Hargeysa, Somaliland, June 16, 2012 (SL Times) – Somaliland's Minister of Information, Boobe Yusuf Du'ale issued a government press release laced with poems and songs. He recited the poems and songs before announcing the names of the members of the committee that will hold talks with Somalia. According to Haatuf newspaper, the minister of information was consistent in three respects. He had included excerpts from one of Hadrawi's poems in a previous press release. He excluded Haatuf Newspaper from receiving his press releases. And he only allowed non-Somaliland media such as the BBC, VOA, and Somalia-owned TVs to ask him questions about his press releases.
The names of the committee that the press release said will represent Somaliland in the talks with Somalia are:
1- Muhammad Abdillahi Omar (the Minister of foreign affairs)
2- Bashe Muhammad Farah (1st deputy chairman of parliament)
3- Fayal Ali Warabe (Chairman of UCID party)
4- Hirsi Ali Haji Hasan (Minister of the presidency)
5- Mohamoud Ahmed Barre (Minister of labor and community affairs)
On another matter related to the minister of information, he denied that his government has committed violence against journalists. The CPJ, an international organization that defends the rights of journalists, had issued a report in which it said 58 journalists were arrested by Somaliland's government and that some of them were beaten. The foreign minister rejected those charges and said Somaliland and the media work closely. Some of the journalists who were subjected to acts of violence by the government have contacted Haatuf to register their dismay at the minister's claims.









 

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