iyo mas’uuliyadda saaran warbaahinta iyo warfidiyeennada ka shaqeeya.

Intaas kaddib ka qeybgalayaasha shirka ayaa waxay si weyn uga doodeen arrintan dastuurka loo sameynayo Soomaaliya, waxayna inta badan dadkii hadlay ay isaga mid ahaayeen in saxaafadda ay madax bannaan tahay hayeeshee warfidiyeennada qudhooda looga baahan yahay in ay ilaaliyaan mas’uuliyadda saaran ee ah in aysan xadgudubin bacdamaa ay xuquuq warfaafineed yeesheen.

Wariye Maxamed Yusuf Ahmed oo ka mid ahaa wariyayaashii halkasi ka hadlay ugana yimid shirkan wadanka Swedan ayaa sheegay in dastuurka somaliya muhiim u yahay dalka oo dhan,laakin waxa uu sheegay in lagu cadeeyo xuquuqda warbaahinta,taasi oo haddii aan la helin ka dhigi karta inuu dalka somaliya yahay mid aan la jaan qaadi karin dunida horumartay. Waxaana ugu danbeyntii Hay’adda Hayaan Media oo shirkan qabatay ugu baaqay sii xoojinta kulamada wariyayaasha Somaliyeed oo waxtarka u leh xirfadooda iyo xuquuqda ay leeyihiin.

Halkan ka daawo Dhaman Sawirada Kulanki Hayaan Media

http://hiiraan.com/news/2011/july/media1/index.htm

Salaad Iidow Xasan (Xiis)

Amsterdam,Netherlands

Star’s investigative reporter Fatuma Noor is the overall winner of the this year’s CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year Award. Noor won the award for her investigative three-part series on the Al-Shabaab. It was chosen from the 1407 entries from 42 nations across Africa.

The series tells the story of the young men who give up their freedom abroad to return and fight for the Al-Shabaab in one of the world’s most dangerous places on earth – Somalia. See, the Lifestyle section for her three part award winning series.

She was one of the 27 finalists at the awards ceremony held at the Johannesburg Sandton Sun hotel on Saturday evening. She was also winner in general news (print) award category.

Collins Khumalo, President, MultiChoice Africa and Parisa Khosravi, Senior Vice President of international news gathering for CNN Worldwide presented Fatuma with the award. “”I want to thank my mum and my boss Catherine, who believed in me when no one else did. There was a time in my life when I thought about giving up, but with this Award I’m not giving up any time soon,” she said at the ceremony.

In 2009, Fatuma, who is a member of the board of the Forum for Investigative African Reporters, was awarded the runner up prize at the FAIR African Investigative Journalism Awards for her exceptional report on how underage girls from refugee camps were forced to work in a Nairobi brothel run by Somali warlords.

She is also this year’s David Astor Journalism Awards winner as she is taking part in a three-month professional development programme. “Its a brilliant triumph for both the Star and Fatuma. It is international recognition that the Star represents a new wave of Kenyan journalism,” William Pike, the CEO of the Star newspaper said. “Its a vindication of the hard work, grit and persistence that Fatuma puts into her work and which has served to inspire so many of her colleagues,”said the newspaper editor Catherine Gicheru.

The chair of the judging panel, journalist and media consultant Joel Kibazo said: “The judges were impressed with the high quality of entries to the competition this year, and this intrepid young journalist has shown great courage and determination in going the extra mile to tell this fascinating story. Fatuma Noor’s three-part series on the Al-Shabaab provides a detailed and personalised portrait of the young men who leave their comfortable western lives to join one of the world’s most ruthless militant groups in Somalia.”

The overall winner receives a substantial cash prize, a visit to the CNN Centre in Atlanta to attend the three-week CNN Journalism Fellowship, along with the prize awarded to all category winners, which consists of a laptop computer, a printer, a BlackBerry and a cash prize.

