SOMALIA: Media Executives and Union Officials Focus Safety of journalists and Applause the Adoption of the New Constitution

Mogadishu (RBC) A meeting convened  at the union office in Mogadishu on August 3, 2012 by the Media Executives – Television, Radios Print and Major Websites –  was focused on the safety and the descent working conditions of the Somali Journalists following the murder of Abdi Jeylani Malaq Marshale on July 31, 2012 by unknown gunmen, meanwhile the conference welcomes the adoption of Somalia’s new constitution.

Somali journalists and media personnel work in a very hostile environment that so far this year, seven journalists and media workers were killed and several others escaped from assassination attempts.

Abdurashid Abdulle Abikar, NUSOJ Treasurer and Press Freedom Coordinator urged the media bosses to take part safeguarding the lives of the innocent journalists through editorial policy and urged the media houses to sign a contract from the journalists they hire,  which they all agreed.  The participants called for an urgent investigation into the continued murders.

“NUSOJ would like to thank your attendance to this important conference and your time and again we thank you for agreeing all what have been discussed here including employment contracts for the journalists,” Abdurashid Abikar told the conference participants, “The Government should carry out urgent and independent investigations into the murders of the journalists, we can not tolerate the ongoing impunity to continue.”

The media executives attended the conference include Maanta Radio,  Universal TV, Horn Caple TV, Kulmiye Radio, Dalsan Radio, Somali zat TV,  Risaala Radio, Xamar VOD radio, Mustaqbal Radio, Simba Radio, Danan Radio,  Benadir Radio, Jubba Radio, Royal 24 TV, Goal FM Radio, Simba Radio, Somalitalk.com, Raxanreeb.com  Xogdoon daily news paper, among others.

In the meantime, the conference applauded for the adoption Somalia’s new constitution that will replace the current Transitional Federal Charter.  The New Constitution provides the basic legal framework for how Somalia will be governed and how fundamental human rights will be guaranteed. It also constitutionally guarantees the existence and value of fundamental rights and freedoms, freedom of association, especially  It guarantees the right of each and every individual, to search for, receive and disseminate information and ideas, and which covers all types of expression and means of communication, including electronic and artistic.

“We welcome the adoption of the new constitution. This new constitution marks a historic milestone achievement, this historic moment justifies the end of the transitional era to a full government.”  Suleiman Sheik Ismail, NUSOJ Supreme Council Vice president said, “We will to continue reviews of the Somali Media Law for wider consultation.”

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has been conducting reviews related to the Somali media law and plans to hold further reviews seeking wider consultation from the media stakeholders which will finally be put into practice.

On April 4, 2012, NUSOJ conducted a workshop on the Media law which concerned media stakeholders were invited and plans to hold further consultative meetings and until the media law is fully reviewed.

 RBC Radio