By Mohamed Amiin

Mogadishu, 3 May2007 - The freedom and safety of journalists in Somalia have come under heavy siege in the first half of 2007, as hostilities escalated in Mogadishu, with three journalists are behind the bars.

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is marking World Press Freedom Day on May 3 with an appeal to the international community to urge the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to stop infringing journalists' rights and to respect the fundamental principles of freedom of press.

This is particularly apt since UNESCO's topics chosen for this year's World Press Freedom Day are Press Freedom, Safety of Journalists and Impunity.

Press freedom violations soared in Somalia in the period from 1st January to 1st May, with the NUSOJ recording 16 attacks on the press, up more than 43% on the same period in 2006.

The heavy toll was: One journalist murdered in Baidoa; two journalists injured in Mogadishu; three journalists arrested and tried in Somaliland and a fourth journalist in absentia; the operating license withdrawn from an independent newspaper; five journalists and one media assistant arrested in Mogadishu, three of whom are still behind the bars; four journalists beaten; four media outlets attacked in Hargeisa and Mogadishu; five journalists ambushed and robbed; three media institutions briefly closed down; and unauthorized media events in Puntland banned.

Mogadishu has experienced the worst press freedom violations, with journalists being arrested and held, often without explanation. Somali journalists have been resorting to self-censorship to protect themselves.

The TFG, the regime in Somaliland, authorities in Puntland and armed groups have all perpetrated gruesome violations of media freedom. "These predators often accuse journalists and media outlets of producing biased, slanderous and inflammatory reports and of deliberately stirring up violence", said Omar Faruk Osman, Secretary General of NUSOJ.

"Violence against journalists is now routine in Somalia", he said "No predator was punished for any crime against journalists and this impunity is the main enemy of press freedom in Somalia," he added.

NUSOJ has also found that the private interests of several media owners have tainted the reputations of some media outlets, as a conflict of interest has undermined editorial independence, hindering free and fair reporting and exposing journalists to risk. In general journalists working conditions in Somalia are poor.

"We also call on the media owners to enable journalists to exercise editorial freedom and respect their work rights so that a free press can flourish and people can seek dialogue as an alternative to violence."

Press freedom is also under attack from political authorities who keep critical journalists and independent media under constant pressure.

"We are deeply disturbed by these repeated violations of press freedom and the permanent risks facing journalists in the course of their work," said Omar Faruk. "We urge the Somali authorities to end the culture of targeting journalists and media professionals with impunity".

Source: Sh.M.Network