Freedom Is Not Free

EDITORIAL

After spending almost three months in jail, the editor of this newspaper, Yusuf A. Gabobe, and my two colleagues, Ali Abdi Dini and Mohamed Omar Sheik, are happy to have our freedom back. During our incarceration, two factors helped in keeping our spirits up: our conviction that we were fighting for a righteous cause, and the outpouring of support that we received from Somalilanders inside and outside the country, civil society, the independent media, friends of Somaliland and international human rights organizations. We thank them all for standing by us and promise to redouble our efforts to provide them with reliable news and sharp analysis.

Although our government took an illegal and unjust action against us, we reiterate that we have no axe to grind with either the government or anyone else. Our first and foremost commitment is to our readers, and we shall do all we can to keep it that way.

We are glad that President Rayale finally realized that unjustly jailing journalists is unacceptable to a huge number of Somalilanders, friends of Somaliland, and pro-democracy international organizations. We have never asked for special treatment in the past, neither are we asking for it now. On the contrary, we have consistently opposed favoritism because it is closely tied with corruption.

We are neither in a bitter nor triumphant mood, and see our release from jail as a small and partial victory in the long and difficult struggle for democracy in Somaliland. A free and independent press is essential for establishing the democratic norms and values of transparency, accountability and the rule of law. Defending these values is what landed us in jail. But despite the heavy price we paid, we shall continue to uphold these values, because they are worth defending, and because freedom is not free.

Source: Somaliland Times

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