Somali Government Detains Record Number of Journalists
2020-01-08
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1A media organization in Somalia reported last week that Somali government forces beat and detained a record number of journalists last year.
2That information left some people wondering if the government is restricting investigation of its security record before elections later this year.
3For years, the militant group al Shabaab was accused of targeting Somali journalists.
4The number of killings has decreased, although two journalists were among those killed in a bombing last year.
5State security forces detained 38 journalists in Somalia in 2019.
6That information comes from Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, secretary general of the Somali Journalists Syndicate.
7He says most were detained while reporting on bombings or militant attacks.
8Some media workers were reporting on corruption.
9"The government is not allowing journalists to report," Mumin said. Officials rarely report the number of victims from incidents like a recent truck bombing, which killed around 90 people.
10Mumin's report says that in most cases, detained journalists are not charged and are released after hours or days.
11Last year, 37 journalists were beaten, shot at or threatened at gunpoint in Somalia, mostly by state security forces, the report said.
12Somalia's police spokeswoman, the interior minister and information ministry spokesman did not answer requests for comment.
13There is no public database of attacks and bombings in Somalia.
14The country's citizens usually hear about attacks through the media.
15However, while the size of bombings is increasing, journalists say news coverage is decreasing.
16Farhan Mohamed Hussein is a reporter for Radio Kulmiye, a privately owned station.
17Hussein said he was arrested three times last year and twice the year before.
18Once police blindfolded him and beat him with their guns, he said. Another time, they destroyed his camera.
19Hussein added, "Many people see you as an enemy when they see you have a camera.
20Reporters are victims of the government which was supposed to work with them..."
21He also said that journalists have been banned from parliament and ignored by spokesmen who only release official statements on social media.
22Abdalle Ahmed Mumin confirmed the ban.
23He added that the upper legislature is considering a bill to further restrict media freedom.
24Nimco Mohamed Bashir is director of the privately owned Rajo Television Network.
25She said the government restricts reporting in a way that political killings never had.
26Bashir said that government officials "openly tell you 'no covering stories of blasts.'"
27After she reported news of one bombing on Facebook, she said, police came to her home to arrest her and threatened her family.
28Aamin Ambulance is often the only source about deaths or injuries from militant attacks.
29Doctor Abdikadir Aden is the head of the privately run service.
30He told the Reuters news agency that in April, government officials asked the service to stop releasing numbers of dead and wounded.
31Aden noted that the government also tried to restrict emergency medical vehicles from explosion sites.
32Government officials did not answer Reuters' requests for comment.
33I'm Jonathan Evans.
1A media organization in Somalia reported last week that Somali government forces beat and detained a record number of journalists last year. That information left some people wondering if the government is restricting investigation of its security record before elections later this year. 2For years, the militant group al Shabaab was accused of targeting Somali journalists. The number of killings has decreased, although two journalists were among those killed in a bombing last year. Now media say they face a new danger: government forces. 3State security forces detained 38 journalists in Somalia in 2019. That information comes from Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, secretary general of the Somali Journalists Syndicate. He says most were detained while reporting on bombings or militant attacks. Some media workers were reporting on corruption. 4"The government is not allowing journalists to report," Mumin said. Officials rarely report the number of victims from incidents like a recent truck bombing, which killed around 90 people. 5Mumin's report says that in most cases, detained journalists are not charged and are released after hours or days. 6Last year, 37 journalists were beaten, shot at or threatened at gunpoint in Somalia, mostly by state security forces, the report said. 7Somalia's police spokeswoman, the interior minister and information ministry spokesman did not answer requests for comment. 8Suppression of information 9There is no public database of attacks and bombings in Somalia. The country's citizens usually hear about attacks through the media. However, while the size of bombings is increasing, journalists say news coverage is decreasing. 10Farhan Mohamed Hussein is a reporter for Radio Kulmiye, a privately owned station. Hussein said he was arrested three times last year and twice the year before. Once police blindfolded him and beat him with their guns, he said. Another time, they destroyed his camera. 11Hussein added, "Many people see you as an enemy when they see you have a camera. Reporters are victims of the government which was supposed to work with them..." 12He also said that journalists have been banned from parliament and ignored by spokesmen who only release official statements on social media. 13Abdalle Ahmed Mumin confirmed the ban. He added that the upper legislature is considering a bill to further restrict media freedom. 14Nimco Mohamed Bashir is director of the privately owned Rajo Television Network. She said the government restricts reporting in a way that political killings never had. 15Bashir said that government officials "openly tell you 'no covering stories of blasts.'" After she reported news of one bombing on Facebook, she said, police came to her home to arrest her and threatened her family. 16Aamin Ambulance is often the only source about deaths or injuries from militant attacks. Doctor Abdikadir Aden is the head of the privately run service. He told the Reuters news agency that in April, government officials asked the service to stop releasing numbers of dead and wounded. Aden noted that the government also tried to restrict emergency medical vehicles from explosion sites. 17Government officials did not answer Reuters' requests for comment. 18I'm Jonathan Evans. 19Katharine Houreld reported this story for the Reuters news agency. Jonathan Evans adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 20________________________________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22journalist -n. a member of the press; a reporter 23allow - v. to permit something 24blindfolded - adv. with the eyes covered by a piece of cloth 25coverage - n. the activity of reporting about an event or subject in newspapers, on television news programs, etc. 26database - n. a collection of pieces of information that is organized and used on a computer 27(at) gunpoint - n. under a threat of death by being shot