Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS)
Sunday June 9, 2019
Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) condemns the act of shooting,
threats to kill and harassment by Somali military soldiers against Radio
Kulmiye reporter and producer Hussein Abdulle Mohamed (known as Hussein
Gurmad) in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu on Sunday 9 June, 2019.
Around
9.15am local time on Sunday, bodyguards of General Saney Abdulle Gaab
smashed the journalist’s private car’s sidebar mirror at a security
checkpoint at Hawo Tako area, near the Villa Somalia Palace.
The journalist was at that time heading to his work from home, according to Radio Kulmiye and the journalist himself.
“I
was waiting my turn at the security checkpoint when General Saney’s
soldiers on a military pick-up arrived. They smashed my car’s sidebar
mirror and kicked it. When I complained and showed my journalism ID
card, two soldiers came down from the pick-up, kicked me and threatened
to kill me as they drove in speed,” journalist Hussein told SJS.
After
the incident, the journalist drove to a next checkpoint to complain to
the officers there but General Saney’s soldiers shot four bullets on the
journalist’s car which luckily did not hurt outside the Parliament
(People’s House) Building.
According to the journalist and his
editor, Abdiqani Abdullahi Ibrahim, the soldiers were even more
aggressive after realizing Hussein was a journalist.
“When we
heard the incident we have tried to reach to the relevant authorities
but no action was taken until now,” editor Ibrahim added.
Editor
Ibrahim told SJS that journalist Hussein had previously being threatened
by military officers including General Saney’s soldiers.
On
April 11, at the same checkpoint, military soldiers attached to General
Odawa Yusuf Rage, the commander of Infantry Forces hit journalist
Hussein with guns and threatened to kill as the journalist was driving
to his radio station.
When the journalist attempted to complain
against the April 11 incident, he was not successful and was even
discouraged to file any official complaint for fear of repercussion,
both the journalist and his editor told SJS.
“Somali Journalists
Syndicate (SJS) vehemently condemns the acts of shooting and threats to
kill and harassment against our colleague. It’s unacceptable and against
the laws of the country to harass and threaten to kill a journalist.”
SJS said,
“The military and police officers should not be above
the law. The government should investigate officers who were responsible
for today’s incident against journalist Hussein and bring them to
book.” SJS added.
Since the start of this year, Radio Kulmiye has
faced several cases of threats and detention against its journalists
and their equipment confiscated by government security forces.
On
May 22, security forces at Daljirka security checkpoint shot at, beat
up and briefly detained a journalist and a cameraperson from Radio
Kulmiye while on a reporting mission.