Source: The Star

  Ali Dahir Eid called for the breakaway Somali region’s administration to release Jibril Ali Omar and Dahir Ahmed Jirde, online correspondents for www.boramanews.com and www.saylac.com, respectively.

“Somaliland authorities have to ensure both men are released immediately and safely” Eid said in a statement

Omar and Jirde were detained on Saturday in Borama after writing on leaflets, videos and news distributed by Diaspora members of Awdal province who said they established an independent “Awdal State”.

Eid said the Journalists did not demand “autonomy” for the region but they have reported what seemed to be coordinated ceremonies in cities in the U.S, Canada and Europe.

“Omar and Jirde reported as events happened, they did not engage politics directly by lobbying sovereignty for this province, and that is what we want authorities should understand”

  The Transitional Federal Government, Local administrations, and armed groups in southern Somalia also target journalists consistently, arbitrary detaining or killing them for reports that are critical to them.

Caught in the crossfire, Ahmed Hassan, sports reporter for Radio Simba in Mogadishu has been wounded last Wednesday in the fighting between African peacekeepers, Amisom and Alshabaab militants during a soccer match in the north of the city.

This incident comes as Samira Mohamed, Voice of Peace correspondent who was injured by bullets when she had been heading her home in the same neighborhood last month, recovers in her hospital bed.

Editors Abdi Mohamed Ismael and Abdirashid Omar Qase were arrested four days ago for reporting “inaccurate news” that Somali President, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, had not visited locations captured by the Somali forces and their allied peacekeepers from Al-shabaab militants.

“We knew they were innocent and we welcome the good news that they have their freedom back after interrogation by the security agencies” Eid said in statement

“It is necessary both the government and the rebels end violence against journalists and respect the media work of informing citizens since we all believe that only informed citizens will reach constructive decisions”

Eid said the Information ministry’s intolerance of editorial independence of media out-lets in the country reflect authoritarian style of repression.

Somalia which has been mired by anarchy in two decades after warlords deposed Mohamed Siyad Barre in 1991, is one of the most dangerous places to be a journalist, with dozens killed in the past four years and many others forced in exile.

Hayaan Media Development Center (HMDC) has on a serious mission condemned over the ongoing issue of two media houses (Hornafrik and GBC Muqdisho) that got attacked by the radical Islamist insurgent groups namely AL-SHABAB and HISBUL-ISLAM.

GBC, A TV station based in Mogadishu (capital Somali) had been acknowledged in advance by the radical insurgents to hand over the entire TV station to Hisbil-islam but the media owners and its administration in general called it virtually imposisble.Worse to come in a few moment the media house got attacked and some of its sophisticated equipments got confisticated. In a press conference the head of Hisbul-islam announced that the media house(s) should strictly be monitored and follow their guidelines thus neglecting the press freedom.

 On the other hand AL-SHABAB in full gear raided HORN AFRIK (a TV and radio station) that is on its pick, dismantled and caused breakages of expensive equipments hence leaving  journalists without jobs but rather be in the mix with them as Islamist militant groups in Somalia as they claim.

Since information is power the two stormed media houses were popular stations and trusted by its people as reliable source of Information then the insurgents groups took advanced to stifle press freedom for their personal gains and deceive it’s community, this all because the radio and the TV station are based in (Bakara market and Ex-control Balcad) the city center of Mogadishu where Administratively comes under AL-SHABAB and HISBUL-ISLAM.

Ali Eid, the chairman, Hayaan Media Development Center (HMDC) headquarter based in Netherlands briefed the Somalia journalist community in a social networking blog that “There are very limited options in the media fraternity, which is faced with its most defining moments especially those in a war torn zone, he deeply explained that still dilemmas haunt journalism in Somali thus pressing the press not to give up but rather continue with same spirit”. The chairman also argued the Anti-government group to withdraw its obstacles and challenges and focus the importance of the press for the Somali community.

