This morning, representatives and owners of three Mogadishu FM stations met with senior officials of the Somali National Security Department, who presented several articles regarding what reports the free media based in the Somali capital should or should not broadcast. General Nour Mohammed Mohmoud (Nour Shirbow), the deputy commander of the Somali National Security Department, who chaired the meeting, read the following articles to the representatives:
- You cannot report about the Somali government and Ethiopian military operations in the capital as they are considered top secret.
- You cannot report about the civilian population fleeing the city under any circumstances.
- The remnants of the Islamic Courts Union are directly responsible for the explosions and violence in the capital Mogadishu.
- As there is an emergency state in place in Somalia generally, there is no so called freedom of expression.
- The government will nominate editors for these three radio stations and they must cooperate with our agents.
The government blamed these radio stations for overstating the situation in the capital and airing voices from the people in Mogadishu who always accuse the government and Ethiopian troops for shelling at residential areas when attacked with mortars by unknown gunmen.
On January 15, the three FM stations, Shabelle Media Network, Horn Afrik, and IQK were ordered to shut down after the Somali national security department issued a decree. The ban was lifted 24 hours later as their managements were warned about their programmes.
The restrictions on the free media in Somalia come after the interim parliament approved a three month martial law in the country on 31 January when the government vowed it would restore peace and security to the country. The radio managements demanded a written statement concerning the laws from General Shirbow, who promised that a decree form Somalia’s Information Ministry would be delivered to them.
(Source: Shabelle Media Network)
