|
Hargeysa,
Somaliland, August 15, 2009 – The opposition in Somaliland has long been
complaining from what has become modus operandi for the ruling party,
the unrestricted use of the government controlled media to vilify anyone
who voices criticism at government policies.
Attempts by the opposition parties and the lawmakers to enforce laws
that limit ruling party’s misuse of the media for political purposes in
the days and months leading to elections in the past had only fallen on
deaf ears.
Lately, however, the government’s use of the media has been taking a
dangerous turn. Riyale government has used the media against domestic
political targets in the past accusing senior opposition officials of
colluding and even belonging to radical Islamic groups in Somalia. In
one such incident a former member of the National Election Commission
who later joined KULMIYE party was detained and held in prison for a
month without trial being falsely accused by the Interior Minister of
belonging to Al-Shabaab.
Recently charges leveled against the two Horyaal Media reporters, who
were held in jail for nearly a month, included the use of the media to
“encourage murder” similar “to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda”. The
prosecutors in their failed bid at the court accused the reporters for
sharing responsibility for the deaths of four innocent travelers who
were murdered in Western Somaliland. Of course these accusations were
politically motivated and would not stand a chance in a fair court of
justice.
As Riyale administration continues to corner itself with its recent
decision to expel Interpeace and continued attempt to suspend the voter
registration list, it is facing isolation not only from within
Somaliland but also from the international governments that would like
to see democracy take root in the troubled regions in the Horn of
Africa. Its response to the concerns expressed by foreign diplomats,
just as it has been painting the opposition in the past, is to blame
Interpeace and representatives of western countries as the “enemies of
Somaliland”. The latter is also accused of “interfering in our internal
affairs” for voicing concern regarding the new obstacles Riyale placed
in the path of democracy in Somaliland.
The government controlled media as usual has paraded paid individuals to
speak against and angrily criticize what it calls “foreign
intervention”. This dangerous and narrow minded use of the public media
is bordering criminality and may have severe consequences for Somaliland
should fringe elements within the society use it to justify its causes.
Radical individuals who are sympathetic to the religious extremists in
Somalia certainly welcome anything that stirs hostility against
foreigners which makes their job of recruiting youngsters into their
ranks easier. A responsible government would not forget that it has been
less than a year ago when suicide bombers targeted Hargeysa killing more
than 30 civilians. This type of incitement on national media against
“foreigners” could be used to justify more attacks on Somalis and
non-Somalis alike.
Source: Somaliland Globe
|
|