A Somali media-rights group says fighting between Islamist militants and the country’s U.N.-backed government is about to explode in a propaganda war for the hearts and minds of the Somali people.

The secretary general of the National Union of Somali Journalists, Omar Faruk Osman, says three of Mogadishu’s 14 radio stations are now under the control of Islamist militants. Osman says there is no question the militants are determined to wipe out independent reporting in the country.

“This is a wider campaign to take over all private radio stations, and our main concern is that this will be used as a tool for hate media that we know there will be a negative effect on society,” Osman said.

Radio stations in Mogadishu

On Saturday, armed fighters loyal to extremist al-Shabab and Hizbul Islam groups forcibly took over two private radio stations in the capital.

Al-Shabab fighters raided the offices of HornAfrick in Mogadishu’s al-Shabab-controlled Bakara Market.  Separately, Hizbul Islam fighters entered the headquarters of Global Broadcasting Corporation in the Heliwa district of the capital and took over its radio and television studios.  A month ago, al-Shabab took over the management of another privately-owned station, Radio Holy Quran, after delivering a threatening letter.

Islamc Insurgents

Since 2007, al-Shabab has been leading an insurgency to topple the U.N.-backed Transitional Federal Government in Mogadishu, aiming to create an ultra-conservative Islamic state throughout southern and central Somalia and beyond.
The al-Qaida-linked group controls much of the south and large areas of the capital. But it has been unable to seize the whole of Mogadishu and key installations such as the airport and seaport, which are protected by more than 7,000 African Union peacekeeping troops.

During the recent Islamic holy month of Ramadan, the group vowed to wage what it described as a “massive” and “final” war against the government and peacekeepers. It sent suicide bombers to attack the airport and a hotel popular with government officials. It bombarded the presidential palace with mortars, managing, at one point, to briefly seize the main road that connects the palace to the airport.

But after weeks of fighting that left hundreds of people dead and wounded, neither side has been able to declare victory over the other.

Spread misinformation

With the ground war at a stalemate, Osman says he believes al-Shabab now wants to control the airwaves and spread false information that could help the militants gain the upper hand.

“The media will be used to wage war, to inflame hostilities, to instill fear in the hearts of the people,” Osman added. “The other concern we also have is [the] increasing attempts to infiltrate media houses. They are knocking on doors of media houses, offering ‘I will work for you free of charge.’ Or trying to recruit some of the security guards of the media houses. So that is our concern now.”

Osman says there is also a possibility that the Somali Transitional Federal Government will be tempted to counter al-Shabab’s propaganda war by trying to manipulate and censor the media just as harshly.

In June, eight journalists were wounded in Mogadishu by an explosion that ripped through a press conference being held by al-Shabab. Somali and international media watchdogs accused government troops of launching the attack to silence the journalists.

I am glad to welcome you in the city of Utrecht in Holland for you attend the conference which I believe it has a great deal of interest for everyone involving media. 

I would like to pass special thanks to those of you who have crossed thousands of miles from Africa and Europe to attend and show their commitment of being part of the development of media and human rights.

And special thanks as well to our guests from EJC, Press Now, NOVIB, African Journalists in Europe, UAF, WN and all other organisations of the Somali community in Holland who always support the media, and specially assisted us on hosting this historic conference.

  
On behalf of Hayaan Media Development Center, I would send special gratitude to Novib for recognising the importance of this meeting which is a forum brining together journalists who have fled their country and scattered across Europe, a new continent that pose challenges including reintegrating into systems and societies that are strange to them.

As many of you are well aware, the year 2006 was not a pleasant year for everyone as we had seen new waves of violence against journalists and the media in Somalia. And the years that followed were worse than previous one. We did not end 12 months without killing, wounding or arresting journalists, with only this year three of our colleagues killed, and yet we have a quarter of the year left. In 2007 and 2009, the death toll could reach 9 which is a shocking figure for a small country like this.

