21 January 2003
INDEPENDENT BROADCASTER RAIDED
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is drawing attention to press freedom in Somalia this week following news that armed militia acting on the orders of a businessman raided HornAfrik, one of the country's only independent broadcasters, after it aired a news report about a book linking Somali businessmen with terrorism.
The militia forced the technicians and journalists to shut down the station's broadcast and leave the premises. They remained for several hours, and the station reopened only after negotiations, notes IFJ.
Although the situation was resolved peacefully, HornAfrik continues to be under threat from the government, IFJ says, adding the raid may be part of a campaign to shut down the broadcaster.
HornAfrik's journalists have faced constant intimidation and threats in a society with no protection of press freedom, says Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE). Last November, CJFE awarded HornAfrik an International Press Freedom Award for its efforts to pioneer independent reporting in war-torn Somalia.
The broadcaster's call-in programs have become immensely popular across the country, with every one of Somalia's warlords having appeared on its shows, CJFE notes. Prior to HornAfrik's existence, Somalia's radio stations were owned and operated by warlords who used them to spread their own views.
Visit these links:
- CJFE: www.cjfe.org">http://www.cjfe.org/releases/2002/winners-oct03.html">www.cjfe.org
- IFJ: www.ifj.org">http://www.ifj.org/publications/press/pr/424.html">www.ifj.org
- Committee to Protect Journalists: www.cpj.org">http://www.cpj.org/attacks01/africa01/somalia.html">www.cpj.org
- HornAfrik: www.hornafrik.com/">http://www.hornafrik.com/">www.hornafrik.com/
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