Somaliland: 5th Journalist Detained as Crack Down on Media by the State Escalates-SOLJA
By: Mohamed Rashiid M. Farah, SOLJA Secretary
Hargeisa, 06 Dec 2013 (SDN) -Several members of the press corps were today beaten and arrested outside the Hargeisa regional courts as they tried to cover and attend a court involving Four independent journalist who were arrested a day before for covering a peaceful protest by fellow journalist in the capital city Hargeisa protesting against the government decision to release the Policeman who attacked HUBAAL Newspaper its office in Hargeisa in April 2013 without any trial were today arraigned in a Hargeisa court.
The arrested journalist are said to be held in horrible conditions at the Hargeisa central prison where they are expected to be held during the duration of their remand, relatives of the detained journalist have been denied access to the journalist.
The judge who is handling the case is said to have ordered the police officers to present to the court the evidence in a week time.
Reliable sources have told us that the journalists have not been fed for the last three days.
Police officers stationed outside the Hargeisa law courts beat and confiscated materials belonging to the chief editor of FOORE newspaper a Somali language daily and finally hauling him in to the boot of Police car to transport him to the CID headquarters where he is being currently held for questioning.
A fifth journalist was arrested in another incident involving Mr. Ali Ismail Aare, a reporter with WAHEEN Newspaper based in Borama was arrested and detained after the Mayor of Borame ordered police officers to do so after he covered an incident involving disenchanted Borame residents who were complaining about the poor services the municipality council provides.
Yesterday
Names and institutions they work are:
1. Abdisalaan Abdirashid – BULSHO TV- Camera man
2. Khadar Saeed Abdillahi – BULSHO TV- Head of News/Producer
3. Hassan Maal Dhider – Camera man Universal TV Camera man
4. Abdiaziz Bashiir Nor – Xogreeb News Website –Reporter
5. Mr. Ali Ismail Aare- Waheen Media Network