One last incident,  Puntland authorities have detained Abdifatah Mire of Horseed media accusing him being a threat to a national security by interviewing rebel leader.  He was handed six years in prison and a fine of 500 U.S dollar.

Continuous abuses, like those I mentioned, have forced the Somali journalists to escape the country taking refuge in neighbouring states, Europe and as far as Australia and the United States, but the new life in the adopted countries has prevented journalists from practicing their profession. Somali journalists in Europe, including the Netherlands are more than 100, but less than 20 are still practicing their careers.

It is very hard for every human whatever his or her profession is, to simply change his or her way of life and career in a single day, and it has never been our desire to do so, but the situation in our adopted nations has pushed us to face the new life and come up with away that we can be part of the people and benefit from available opportunities.
Knowing there is no security risk in these countries, there are other reasons that prevented journalists from practicing their profession in this continent.

1-       Lack of the integration with the people in hosting nations.

2-        There is no or limited Somali media houses, online print or television in this continent,

3-       The agencies that support media and human right in Europe and governments did not put more efforts in establishing media houses where the journalists can continue with their career so that journalists could take part the solution for their country while they are in diaspora.

4-       It has also been very difficult for the journalists themselves to establish a committed institution that can fulfil their needs, and research on how other organisations can assist them in their hosting nations.

However, with all those hardships going together along parallel line, we found Hayaan media Development Centre to lobby against violations, document the abuses and to help journalists get higher trainings.

It is reasonable that newcomers in this continent, especially, Netherlands to seek their rights and more assistance. Nonetheless, taking into account on our experience in the media sector in the last 10 years, and the short period that Hayaan media service has existed, we met different organisation that were attracted by our mission, and some of them, like Novib have practically supported us to hold this conference. 

Hayaan media has attended meeting in late August representing Somali journalists in Europe, and joined the umbrella for the African Journalists in Europe, and we have two members of a committee that will work in the next one year.

Today, we believe that Somali journalists are the eyes of the people, locked by the civil war in an open prison, and reconnecting our people back to the world is our priority. Reporting the plight of our people who experience the daily carnage in the country has desperately been the intention of our members so that we can inform the public and the international community from what is going in that part of the world.

We are up against anything that can distract that mission from the right path, and give our people back home  the wrong impression that we had been working to using the media as bridge to cross to western world  in search of better life and personal interests, and do not care about a country and people who count on us.

Therefore, it is necessary to ask for your assistance on holding seminars regularly to address all these issue.

On the other hand, I am strongly recommend to Somali journalists to be united, follow up what is going on here and back home, and be aware of the media transformation in both your adopted and home countries.

Finally, I am here to welcome you, and looking forward that this conference will underline the hardships face by journalists in the country and those in the Diaspora.

Thank you

Chairman of HMDC

Ali Dahir Eid

Magaalada Utrecht ee dalka Holland waxaa manta ka furmay shir looga hadlayay xaaladda ay ku sugan Suxufiyiinta Soomaalida Yurub iyo kuwa joog gudaha Dalka Somalia,waxaana ka soo qeyb galay wariyayaaal Somaliyeed oo kala yimid Dalalka Uk,Holland,Swedan,Talyaniga,Norway iyo Dalka Kenya waxaa inta uu socday halkaasi lagu soo bandhigay arimo badan oo salka ku haya Xaalada Wariyayaasha Somalida.

Shirkan iminka uga furmay Dalka Holland Wariyayaashan Somaliyeed ayaa waxaa soo qaban qaabisay Hay’ada Horumarinta Warbaahinta ee la yiraahdo Hayaan Media Development Center “HMDC” taasi oo inta badan ka shaqeysa sidii wariyayaasha kasoo jeeda Bariga iyo Geeska Africa oo ay Somalida qeyb ka tahay.

