By: Hussein Farah
Horseed Media
aweys_horseed
Aweys Haji Nuur
Aweys Haji Nur a well known Somali journalists working for Horseed Media FM Radio, was assaulted by police officers in Bosaso court, on Wednesday.
Aweys and other journalists were severely beaten by Puntland police in the court room, as they attended the trail of Somali pirates.
“….We were invited by the Puntland officials to attend the trail of several men accused of Piracy….as we arrived Bosaso district court, we identified ourselves as journalists….we were allowed to take pictures and audio during the trail….” Said Aweys the journalist who sustained minor injuries from the beating.
It was not clear why the polices officers attacked the journalists during the hearing.
“….I took three pictures from the court, one from the public, I took another pictures of the men who were on trail, and the third picture that I took was the Prosecutor greeting a family member of one of the defendants….” said Aweys, adding that he suspects that the prosecutor didn’t wanted to be photographed as he mingled with relatives of the pirates before the hearing started.
“….I told them that I will delete any pictures that they were protesting to, and I deleted that last picture, but it didn’t stop them, they continued to beat us with AK 47 rifles…” said Aweys.
“….it was strange and sinister how the governments officials acted…they even encouraged the actions of the soldiers….” said Abdikani one of the other journalists who came to Aweys’s rescue.
Puntland officials in the court, including the judge did not intervene as the soldiers assaulted the journalists in the crowded court room.
We don’t like journalists
One Puntland official even openly welcomed the actions of the soldiers.
“….We don’t like what you broadcast, you journalists are against the government….” Said a Provincial Police officer as the journalists outside the court room complained about the beating.
“….we are calling for the Puntland government to apologize for this attack on Aweys ….we call them to Investigate and Prosecute the Perpetrators ….” Said Mahad Mussa head of Horseed Media.
Aweys Haji Nuur is one of the radio producers and reporter of Horseed Media, an independent popular FM radio based in Bosaso city.
The authorities in the region regularly target independent media for reporting the uncensored news to the local public and the Somali Diaspora living abroad.
On Monday another two journalists working for Horyaal FM Radio were arrested in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, they were accused by the President of Somaliland Dahir Riyale of reporting recent clan conflict in his home region of southern Somaliland district of Gebiley.
Such acts are common to Somali journalists, who frequently face threats, kidnappings, beatings and even death.
Since 2009 six journalists were killed in the country and more fled their homes, for fear of reprisals.
Source: Horseed Media
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Source:http://english.horseedmedia.net/news/22131.shtml
Absolutely disgraceful actions by policeka. Kulaha "ma jecli journalists" lol...The region is heading towards democracy and apart of democracy is to respect the "free media"...u can not be democracy and not have free media. I hope Puntland Administration does something about this and also educates the people that the media is free to report whatever they feel be it good or bad.
This has been happening more n more lately i noticed. Their needs to be a stop to it immediately.
Shameful actions.
