18/05/07 (B395) LDDH : les journalistes Somalis sous le feu des tirs : plusieurs victimes ciblées depuis l’invasion par les forces éthiopiennes. Appel d’EHAHRD-Net pour adresser un courrier aux autorités somaliennes, afin de demander une investigation sur les coupables et des mesures pour protéger les journalistes en danger (En Anglais)


Le Président

DIFFUSION
D’INFORMATION DU 17 MAI 2007

Les journalistes Somalis sous le feu des tirs.

Depuis
l’invasion de la Somalie par les forces d’occupation Ethiopiennes, les Journalistes
Somalis sont les premières victimes ciblées.

Les risques, pour les Journalistes de couvrir le génocide des populations
civiles du Sud de la Somalie par les troupes Ethiopiennes, sont féroces
et douloureuses avec les lots de morts et d’assassinats.

M. NOEL
ABDI Jean-Paul

______________________________________
EHAHRD


EAST AND HORN OF AFRICA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS NETWORK

Public
Statement
EHAHRD-Net Index: SOMA 013/005/2007 (Public)
17th May 2007

KAMPALA: EHAHRD-Net CONDEMNS MURDER OF SOMALI
JOURNALISTS

The
East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRD-Net) is appalled
by the murder of two journalists in Somalia . The two Radio Jowhar reporters,
Abshir Ali Gabra and Ahmed Hassan were shot dead when unidentified gunmen
ambushed the convoy of the Governor of the Central Province , Middle Shabelle
on May 15th 2007 .

This gruesome incident brings to four the number of journalists murdered in
Somalia in the first five months of this year, and three in one month. In
February, Ali Mohammed Omar formerly a presenter and technician at Radio Warsan,
was murdered in Baidoa, while Abdullahi Khalif (Radio Voice of ce) was murdered
early May in Galkayo, Puntland. (See EHAHRDP statements; EHAHRD-Net Index:
SOMA 003/005/2007, EHAHRD-Net Index: SOMA 004/005/2007)

"The death
of these two human rights defenders is horrible news, and can only indicate
a terrible working situation for journalists in Somalia. It is very hurting
that selfless watchdogs of society continue to be the target of bad elements,
whose only motive is to silence the media. The Transitional Federal Government
(TFG) in Somalia is duty-bound to ensure the safety of all its citizens. The
Government must therefore trace the culprits and bring them to book,"
says Hassan Shire Sheikh, Chairperson EHAHRDP/Net.

On behalf of the entire Network, we extend our sincere sympathies and condolences
to the families of the deceased, the media fraternity and the entire Somali
community who will forever miss the services of these journalists. It is our
hope that such unfortunate incidents shall come to an end.

APPEAL:

EHAHRD-Net appeals to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in Somalia
to investigate into the murder of the two journalists and ensure that the
perpetrators are brought to book; and to take all necessary measures to ensure
adequate protection of journalists in pursuit of their duties.

We further appeal to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights currently
seating in Accra , Ghana for its 41st Ordinary Session, and the entire international
community, to use their mandates in ensuring that maximum security returns
to Somalia , to avoid future demise of HRDs. All Network members across the
sub-region should write to the TFG condemning this act of lawlessness, and
appeal to the Somali authorities to immediately cause redress.

_________________________________________
Please send appeals to:

The Somali Charge d’Affaires in Kenya,
asking for them to be forwarded to

Somalia’s President, Col. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed:

TFG charge d’affaires, 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