Waxaa ugu horeyn halkaasi ka hadlay Guddoomiyaha Hay’ada Hayaan media Cali Dahir Eid,kaasi oo dhamaan kasoo qeyb galayaashii shirka kusoo dhaweeyey shirka isla markaana uga mahadceliyey waqtiga ay usoo hureen shirka looga hadlayo horumarinta iyo wax u qabadka wariyayaasha Magaca Somaliyeed wata ee dunida daafaheeda kala jooga,isagoona hadalkiisa ku sii daray inay Wariyayaasha Somaliyeed u kala qeybsan yihiin kuwa Dalkii ku dhibaateysan iyo kuwa dibada ku lumiyey xirfadii wariyenimo oo ay lahaayeen.

 Dhinaca kale waxaa uu sheegay Ali Dahir Eid inay Hayaan Media ahaan wado kasto u marayaan sidii wariyayaasha Somaliyeed garab taageero horumarineed loo siin lahaa,isagoo tusaale ahaan usoo qaatay Laba Shir oo ay u qabteen Wariyayaasha Somaliyeed,kuwaasi oo midna uu bishii December ee sanadkii 2009 ku qabteen Nairobi iyo midka Maanta wariyayaasha Somaliyeed ee yurub uga furmay Holland,laakiin waxaa uu hoosta ka xariiqay inay shirarkaasi ka heleen xog badan oo lagu horumarin karo wariyayaasha iyo fikrado lagu xalin karo,aqoondarada Saxaafada Somalida heysta.

Ali Muse Abdi oo ah Wariye ka tirsan Wakaalada wararka Faransiiska ee {AFP} isla markaana ahaa maanta Shir Gudoonka Shirka Maanta ka furmay Holland ayaa sheegay inay Wariyayaasha Somaliyeed Yurub jooga fursad u tahay inay helaan kulamo ay uga wada hadlayaan dhibka heysta iyo sida wax looga qaban karo,iyadoo dhinaca kale uu ku dheeraaday ka hadalka taariikhdii saxaafadda Somalia ay soo martay,taasi oo aheyd faa’iido badan ay ka heleen dhamaan wariyayaashii shirkaasi kasoo qeyb galay.

 Sidoo Kale Mr,Ali Muse waxaa uu Hay’adda Hayaan Media uga mahadceliyey sida ay isugu xil-saareen wax u qabashada wariyayaasha Somaliyeed,isagoona sheegay in lama huraan ay tahay wax ka qabashada xirfada wariyayaasha Somalida ee Yurub ee sii lumeysa iyo garabsiinta wariyayaasha saaxiibadooda ah ee gudaha Somalia jooga,isagoo hadalkiisa watana waxa ii yiri :-

“Runtii waa farxad iyo wax la soo dhaweeyo howlaha Hay’ada Hayaan Media,waxaana tani u arkaa inay tahay tilaabo ku dayasho mudan,waad ogtihiin howlaha Hay’ada dadka bilabay waxay ku aasaaseen iyagoo wadankan Holland ku cusub,waxay u dhabar adeegeen inay waqtigooda iyo maalka ay leeyihiin geliyaan wax ka qabashada Dhibka wariyayaasha,Taasi maanta waxaan is leeyahay waa u rumowday dadkii soo hindisay fikirkan Hayaan Media,sababtoo ah maanta dadkeenan halkan wada fadhiya ee Africa iyo Yurubta kale isaga yimid waxaa isugu kaala keenay waa Hayaan Media,waxaana rajo badan ka qabaa inay wax ka qabtaan baahida wariyayaasha Somaliyed” ayuu yiri Ali Muuse Abdi,waxaana isaga oo hadalkiisa sii wata yiri :-

