Puntland Suspends Broadcast Journalist

Puntland Suspends Broadcast Journalist

MOGADISHU, August 11, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ --

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemns the suspension from work of Mr Nuh Muse Birjeb, a journalist working with the Voice of America (VOA) ? Somali Service who is at the same the correspondent for Universal TV in Puntland regions.

?Suspension of a journalist who is merely carrying out his media work is a breach of press freedom. We understand that this is the height of a series of intimidations and scrutiny against Nuh Muse. Such action is tantamount to open subjugation of the journalist's freedom,? said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General

Puntland Ministry of Information, Telecommunication and Culture issued a letter on 10 August 2010 to the journalist in which the Ministry ordered that his work was suspended. The letter did not give the reason behind the suspension.

However, journalists in Puntland believe the decision to suspend the journalist came from the top leadership of the administration, including the Puntand Presidency. Journalists believe Nuh Muse has been enduring a series of repression and intimidation from senior officials of Puntland who, according to journalists, could not tolerate his news reports, though it is not clear where the reports that instigated the suspension were broadcasted.

?Authorities have failed to present credible and acceptable justifications for suspending Nuh Muse. There was no abuse of journalistic principles on the part of the journalist to warrant his suspension. This action, thus, has no legal basis,? Omar Faruk declared.

?We demand the immediate lifting of the suspension, an end to the scrutiny against our colleague and Puntland should allow Nuh Muse to resume his work freely,? he added.

Puntland has been carrying out several repressive actions against journalists working for VOA Somali service. Mohamed Yasin Isak, who was the VOA Correspondent in Galkayo, fled to Kenya in fear of his life after he escaped from several attacks.

Source: The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ)

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