IPS-English MEDIA-SOMALIA: Suspected concerted drive against journalists
 
Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:01:21 -0700

 

Att.Editors: The following item is from the Emirates News Agency (WAM)

DUBAI, Oct. 22 (WAM) - There is little doubt that there is a concerted
drive against journalists in Somalia, with at least eight media personnel
having been murdered there this year, said the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
‘Gulf Today’ daily in its editorial today.

Attacks on journalists, wherever and for whatever reason, are not
acceptable, opined the Dubai-based paper.

   Such attacks in Iraq, which has proved to be the deadliest place for
journalists, or in Somalia, send a clear message that everyone who works
with the media is risking his or her life, it said.

   "There is no sense in hoping that whoever is behind the killing of
journalists in Somalia (or in Iraq for that matter) would listen to the
indignant local and international appeals for respecting journalists and
refrain from harming them." 

   The paper said the government in Mogadishu is accused of having taken a
low-profile approach to the killings of journalists. (WAM)
                    (WAM)