” Waxaa Dabeecad ahaan wariyayaasha Somalida noqotay in haddii la dhiso urur wariyayaasha wax u qabanaya,ay kuwa kale ka daba hadlaan,,kuwaasi oo aan ku hishiin inay urur kasi la tartama inay dhistaan,laakiin taasi badalkeeda raba inay kan la dhisay burburiyaan oo aan marnaba waxba la helin,Taasi waxan oran karaa waa ayaan daro,waxaase usoo jeedin lahaa dhamaan wariyayaasha Somaliyed meelkasta oo ay joogaan,haddii ay dhacdo inay urur aysan ku qanacsaneyn arkaan,inaysan mucaaradina ay dhistaan Urur kale oo ay wax ku qabsan karaan,Sababtoo ah Dalkan Holland oo kale,waxaa iminka ka jira Ururo badan oo Saxaafada ka shaqeeya hadana ma ahan kuwa is mucaaradsan,Wadadaasi oo kale ayaan la rabi lahaa inay qaadaan wariyayaasha Somaliyeed” ayuu yiri Ali Muuse Abdi.

Dhinaca kale waxa isagana Hadalka lagu soo dhaweeyey Mustafe Xaaji Abdinuur oo ah Xiriiriyaha Mashaariicda Hayaan Media ee Somalia isla markaana ah Xoghaya Guud ee Ururka Someped ayaa isaga oo Muqdisho jooga,halkaasi ka jeediyey Khudbad iftiimineysa xaalka ay ku sugan yihiin Wariyayaasha Somaliyeed,isaga oo xusay in loo baahan yahay sidii garab iyo taageero loogu heli lahaa wariyayaasha Somaliyeed ee gudaha jooga,waxaana xubnihii shirka kasoo qeybgalay uu u jeediyey inay wajahaan waxqabad dhab ah oo loo sameyn karo saaxiibada wali ku negi Somalia.

Mr,Hildebrand Bijleveld oo ah Editor in chief Press Now oo inta badan ka shaqeysa taageerida iyo horumarinta Warbaahinta,baryahana si weyn ugu mashquulsaneed wax u qabashada wariyayaasha Somaliyeed ayaa waxaa uu halkaasi ka jeediyey inay wariyayaasha Somaliyeed dhab ahaan ugu baahan yihiin kor u qaadista waxbarashadooda,isagoona sheegay inay Somalia ka sahlan tahay wariyaha inuu qalabka warbaahinta ee waxduubo qaato,kadibna uu ku shaqeysto xirfadii wariyenimo,isagoo aan wax badan ka ogeyn shuruucda saxaafada,Laakiin waxaa uu sheegay in Maanta ay somalida ka caawinayaan sidii loo heli lahaa Xarun Media Center ah,taasi oo sadex meelood midkood laga dhigi doona,kuwaasi oo kala ah,Puntland,Somaliland iyo Jabuuti.

Dhinaca kale waxaa uu siweyn usoo dhaweeyey dadaalka Hay’ada Hayaan Media kawado Dalka Somalia iyo Yurub,isagoona sheegay inay qabteen wax badan inta yar oo ay jireen,taasi oo uu sheegay inay yar ka dhigan tahay himilo wanaag laga fisho mustaqbalka dhaw,waxaana uu hadalkaasi sii raaciyey inay meelo badan kawada shaqeyn doonaan Hay’ada Hayaan Media.

Wariyayaal badan ayaa halkaasi ka hadlay,waxaana ka mid ahaa Mowliid Xaaji Abdi oo ah Agaasimaha idaacada iyo TV ga SBC shirkana uga yimid UK,Maxamed Yusuf Ahmed oo isagana ahaa wariye kasoo shaqeeyey Muqdisho wax badan iminka shirkan uga soo kicitimay Dalka Swedan,Abdirisaq Shiikh Aduun oo ah Guddoomiyaha Ururka Suxufiyiinta Somaliyeed ee “NUSOJ” oo isagana Swedan ku nool iyo Xasan Liisho.

