Puntland Bans Three Radio Stations From Operating

By Shafi'i Mohyaddin Abokar

Authorities in the semi-autonomous Somali state of Puntland have banned three independent radio stations from operating in areas they control, while the federal government forces have beaten several journalists in Mogadishu as part of the suppressions against the freedom of expression in the country.

The Somali Sports Press Association is totally condemning the latest acts which the SSPA termed as unacceptable and urged the Puntland regional authorities to cancel the ban which shows that Somali authorities are still continuing suppressions and violations against the freedom of expression in the war-devastated country.

"The Somali Sports Press Association is totally condemning the move which is intended to intimidate and silence the independent media in the country-the SSPA is urging the Puntland authorities to withdraw the imposed ban," SSPA presidential statement said here on Friday.

The Puntland ministry of information issued a decree dated on 21st of February, but was read to the media offices operating in the Puntland region on Thursday. The decree says the Puntland administration had taken the decision to ban three radio stations from operating in areas it controls.

The banned stations are: Radio Bar-kulan, Radio Ergo and radio Hirad. Journalists working for those radio stations were also ordered to stop working or otherwise they will face what the administration termed as 'bad consequences' which can be arrest or most cruelly killing.

Meanwhile, Somali government forces have beaten 5 journalists in Mogadishu this week during a court hearing of a detained journalist. A female journalist Sadiyo Mohamed Hassan who was one of the beaten journalists still unable to return to work as she was badly beaten by the government forces at the Mogadishu high court earlier this week.

Relatives of the female journalist told the SSPA that the young female journalist is not yet able to return to work as she is suffering from the torture by the government forces.

Despite the federal government pledged it will respect freedom of expression in the country, Somali journalists are still oppressed by the government and they are targeted by the Al-Qaeda-proxy Al-Shabab terrorists who are said to be the main killers of journalists operating in Somalia.

Shafi'i Mohyaddin Abokar is the NewsBlaze Somalia reporter. Contact him through NewsBlaze. Read more stories by Shafi'i Mohyaddin Abokar.