Public Release: Somaliland-018
We,
the undersigned pro-democracy movements in Somaliland, comprising of
independent civil society networks and umbrellas ranging from human rights
defenders and minority rights lobbyists, the disabled people’s activists, wish
to present our findings and position on the dispute between the Government of
Somaliland and pravite owned Haatuf Media Network (HMN).
Seven
years ago when the Somaliland security forces rounded up the owner of HMN, the
editor-in-chief of Haatuf Somali newspaper, Ali Abdi Diini, and the HMN Awdal
correspondent, Mohamed Omer, the Horn Watch organizations spared no effort to
stand by them and pressure the government to unconditionally release them. The
Organizations, at the same time, succeeded to spirit away to safety a fourth
suspect on the government list, Mohamed Rashid, finding him asylum and living
means in the neighboring country of Ethiopia.
In
2007, the Somaliland impartial human rights defenders were fully satisfied that
HMN was responsibly dispensing its media commitment honestly and to the letter,
and that the corruption scandals they exposed had no ulterior motives and was
in line with their exercise of independent media obligations in a democratic,
pluralistic society.
Today,
HMN and its owner have not earned the unequivocal support of the Somaliland
human rights defenders and pro-democracy activists. Following a comprehensive
investigation we carried out to identify the bases of the dispute between HMN
and the government, we found out that the owner of HMN used the media
facilities under his disposal for personal gains which is a clear departure
from the principles and obligations governing the protection of freedom of
expression thus understandably losing the unstinted support of local human
rights groups.
Unfortunately,
it has become clear to pro-democratic movements in Somaliland, following its
in-depth investigation of the matter from all possible angles, that the current
disagreement between the government of Somaliland and HMN was borne from a sustained
defamatory coverage against Somaliland Minister of Energy and Minerals as
retaliation for a perceived opposition to an expressions of interest that the
HMN owner and his brother-in-law, Mr. Yussuf Abdullahi Omar, submitted to the
government which according the Somaliland Ministry of Energy and Minerals did
not measure up to government standards required for active involvement pertaining
to the grant of concessions to petroleum exploration blocks. The principal
company, Boule Mining Group[i], through a letter signed
by one Audrey Richardson, “Corporate Secretary”, appointed Mr. Omar, to submit an Expression of Interest to
secure Petroleum Exploration and Development Licenses within Somaliland[ii] to the Ministry
of Energy and Mineral Resources on their behalf. The communication between the
Ministry, on one side, and the appointee with the owner of HMN, Mr. Yussuf
Abdullahi Gaboobe, was confirmed to the human rights investigators by respectful
individuals who tried to arbitrate the issue on behalf of HMN owner and his
brother-in-law.
Following
the rejection of the aforementioned Expression of Interest by the Ministry on
technical grounds, the HMN owner started to continuously and intentionally
publish highly defamatory material and slander against the Somaliland Minister
for Minerals which grossly violated his constitutional rights without a shred
of evidence accompanying it. The HMN coverage had the potential to yet have
catastrophic consequences on the newly introduced natural resources exploration
programs and their exploitation.
It
is noteworthy that not a single other newspaper has taken up the HMN hue and
cry of the past five months.
The
rest of the independent media in Somaliland are of the belief that the HMN
owner largely sided with the government protecting own personal interests.
Getting
actively involved in business and broker-ship relating to the oil exploration
initiatives in Somaliland, attests to the fact that the HMN and its owner have turned
their backs on the impartiality and objectivity associated with independent
media and the constitutional exercise of
a freedom of expression.
The
Somaliland human rights defenders are gravely concerned that the owner of
Haatuf Media Network can use his resources for personal vendetta tools which
can set a highly questionable example for the more impressionable ranks
presently practicing journalism in Somaliland.
On
the same token, the Somaliland human rights defenders are equally disturbed
that some of newly established human rights and media organizations are
deliberately covering up actual facts surrounding this issue from the public
obviously fulfilling agendas of their own.
In
conclusion, we, the pro-democratic and human rights movements in Somaliland,
believe that the HMN case can be tried in a civil court. Prior to this, we urge
the government to lift the ban from HMN on condition that it acts responsibly
and with propriety within the realms of the rights set forth by the
Constitution of Somaliland.
On
a similar vein, we ask the residents of areas where the oil exploration affects
not to claim sole proprietorship of consequent resources and to see the
programs on their true, national perspective.
It
is clear, that the current Somaliland media law is not sufficient mechanisms to
guarantee adherence to professional standards and principles. Most important, Somaliland
media industry needs policy and regulation upgrades, which can further develop
their professionalism, independence and ethics.
Somaliland
journalists is not expected to solicit financial satisfaction or personal
interest as a precondition for publishing a story. It is also advised that
journalists should strive to employ honest and genuine means gathering
information. Although, where public interest is at stake, media practitioners
should go the extra mile to obtain information. And apart from educating the
people, the press has another social responsibility that of promoting human rights, democracy and
peace. This is what the Somaliland press should address in this era of
security threat and terrorism turmoil in Horn of African region.
Somaliland
Pro-democratic and human rights groups strongly advise the Somaliland
government to submit all oil and minerals exploration agreements with foreign firms,
to parliament for ratification in order to foster an environment of transparency,
unity and cooperation on national issues.
Furthermore, we call on the Somaliland government to uphold the
Declaration of the Human Environment adopted by the Stockholm Conference stated
in part that:
“The natural resources
of the earth must be safeguarded for the benefit of present and future generations through careful planning or
management, and that the capacity of the earth to produce vital renewable
resources must be maintained and wherever practicable, restored or improved.”
We
call all Somaliland stakeholders on all matters relating to national resources,
to jointly create an environment in which all Somaliland citizens get the profit
underlying the country’s oil and minerals exploration and development projects
in an equal manner.
All interest
individuals/institutions for detailed information about this case can contact:
xuquuq@gmail.com, hornwatch@yahoo.com, Tel. +252-63-5147777.
Suleiman ismail Bolaleh
Speaker of Somaliland Pro-democratic
Movements
Organizations
Endorsed This Position Letter
-
Horn of Africa Human
Rights Watch Committee (HORNWATCH) Hargeisa
-
Somali Rights Watch Hargeisa Togdheer
region
-
Saaxil Handicap
Organisation (SHO) Saaxil region
-
ALXANAAN women
organization Saaxil region
-
VAYS Youth
Organization Saaxil region
-
BILAN Women
Organisation Saaxil region
-
Disability Children
Association Hargeisa region
-
Laas-anod Youth Voluntary
Organization LAYVO Sool region
-
Las-anod Handicap
Association in Sool region
-
Muruq iyo Maskax
Women Umbrella Saaxil region
-
AL Ixsaan Development
Organization Hargeisa region
-
Non State Actors Nationwide
-
Daami Youth
Organization (DYdO) Hargeisa region
-
Network for Disabled
Persons Nationwide
-
Young Minority Women
Activists Awdal, Togdher, Saaxil
& Mordijeex
-
Displaced Community
Concerns Awdal region
-
Center of Research
& International Studies Hargeisa
-
Barwaaqo Farmers
Union Gabiley
-
Social Walfere Organization
Hargeisa
-
Human Rights Monitors
Volunteers Hargeisa
-
Welfare Tumaal
Organization (WAAB) Gabiley
-
Tumaal Development
Foundation (TDF) Awdal
-
Women Minority
Organization (ISIR) Awdal
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