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Hiiraan Online
Monday, October 26, 2009
MOGADISHU, 26 Oct (HOL)-In an effort to spread its influence, Somali government has launched a radio station that hired more journalists who stopped their journalism work after experiencing rampant colleagues’ killings and received death threats, minister said.
Information minister Dahir Ghelle says the government was trying to spread the ‘’facts’’ through this radio. Analysts say the radio that looks impartial may improve lost freedom of expression and has taken critical voices to the airwaves.
‘’The radio will be airing impartial news not what the govt likes to says’’ Ghelle tells HOL in the studio of the radio as some local well-known journalists were invited to work for it.
The journalists at Mogadishu Radio were allowed to air any investigated facts, according to Ghelle.
A brief browsing about their operation, I could listen, the newscasters airing stories on alleged prosecutions by the insurgents including arresting women for not wearing Kaki wimples, the only sign that all journalists can’t do.
Before joining the government’s run radio, these journalists were being constantly harassed and badgered by unidentified groups; their new job looks safe for them since they are under the government and
peacekeepers’ protection.
‘’ We air impartial news, that is our policy’’ the radio editor Abdirahman Yusuf tells HOL.
Somalia is one of the world's most dangerous countries for journalists. Journalists have been targeted and their media houses have been routinely shut down by the authorities and many reporters, Somali and foreign, have been kidnapped by armed groups.