Waxaana dhamaantood wariyayaashaasi iska qireen inay muhiim tahay wax ka qabashada dhibka wariyayaasha heysta,iyagoo shegay inay wariyayaal ka badan 100 ay joogaan Yurub,laakiin hadana aysan jirin kuwa xirfadoodii sii wata,waxaana dhinaca kale ay sheegeen inay Hay’ada Hayaan Media uga mahadcelinayaa ,Niyada iyo dadaalka shirkan lagu qabtay Holland,waxaana dhinaca kale ay ugu baaqeen dhamaanba wariyayaasha somaliyeed ee yurub jooga inay tafaraaruqa joojiyaan isla markaana ay wajahaan xaqiiqada Yurub ka jirta oo ay ugu horeyso waxbarashada xirfada qofkasta oo uu sheeganayo.

 Guddoomiyaha Dallada Somalida ay k mideysan yihiin ee FSAN Xuseen Qadiib oo isagana shirkaasi hadalo ka jeediyey ayaa sheegay inay markii ugu horeysay u tahay ka qeyb galka shir wariyayaal ay isugu imaanayaa,isaga oo sheegay inay wax badan ka walwalsanaayeen dhibka ka jira somalida uguna horeeyan wariyayaasha,waxaana uu dhinaca kale sheegay inay Hayaan Media leeyihiin wada shaqeyn ,hada iyo wixii ka danbeeyana ay sii xoojin doonan sare u qaadista xirirka labada Hay’adood.

Abdiweli Ibrahim Garyare oo ka tirsan Madaxda Hay’ada Hayaan Media isla markaana ka mid ah Wariyayaasha Somaliyeed inta ugu magaca dheer ee iminka ka shaqeeya Tvga Universal TV ayaa waxaa uu shirkasi ka sheegay inay jiraan fursado wax loogu qaban karo wariyayaasha Somaliyeed,laakiin waxa uu taasi barbardhigay inay fursadahaasi dhinac socdaan,sida ay wariyayaasha diyaar ugu yihiin ka faa’iideysiga fursadaasi,isagoo arintasi hadlayana waxa uu yiri :-

” Waa dhab inay halkan jaanis yaalo,Laakiin caqli iyo garasho lagu fahmo inay helaan wariyayaasha ayey ku xiran tahay,ma aqaan goorta iyo xiliga ay wariyayaasha Somaliyeed la mid noqon doonan sida wariyayaasha umadaha kale,kuwaasi oo helay fursado waxbarasho,kadibna helay furado ay kusii wataan shaqadoodii iyaga oo halkan jooga” ayuu yiri Abdiweli Garyare,waxaana ii intaasi raaciyey ” Hayaan Media ma ahan Ururka Suxifiyiinta Somaliyed ee Holland ama Yurub,taasi oo aad moodo inay dadka qaar ku doodaan,Hayaan Media haddii an idin sharaxo,waa Hay’ad ka shaqeysa taageerida iyo horumarinta wariyayaasha iyo warbaahinada Bariga iyo Geeska Africa,Taasi macnaheedu waxa uu noqonayaan in Hayaan Media ay ka mugweyn tahay urur ay leeyihiin ama wax ka qabta wariyayaasha Somaliyeed arimahooda un,marka dadku waa inay kala gartan Hay’ad wax taageerta oo ay dhici karto xitaa inay garabsiiso ururka wariyayaasha noocey doonan ha isku raaceene” ayuu yiri Abdiweli Ibrahim Garyare.

Ugu danbeyntii shirkaasi oo ahaa midkii ugu horeeyey oo ay abid wariyayaasha Somaliyeed Yurub isugu yimaadaan isaga oo kale ayaa kusoo dhamaaday sidii loo qorsheeyey,waxaana dhamaadkii shirkaasi laga soo saaray Cambaareyn ku aadan dilkii wariyihii Galkacyo lagu dilay dhawaan iyo Xariga ilaa iminka uu xiran yahay Agaasimihii Idaacada Horseed Media ee Boosaaso Abdifitax Jama Mire,waxaana lagu wadaa xubinii shirkan dibadaha uga yimid inay dib ugu noqdaan Dalalkii ay ka yimaadeen.

