Somaliland Authorities Arrest 3 Journalists

Somaliland Authorities arrest 3 Journalists in Las-Anod for Attending Rival regional State Conference

MOGADISHU, Somalia, April 21, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemns in the strongest terms possible the act of suppression, arbitrary arrests, threats and intimidations against the media by the Somaliland authorities, following the arbitrary arrests of three journalists in the disputed town of Las-Anod town, the latest in a string of violence against the journalists and the media in Somaliland.

Somaliland police arrested Abdiqani Goox, a correspondent of a privately owned Somalisat Television based in London and two freelances namely Ali Yusuf Ahmed and Abdirashid Aideed on Sunday 20 April, 2014 at the disputed town of Las-Anod, local media reported.

According to deputy police commissioner of Las-Anod, Ahmed Abdi Gelle told the local media that the journalists were arrested for attending a rival conference that threats its peace and security.

The Secretary general of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim called on the Somaliland authorities to stop the media crackdown it is currently undertaking and expressed his outrage against the arrests of the three journalists and demanded their unconditional release.

On 07 April, 2014, Somaliland police stormed the offices of Haatuf newspaper in Hargeysa, following the orders of the regional court – after the newspaper published a series of articles accusing senior officials of corruption allegations.

In February, Somaliland Authorities suspended the operations of the privately owned Universal Television, after accusing the television for insulting its president. Police raided and closed indefinitely the daily Hubaal on December 13 following a court order that claimed the publication promoted insecurity in the nation. Both newspapers are still shut down.

ENDS

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