This wont bode well for recognition.THE existence of a free press in Somaliland is being threatened by the Government imposing jail time and harsh fines on editors, according to the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ).
Five newspapers are facing court cases for "defamation and slander", including the Saxafi, Hargeisa Star, Ogaal and Yool newspapers.
One newspaper editor has already received three years jail time, and a US$900 fine.
Mohamud Abdi Jama, editor of the Waheen newspaper, was found guilty last Saturday of defaming the Somaliland police chief, and the director of Somaliland's electricity agency.
"We condemn Jama's sentence and call on the court of appeals to overturn the judgment. This verdict is out of the step and could only be taken an attempt to silence and intimidate the independent press," said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.
The NUSOJ said the prosecution was part of a larger movement against the independent press in Somaliland.
"The independent print media is subjected to pressure tactics for freely exercising journalism. We demand all these charges to be dropped immediately and unconditionally," added Omar Faruk.
Mr Faruk added that the continuation of these cases will "constitute a blow to Somaliland's emerging democracy".
International organisation Reporters Without Borders expressed its "dismay" at the ruling.
"This sentence has all the hallmarks of summary and punitive justice," Reporters Without Borders said in a statement.
"The court should have first established whether or not anyone was defamed and, if they were, a more measured and just penalty should have been imposed. Imprisonment is clearly disproportionate for defamation. We urge the courts to reverse this decision on appeal."
