14/11/07 (B421) LDDH : Appel contre la violence en Somalie sur les civils, en particulier dans le SUD, et ce, dans le silence totale de la communauté internationale et des grandes organisations internationales.
Le Président |
DIFFUSION D’INFORMATION DU 13 NOVEMBRE 2007 LE GÉNOCIDE DES POPULATIONS DU SUD DE LA SOMALIE |
La Ligue Djiboutienne des Droits Humains (LDDH) avait, dans sa Diffusion
d’Information du 21 octobre 2007, dénoncé avec fermeté le silence de l’Union
Africaine et de la Commission Africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples
qui devient de plus en plus intolérable.
La Ligue Djiboutienne des Droits Humains (LDDH) repose encore la même question suivante :
– faut-il considérer nos responsables de l’Union Africaine comme des complices ou des commanditaires du génocide en Somalie du Sud »?
Difficiles et douloureux dilemmes qui ne peuvent qu’aggraver le génocide et les crimes de guerre perpétrés par les Forces Ethiopiennes et dont les premières victimes sont les populations du Sud de la Somalie.
La LDDH dénonce la violence, intolérable et inhumaine, imposée :
– aux Journalistes Somalis, aux médecins et aux blessés civils dans les hôpitaux et aux autres défenseurs des Droits de l’Homme ;
– par les arrestations arbitraires, les disparitions forcées qui font légion, et les exécutions extrajudiciaires sur les civils ciblés de la somalie du sud.
Elle demande, aux Forces d’occupation du Sud de la Somalie, l’ouverture immédiate de Radio Shabelle à Mogadiscio.
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)
12th November 2007
KAMPALA: EHAHRD-Net APPALLED BY CLOSURE OF RADIO SHABELLE
In the latest wave of attacks on the media in war-torn Somalia, the East and
Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network has learnt that Radio Shabelle
has today been closed by forces of the Transitional Federal Government
(TFG).
According to the Somali Human Rights Defenders Network (SOHRIDEN)EHAHRD-Net’s focal point in Somalia, « heavily armed soldiers with machine guns forcefully entered the radio station, ordered it to shut down and briefly detained [later released] a number of its staff ». Radio Shabelle has
been closed and later re-opened about eight times in recent months.
The closure of Radio Shabelle is only one among the many cruel incidents that have affected the media in Somalia in recent times: at least 8 journalists have been killed since the beginning of this year; several have been injured, while tens of others have fled the country and are currently
exiled in different parts of the world.
« It is saddening to see the TFG authorities practically decapitating an
institution that is viewed as a central component of any democratic
government. The people of Somalia have the right to be informed, and as
such, the role of the media cannot be over-emphasized. The TFG authorities
must observe media freedom as enshrined in their own Transitional Federal
Charter, and in regional and international human rights instruments, » says
Hassan Shire Sheikh, Chairperson EHAHRDP/Net.
Radio Shabelle has until its closure been one of the most prominent private
media houses in Somalia , providing wide coverage of the ongoing conflict.
Network members both on the ground and in exile, believe that the TFG forces
are trailing the station and its staff because of the professional work they
are doing. Sadly, because of its balanced reporting, the station has been a
target of both the Government forces and the insurgents, both responsible
for the current human rights abuses in the Capital Mogadishu.
APPEAL:
. EHAHRD-Net appeals to the TFG authorities to immediately and
unconditionally re-open Radio Shabelle;
. EHAHRD-Net also appeals to the insurgents, the Ethiopian forces and the
TFG to respect media freedom without fail. All warring factions must desist
from any further attacks on journalists as a media black-out would
constitute a further compromise of the rights of the Somali people;
. The Network further calls upon the UN and the African Commission on Human
and Peoples’ Rights to use their relevant mandates to ensure that Somali
authorities desist from the ill-treatment of journalists.
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