Zakariya Abdukadir, cameraman for Horn Cable TV
Security forces for the semi-autonomous region of Somaliland arrested more than 25 journalists after a demonstration held in front of the presidential building in Hargeisa, expressing their anger over the closure of the independent Horncable TV by Somaliland security forces on Saturday.
Some of the journalists arrested are working for local newspapers in Hargeisa, some work for TV stations, while others work for websites. They are being held in the central jail of Hargeisa.
Barkad Osman, an independent journalist in Hargeisa visited the detained journalists in prison and told Somalia Report, “Today at noon when we visited the journalist in the prison, we were told that they were badly mistreated and tortured by the security forces when they were arresting them, they used huge sticks to beat with them and threw them in vehicles like criminals.”
Another journalist described his escape, “I was one of the journalists who went to the presidential house to demonstrate, we were fired on and all the protesters were arrested but luckily I escaped,” Keyse Jiirdiil told Somalia Report.
The minister of internal affairs of Somaliland Mahamed Nuur Araale held a press conference and talked about the closure and arrest of the HCTV and said that “the government has withdrawn the permission they have given the TV to work in the country,” adding that the journalist who demonstrated were not legal, and that is why they arrested.
Recently, the Somaliland administration has been angry at reporters since the government is against covering the conference going on in Teleeh and the new independent administrations which are being established, declaring themselves distinct from Somaliland.
A senior journalist, Abdisalam Gabeyre told Somalia Report, “We shall not stop the service we are doing for our people. Arresting or torturing us will not create fear in us, we shall continue doing our jobs until we fulfill the expectations which our community has of us. We are sending a clear message, the leaders of Somaliland must protect the freedom of the press and release all the journalist they have arrested and to reopen Horncable TV,” he added.
This is the first time large numbers of journalists have been arrested in the same time, which can only deepen the conflict and lack of trust between the press and the government.
Names Of Those Arrested
Partial list of ten names from the 26 journalists arrested today
Hassan Mohamed Yussuf, President of Somaliland Journalist Association (SOLJA)
Mohamed Abdi Hassan (Ilig), Director of Horncable TV
Hamse Ali Bulbul, Head of News at Horncable TV
Hodon Ali Ajabi, Horn Cable TV
Nimo Omar Mohamed (sabriye), Horn Cable TV
Mohamed Kuraase, Horn Cable TV
Abdirashid Eynte, Horn Cable TV
Mohamed Omar Abdi – (Irro), Editor of Jamhuuriya Magazine
Harago, Editor of Berbera news-website
Najah Aden Unaye, Director of Hadhwanaag news-website
