Somalia 
Somali transitional govt adopts harsh press law

afrol News, 4 October - The Mogadishu-based Transitional National Government (TNG) has approved a new press law that bans publication or broadcast of anything that goes against the "common interests" of the country, without defining what that is. The TNG is only in control of Mogadishu, which however houses most of Somalia's independent press.

All of Somalia's privately-owned media (about 20 newspapers, a dozen radio and TV stations and several Internet websites) began a strike on 2 October to protest against the new law, which was passed on 28 September. They said they would no longer report official press releases if the government did not give way. All Mogadishu radio stations today remained off the air and none of the six daily papers were published.

The new law adapted by the Mogadishu Parliament bans publication or broadcast of information on government secrets and criticism of government officials. Media who contravene the measure risk withdrawal of their operating licences. Information Minister Abdulrahman Ibi said the new law aims to "reorganise and regulate" the media. 

The President of the Mogadishu TNG government, Abdiqassim Salad Hassan, however so far has declined to sign the controversial media law. According to UN reports from Somalis, he has set up a committee of lawyers, journalists and senior officials to meet with the journalists "and address their grievances".

Journalist Muhammad Haji Ingriis of the daily 'Ayaamaha' newspaper told the UN agency IRIN that the Somali press law would "be one of the most draconian press laws in the world." He however "welcomed" the President's intervention, although he thought the damage had already "been done to the relationship between the press and the TNG."

The Somali press law has also caused protest from outside. The Paris-based Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) - a group protecting press freedom worldwide - has sent a letter of protest to TNG President Abdiqassim. "The authorities say the new law is to deal with the excesses of some media, but the measure threatens the entire press," said RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard in the letter. 

- In a country in the process of wholesale reconstruction such as Somalia, the authorities must emphatically encourage the growth of a free, diverse and independent media instead of trying to clamp down on it, Mr Ménard added. The group holds the law would "curb the freedom of journalists to do their job."

Press freedom has experienced a positive development in war-torn Mogadishu despite the constant threat to journalists' lives from the many armed groups. A relatively big private press sector has been able to develop since a relative peace was introduced with the TNG in August 2000. 

Increased fighting and bloodshed in Mogadishu has however complicated the work of the press. Journalists are allowed to wear bullet-proof jackets in Somalia, even though a UN arms embargo prohibits the export of this type of equipment to the country. Outside Mogadishu, where warring clans are in control, independent media are almost non-existent.

The situation is very different in the north-western breakaway state Somaliland, where peace and stability is observed. In late May 2001, Somaliland in the north-west celebrated the tenth anniversary of its self-proclaimed independence and adopted its first constitution by referendum. About ten newspapers exist here, but press freedom is limited by the government. Here, local authorities control the broadcast media and the written press is obliged to censor itself for fear of reprisals.

Sources: Based on UN sources and afrol archives

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