21/10/07 (B418) LDDH : Le silence de l’Union Africaine et de la Commission Africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples devient intolérable face aux des populations du Sud de la Somalie et aux meurtres des journalistes en Somalie.

Le Président

DIFFUSION D’INFORMATION DU 21 OCTOBRE 2007

LE GÉNOCIDE DES POPULATIONS
DU SUD DE LA SOMALIE
ET LE MEURTRE DES JOURNALISTES SOMALIS S’AMPLIFIENT.

L’AFRIQUE GARDE UN SILENCE QUI TUE.

Le silence de l’Union Africaine et de la Commission Africaine des Droits de
l’Homme et des Peuples devient intolérable.

Faut-il considérer nos responsables de l’Union Africaine comme des
génocidaires?

Difficiles et douloureux dilemmes.

M. NOEL ABDI Jean-Paul
Vice -président de l’Union Interafricaine des Droits de l’Homme
Chargé de la Corne d’Afrique.
__________________________________________________

EAST AND HORN OF AFRICA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS NETWORK

Public Statement
EHAHRD-Net Index: SOMA 028/005/2007 (Public)

20th October 2007

KAMPALA: EHAHRD-Net UPSET BY CONTINUED KILLING OF JOURNALISTS IN SOMALIA

The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRD-Net) has today received sorrowful news of the murder of the eighth journalist in
Somalia this year. Radio Shabelle’s acting Chairperson Bashiir Noor Gedi
reportedly met his fate yesterday (Friday October 19th) at his home in
Wardhigley district in the Hamarjadid area when unknown gunmen shot him
dead.

Radio Shabelle has been the target of frequent attacks from both Government
forces and the insurgents due to its critical reporting. It has been victim
of regular closures while a number of its staff members have been murdered
in the recent past.

« With eight journalists killed so far this year, the situation of the media
in Somalia can only be said to have become a catastrophe that calls for the
immediate attention of the entire international community. The Somali
Transitional Federal Government and all members on the conflict divide have
totally failed to stop murderous acts targeted at journalists, and this can
only aim, but to cover up the heinous acts they are committing against the
Somali population. The TFG authorities must provide adequate security to the
Somali people, and desist from intimidating the media, » says Hassan Shire
Sheikh, Chairperson EHAHRDP/Net.

Dozens of journalists have fled Somalia in the past couple of months over
continued attempts on their lives by Government forces and the insurgents,
others have been seriously injured while on duty and are unable to continue
with their work, while a number of media houses have either been closed or
threatened with closure. Such is the dire operating condition of the media
in war-torn Somalia .

APPEAL:

. EHAHRD-Net appeals to the TFG authorities to investigate the murder of
Bashiir Noor Gedi and ensure that the murderers are brought to justice;
. The TFG authorities must do everything within their means to ensure the
respect of freedom of the press as enshrined in the Transitional Federal
Charter, and in regional and international human rights instruments;
. The Network further calls upon the UN, and the African Commission on Human
and Peoples’ Rights, and the entire international community to do everything
possible to save the situation of the media in Somalia that is fast running
out of control.
. We also appeal to the international community to come up and urgently
offer assistance to the journalists still suffering inside Somalia , and
those that have been exiled in neighbouring countries.

All Network members are encouraged to write to the Somali authorities furthering this appeal.

Send appeals to:

The Somali Ambassador in Kenya ,
asking for them to be forwarded to Somalia’s President,

Col. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed:
TFG Ambassador, Mohamed Ali Nur,
PO Box 623-00606, Jabavu Road , Hurlingham, Nairobi , Kenya
Email: mali@somaliembassy.co.ke
Salutation: Dear Sir

For further information, please contact

Tumusiime Kabwende Deo
Press Officer, +256-712-075721
Regional Coordination Office
EAST AND HORN OF AFRICA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS PROJECT (EHAHRDP)
Human Rights House, Plot 1853, Lulume Rd., Nsambya
P.O. Box 70356 Kampala, Uganda
Phone: +256-414-510263(general)/ext.112
+256-414-267118(direct)
Fax: +256-414-267117
E-mail: ehahrdp@yahoo.ca, hshire@yorku.ca
Website:http://www.yorku.ca/crs/AHRDP/index.html