Somaliland:The fail to recall- Private owned Radios Stations

[Deeq A.]

The one constitution granted, the one I yearned for most, the one I wish to hear news is still off-air, the radio podcast. So, am I deaf?.

Let me refer back to childhood years of 1990s, I & my schoolmate were used to enjoy listening radio programs that Somali BBC podcasted in afternoon & evening shifts daily. Having radio broadcast were worth enough opportunity to educate, entertain and inform ourselves & community at large about surrounding atmosphere. Really, It was bizarre to learn how to debate, analyze on matter of new bulletin. The correspondents were professional, responsible, ethical and editorial then produced an efficient programs that people appreciate to hear.

As oral society who did not write & read but narrate stories & literature is good enough to get hold radios podcast. Podcast is place were media starts up as well as produce a certified playwright, analyzer, researcher about the programs before distributed and disseminated to air it.

Today, people are witnessed that government arrests to those are accountable media outlets especially TV, Journals & webpages with respect to their one-sided, not balanced, not authentic varied or reliable to it.  

Once more, the constitution granted at Article 32: Freedom of Public Demonstration, Expression of Opinion, Press and other Media 1. Every citizen shall have the freedom, in accordance with the law, to express his opinions orally, visually, artistically or in writing or in any other way.

As a citizen who have right to have & access full of information about the situational context of the county and neither access television nor read news bulleting. At the same time willing to keep up-to-date on the trends of the country have a sense of hearing radio podcast.

Yet again, a ministerial degree was placed out 04/06/2002 to outlaw operating private owned radio station where the only radio available is unable to reach me at my settlement. The degree banned was written “the importation & operation of privately owned radio stations:- the decree referred to the fact that the press law was at that time not yet completed and that there was no law then to regulate broadcasting, but sees now the Press Law “. 

In the present day, if radio stations are allowed to operate country it will promote and develop socioeconomic growth, it will enhance enrollment in school, peace coexistence, and awareness raising, self-reliance and job creation. For schooling it will help parents to encourage importance of education through drama messages.

Lastly, I am appealing the house of representative, Elder and executive council to review back and lift the ban imposed to radio podcasts.      

Regards

Adam Ahmed Adam

An economist and columnist based in Erigavo, Sanaag