Harassment of journalists continues in Somaliland with two arrested and one beaten

Reporters Without Borders calls for the immediate release of two journalists employed by Radio Horyaal, an independent station based in Hargeisa, the capital of the breakaway northwestern territory of Somaliland. They are Fowsi Suleyman Awbindi, held since 30 July, and Yasin Jama Ali, a website editor and Radio Horyaal stringer, who has been held since 13 August. The press freedom organisation is also worried about the condition of freelance journalist Ali Adan Dahir, who was attacked and badly beaten in Somaliland on 17 August. “Within three days of the release of Radio Horyaal journalists Ahmed Saleyman Dhuhul and Sayid Osman Mire, two other journalists working for the same station were in detention,” Reporters Without Borders said. “We urge the Somaliland authorities to put a stop to this harassment by freeing them and by recognising the legality of independent radio stations.” The press freedom organisation added: “Meanwhile, the release of Ali Adan Dahir’s four assailants is a real bonus for impunity.” Yasin Jama Ali was arrested on 13 August in the port city of Berbera, 125 km northeast of Hargeisa, because of comments about Somaliland’s coming elections that readers posted on Berberanews.com, the website he edits. The Berbera authorities accused him of spreading “scandals against the nation.” Awbindi was arrested in Buro, 155 km east of Hargeisa, on 30 July for sending a “false report” to Radio Horyaal. He is still being held in the Buro police station. The governor of Erigabo, 250 km east of Hargeisa, yesterday ordered the release of the four armed men who had given Dahir a severe beating the day before for unknown reasons. The Somaliland authorities adopted a law in June 2002 that outlaws independent radio stations. The region, which unilaterally declared independence in 1991, is preparing to hold a presidential election on 27 September.