Universal TV crew freed after being held for six weeks

Reporters Without Borders welcomes the release of three members of a TV crew working for privately-owned Universal TV - producer Abdulkader “Nadara” Ashir, reporter Bashir Dirie Nalei and cameraman Hamud Mohammed Osman - who were arrested while covering a news conference on 8 April. After questioning them about their work, a Mogadishu court today decided they did nothing wrong and ordered their release. --------------------------------- 10.04.2007 - TV crew arrested by order of presidential official Reporters Without Borders expressed concern today about press freedom in Somalia after a presidential spokesman ordered the arrest of a TV crew and the authorities in Puntland, a stronghold of President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, banned journalists from holding professional meetings without permission. “Security problems and the risk of regional destabilisation must not be used as an excuse to settle scores,” the worldwide press freeedom organisation said. “The president's mission is to lead his country towards democracy, but the behaviour of his aides and supporters continues to undermine the rights of journalists to operate freely. Keeping public order means that a TV crew ilegally arrested must be freed and the repressive ban in Puntland lifted.” Abdulkadir Ashir "Nadara," head of the privately-owned TV station Universal TV, journalist Bashir Dirie Nalei and cameraman Hamud Mohammed Osman were arrested on 8 April at Mogadishu airport and have been held since then, according to National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), a partner organisation of Reporters Without Borders. The three journalists had covered a press conference by the president, during which "Nadara" had asked him about favouritism in his choice of officials. An angry presidential spokesman called the question “the language of terrorists” and the three journalists were arrested by soldiers. The Puntland information, telecommunications, culture and tourism ministry on 28 March banned all unauthorised conferences, lectures and public events about media matters, as well as creation of media associations. A copy of the order was sent to all government ministries, local and foreign NGOs, UN agencies and the presidential palace. Before being elected Somali president by the country's transitional parliament in October 2004, President Yusuf was president of Puntland, whose authorities are still loyal to him.