Nuuradiin Macalin Mukhtaar (Diinow)
Magaalada Utrecht Holland

nuradiin007@hotmail.com

Star FM’s radio broadcaster Kassim Mohammed and AFP’s (Agence France-Presse ) Mogadishu’s correspondent,  Mustafa Haji Abdinur were among the 15 recipients of one of the most prestigious awards in the African media and broadcasting industry; the CNN Multichoice African Journalism Award. The stiff competition included more than 2000 entries from 1000 journalists in 40 African countries.

“I want to thank the stations managers for their dedication in establishing a radio station that caters to the entire Somali community” said Star FM’s Kassim Mohamed during his acceptance speech for this year’s Radio General News Award. “I am so delighted that our hard work is being recognized by CNN and Multichoice. It’s just the beginning and Star FM is determined to tell the African story.” Mr. Mohammed’s radio interview with the wife of a Somali pirate entitled “I’m Married to a Pirate” won him the award.

Managing Director Mohamed Hassan Osman said that Star FM is always nurturing talents and is on the look-out for young and outstanding journalists. Speaking to Hiiraan Online he said “We are very happy with all our employees who come to work early and leave late as they understand journalism is all about sacrifice. We are the only FM radio station in Kenya that has ever won the CNN Multichoice award.”

Star FM radio has been on the air for just under five years and can be heard from Nairobi, Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Gedo region, Tana River as well as the largest refugee camp in the world, Dadaab. Star FM is also in the process of furthering its reach so it can be heard from Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Bosaso, Moyale, and the Kakuma Refugee Camp.

 Mustafa Haji Abdinur, winner of the free press category, has been based in Mogadishu since 2006 and witnessed some of the worst fighting the city has seen in its two decades firsthand. During his speech he highlighted the current grim situation in Mogadishu.  “Friends, I live in a country whose name has unfortunately become a synonym for lawlessness, where human life is not worth a lot and where press freedom simply does not exist,” said Abdinur.

He won the award for his “Peace Journalism” initiative that he launched with the help of other Somali journalists. Somalia is one of the most dangerous countries to be a reporter, since October 2007, 13 journalists have been murdered in Somalia including 9 in 2009 alone. For this reason, Abdinur also won the Committee to Protect Journalists’ (CPJ) International Press Freedom Awards in November 2009.

He shares this award with nine deceased reporters who died covering the savage conflict in Somalia: Abdulkhafar Abdulkadir Hassan, freelance; Mohamed Amin Adan Abdulle, Radio Shabelle; Hassan Zubeyr Haji Hassan, Al-Arabiya; Mohamud Mohamed Yusuf, Radio IQK; Mukhtar Mohamed Hirabe, Radio Shabelle; Nur Muse Hussein, Radio IQK; Abdirizak Mohamed Warsame, Radio Shabelle; Said Tahlil Ahmed, HornAfrik; Hassan Mayow Hassan, Radio Shabelle.

The award ceremony that was attended by journalists, editors, and consultants from Africa as well as beyond was hosted by CNN Anchor Isha Sesay and emcee Ronnie Mich Egwang.

Meanwhile, President of the Republic of Uganda, General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who presided over the event said that African media houses are still locked in the mindset of anti-colonial activists of the early 1950s, where the colonial state was regarded as ‘them’ and the people were ‘us’”. He called on journalists to add ‘patriotism’ to their usual ‘issues’ of general news, culture and health reporting. He added that critics of the Ugandan draft media bill, -that proposes a licensing system for journalists- were making ‘undue wild accusations’. The Ugandan government merely wants to administer and manage press freedom, he said, not restrict it.  Nevertheless, speaking off the cuff, he also said that journalists should not ‘cross the line’ and that they should leave ‘politics to the politicians’.