15 Jun 2011 – Morning headlines
Key Headlines:
- Somali PM refuses to step down
- Landmine targeted at TFG forces kills one
- Al Shabaab threaten top leaders with suicide attacks
- Four journalists arrested because of covering protests
- Al Shabaab militants branch out into public service provision
Titres Principaux:
- Le premier ministre Somalien refuse de quitter son poste
- Une mine anti-personnel visant les forces gouvernementales tue un soldat
- Quatre journalistes arrêtés pour avoir couvert les manifestations
- Al Shabaab menacent des représentants gouvernementaux avec des attaques-suicides
- Des militants d’al Shabaab étendent leurs activités dans la provision de services publics
PRESS RELEASE
Four journalists arrested because of covering protests
14 Jun – Source: Mogadishu Media House – 271 words
The Government’s National Security Forces arrested four journalists accused of covering protests against the Prime Minister Mohamed Abdulahi Mohamed’s resignation in the streets of Mogadishu’s KM4 area.
Three of the journalists, Ahmed Ali Kahiye from Kulmiye Radio, Abdifatah Nur Hashi from Keyd Media and another reporter were taken to jail after they were arrested by security forces while covering the protests.
Mohamed Amin Abukar who works for Kulmiye Radio, is in jail for the second day after being jailed yesterday (Monday) while covering the protests in the same area. Abdulahi Mohamed Hassan, the director of Mogadishu Media House (MMHouse), condemned the arrest of the journalists in the highest possible language, and called for their release.
“I condemn the arrest of journalists covering the protests, they have right to cover if there is a story and there is no justification to arrest a journalist covering a story” said Hassan. “I urge the government to release them without condition and stop the moves against the press freedom and the freedom of expression” he added.
Mr. Hassan called on the national security services to respect the press freedom and allow the journalists to do their daily duties including the covering of the protests.
The hunting of the journalists covering the protest is a move against the press freedom recognized in the article 19 of the universal declaration of human rights which says, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers” And the Somali National charter.
SOMALI MEDIA
Somalia’s popular PM sets condition for his dismissal
15 June – Source: Shabelle, AHN – 261 words
The popular TFG Premier yesterday declared that he will not quit the job until parliament approves the Kampala accord which suggests the PM should be dismissed within 30 days. The agreement also extends the government’s mandate for a year. Farmajo stated: ‘I will not leave office until the Kampala accord goes before the parliament and gets ratified by the representatives of Somalis (MPs).’
http://www.shabelle.net/article.php?id=7593
Landmine targeted at TFG forces kills one
14 Jun – Source: Bariga Afrika – 91 words
A heavy blast that left deaths and injuries was targeted against the government forces stationed at west of Darkeynley. At least one government soldier died while 5 civilian passers-by died after the heavy blast that rocked the whole area. The blast is believed to be from a landmine.
http://www.barigaafrika.com/en/read.php?id=4364#axzz1P8JWznuk
Somali govt warns against holding rallies in the capital
14 Jun – Source: Shabelle – 93 words
The Regional Banadir administration under the TFG on Tuesday warned the people against holding rallies in the seaside city of Mogadishu. Abdikafi Hilowle Osman, the secretary of Banadir administration said that holding domesntrations will not be allowed in the capital in a bid to avert terrorist attacks from al Shabaab.
http://www.shabelle.net/article.php?id=7581
Some TFG officials oppose demonstrations in Mogadishu, jail students
14 Jun – Source: Mareeg Online – 176 words
Some TFG officials have yesterday voiced their opinion against demonstrations supporting Somali Prime Minister in the streets of the Mogadishu.
http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.php?sid=20010&tirsan=3
Somali Islamists threaten top leaders with suicide attacks
14 Jun – Source: Radio Voice of Mudug – 115 words
The Somali Islamists group al Shabaab has threatened “to carry out suicide attacks against top leaders of the TFG,” if government forces continue fighting al Shabaab in Mogadishu. Abdi Aziz Abu Mus’ab, al Shabaab’s Operational Commander said his group “would target top government leaders in similar suicide attacks in which the Minister of Interior, Abdishakur Sheikh Hasan, was killed” last week.
Somaliland President celebrates World Environment Day by planting trees
14 Jun – Source: Somaliland Press – 218 words
President Ahmed Mohamed (Siilanyo) and his vice president today took part in the celebration of World Environment Day by planting trees in the Presidential Palace. After planting the trees, Siilanyo took a moment to speak with the press to whom he expressed his concern about Somaliland’s deforestation.
http://somalilandpress.com/somaliland-president-celebrates-world-environment-day-by-plantingtrees- 22623
REGIONAL MEDIA
Al Shabaab militants branch out into public service provision
14 Jun – Source: Africa Review – 138 words
Al Shabaab have now branched out into the provision of public services following the formation of a new traffic police unit, which is the first time the Islamist group has constituted a noncombatant police force. The traffic policemen were on display over the week-end at Elasha Biyaha, near Lower Shabelle, where hundreds of thousands of IDP’s have set up shelters. According to al Shabaab officials, the new force is meant to ease congestion on the Mogadishu-Afgoye highway.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somali PM refuses to step down
14 Jun – Source: BBC – 103 words
Somalia’s prime minister has announced that he will not be stepping down from the post out of respect for an outpouring of support by Somalis opposed to his removal, unless the parliament which elected him in the first place, tells him to go.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/2011/06/110614_somalia_pm.shtml
US worries about Yemen, Somalia terror ties; al Qaeda group working to gain more ground
14 Jun – Source: Washington Post – 388 words
The U.S. is worried that the ongoing unrest in Yemen could fuel connections between al Qaedalinked militants there and al Shabaab insurgents in Somalia, the State Department’s counter terror coordinator said yesterday, adding that insurgents in Yemen are trying to take advantage of the turmoil in their country.
Somalia, the worst place to be a woman – minister
15 Jun – Source: Reuters – 238 words
A Thomson Reuters Foundation poll may have found that Afghanistan is the most dangerous place to be a woman, but Somalia’s Women’s Minister is astonished any country could be worse than her own. “I’m completely surprised because I thought Somalia would be first on the list, not fifth,” said Marian Qasim. One woman dies for every 100 live births, according to U.N. figures — one of the highest rates in the world.
http://af.reuters.com/article/somaliaNews/idAFLDE7591IY20110615