Carafaat Posted January 15, 2012 Somaliland’s government ordered the shut down of the country’s oldest and most popular private television network on Saturday, in a bold violation of its pledges to respect freedom of expression during election campaigns. Reliable sources told Somalilandpress by telephone that police armed with AK-47 assault rifles stormed the marketing and broadcasting offices of Horn Cable TV (HCTV) in the capital around 6:30 P.M. on Saturday. They subsequently ordered the on-duty operators to vacate and immediately took them away– they remain in custody until now. They further declared that the police also apprehended the director of HCTV Mohamed Abdi Sheekh (also known as “Ilig”) and is said to be behind bars now. The closure came after the president blasted the network in his joint session of Parliament address on Saturday in which he accused the TV of spreading false information and propaganda. He said the network was taking the country into a vortex of violence by spreading incitement, hostility and feuds between opposing tribal units. Somalilandpress has learned that Abdullahi Mohamed Dahir, Presidential Spokesman, and Hirsi Ali haji Hasan, Minister for Presidency, jointly ordered the closure of the network. Recently the government launched a massive crackdown against private media outlets in the country — arresting as many as seven in the past week, with three still believed to be in custody without being charged. The New York-based, The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), said it was alarmed by the sweeping arrests and attacks on journalists in the country. “The spate of arrests sends a chilling message to the Somaliland press and demonstrates the government’s intolerance of independent and critical reporting,” said CPJ East Africa Consultant Tom Rhodes. He urged the government to end its brutal crackdown against the press. “Arrest and detention should not be the knee-jerk response of the authorities to reporting. The journalists should be charged or released immediately.” Founded in 2003 in the capital, Hargeisa, HCTV is partly owned by the new disputed candidate leader of the opposition party of United Democratic People’s Party (UDUB), Jamal Ali Hussein. The government mainly targets HCTV and Waaheen newspaper, two private media who have close working relations with the opposition UDUB party. The current crackdown against media is seen as a contradicting move by a government which declared its “commitment to freedom of the press” during election campaigns in mid-2010. It was one the reason Somalilanders cast their vote for President Silanyo’s Kulmiye party. However after just over a year in the helm, it appears the honeymoon between Kulmiye and private media is over. During UDUB rule the media was targeted less Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Garnaqsi Posted January 15, 2012 What's in a name? Siilaanyo laf-dhabar ma leh! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar Posted January 15, 2012 Oh, no more taxanaha Turkishka? Oh, dumar badan Soomaalyeed ayaa bargo' marqaan ku dhacaayo. They loved Turkish musalsal dubbed in Afsoomaali and broadcasted by Horncable each evening. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Che -Guevara Posted January 15, 2012 ^That thing had a grip on Nairobi maryooley. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar Posted January 15, 2012 Haa, xaaji. Nayroobi kaliya ma'aha deegaanada Soomaaliyeed dhan ahayd, xataa Yurub ayuu gaaray. By the way, that popular taxana aad ogeyd oo Nuura la dhahaaye wuu dhamaaday somewhere in summerkii lasoo dhaafaaye. Mid kale Turkish ah ku badaleen Caasi la dhaho oo sidii kii hore loo xiiseynaaye. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Che -Guevara Posted January 15, 2012 ^It was dubbed in horrible Somali though and you had adults crying as babies. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar Posted January 15, 2012 Of course, that is waxaa u sheegi jiray dadka fiirsado. I used to tell them waaba ku lab laboodaa markaa maqlo kuwa hadlaayo. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carafaat Posted January 15, 2012 This isnt about right of house wives to watch turkish soap series. But about free speech. Apparently Dahir Riyaale gave an interview where he said that he left a united country and united folks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Raamsade Posted January 15, 2012 ^It is not the first time that Somaliland admins curtailed freedom of the press and you can bet your bottom dollar it won't be the last time. Horn Cable should relocate to their capital Xamar - the last bastion of freedom in the Somali world. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carafaat Posted January 16, 2012 Mujaahid Dhega-Weyne oo si Kulul Xukuumadda ugu Duray Xadhiga TV-ga HCTV Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NGONGE Posted January 16, 2012 The foolishness of the Siilaanyo government has no limit. What is the point in having a democratic country when the govermnet is so sensetive that it can not stomach bad publicity (or even false reporting)? There is no point to the whole thing is we don't have a free media. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted January 16, 2012 If the government isn't going to stick with the rule of law and due process, why expect the free media to? This is HCTV and it's owner's birthday, eid and may 18 all rolled into one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NGONGE Posted January 16, 2012 ^^ Did someone hack into your name or did you lose your Kulmiye membership card, Norf? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted January 16, 2012 Ninyow I'm scratching my head at whats going on. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carafaat Posted January 16, 2012 Ngonge, i understand Norf. maanta aad ayaan u careesanahay. all my friends of the media got arrested. dont understand, wallahi. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
