Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NAIROBI998
2009-05-15 14:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Nairobi
Cable title:
SOMALIA - MAY 3 DISSOLUTION OF NATIONAL MEDIA
how-toVZCZCXRO5558 OO RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO DE RUEHNR #0998 1351421 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 151421Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9564 INFO RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA IMMEDIATE RUZEFAA/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE IMMEDIATE RUZEFAA/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE IMMEDIATE RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS NAIROBI 000998
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/S CARSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM KPAO SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA - MAY 3 DISSOLUTION OF NATIONAL MEDIA
COUNCIL
REF: NAIROBI 623
-------
Summary
-------
UNCLAS NAIROBI 000998
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/S CARSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM KPAO SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA - MAY 3 DISSOLUTION OF NATIONAL MEDIA
COUNCIL
REF: NAIROBI 623
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) On May 3, ironically World Press Freedom Day, the
Transitional Federal Government's (TFG) Minister of
Information abruptly dissolved Somalia's National Media
Council (NMC),charged with advocating for journalists in the
development of Somalia's media law. The Minister told us the
NMC "existed only in name and has been out of touch" and
noted that the group had never been approved by the President
of the TFG (reftel). The NMC issued a statement protesting
the move, while journalists appear divided on the issue. End
summary.
--------------
Media Group Dissolved
on Press Freedom Day
--------------
2. (SBU) Farahan Ali Mohamed, the Transitional Federal
Government's (TFG) new Minister of Information, dissolved the
National Media Council (NMC) during a May 3 event
commemorating World Press Freedom Day. The NMC had been
charged with advocating for journalists during the
development of Somalia's media law (reftel). Mohamed told us
he dissolved the NMC, an advocacy association formed as
called for in the draft media law, because it "existed only
in name and has been out of touch" and noted that the group
had never been approved by the President. Journalist
associations including the Associated Somali Journalists
(ASOJ) and the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ)
commended the move, stating that the NMC had been usurped by
journalists promoting their own agendas at the expense of
Somali journalists at large. The minister told us he intends
to redraft the media law entirely, and the dissolution of the
NMC was simply a "precursor" to that effort.
3. (SBU) The NMC issued its own statement, claiming that the
dissolution was "illegal" and represented the government's
interference in an independent organization. The group
claimed the minister interfered with Article 19 of the
Transitional Federal Charter (TFC) in dissolving the NMC.
(Note: Article 19 refers to the right to assemble. End note.)
--------------
Comment
--------------
4. (SBU) We inquired with Mohamed immediately upon hearing
this news, and he replied immediately with remarks very
similar to those in the statements by ASOJ and NUSOJ. While
we are not certain of the groups' involvement in the
dissolution of the NMC, the disagreement among journalist
groups is perhaps another reflection of the often disparate
agendas of journalist associations, which disagree, fracture,
and reinvent themselves on a regular basis. We will engage
thQinister, who is planning to pass through Nairobi soon,
very directly on this issue, emphasizing the importance we
place on a free and vibrant press as part of Somalia's
rebuilding process. End comment.
RANNEBERGER
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/S CARSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM KPAO SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA - MAY 3 DISSOLUTION OF NATIONAL MEDIA
COUNCIL
REF: NAIROBI 623
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) On May 3, ironically World Press Freedom Day, the
Transitional Federal Government's (TFG) Minister of
Information abruptly dissolved Somalia's National Media
Council (NMC),charged with advocating for journalists in the
development of Somalia's media law. The Minister told us the
NMC "existed only in name and has been out of touch" and
noted that the group had never been approved by the President
of the TFG (reftel). The NMC issued a statement protesting
the move, while journalists appear divided on the issue. End
summary.
--------------
Media Group Dissolved
on Press Freedom Day
--------------
2. (SBU) Farahan Ali Mohamed, the Transitional Federal
Government's (TFG) new Minister of Information, dissolved the
National Media Council (NMC) during a May 3 event
commemorating World Press Freedom Day. The NMC had been
charged with advocating for journalists during the
development of Somalia's media law (reftel). Mohamed told us
he dissolved the NMC, an advocacy association formed as
called for in the draft media law, because it "existed only
in name and has been out of touch" and noted that the group
had never been approved by the President. Journalist
associations including the Associated Somali Journalists
(ASOJ) and the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ)
commended the move, stating that the NMC had been usurped by
journalists promoting their own agendas at the expense of
Somali journalists at large. The minister told us he intends
to redraft the media law entirely, and the dissolution of the
NMC was simply a "precursor" to that effort.
3. (SBU) The NMC issued its own statement, claiming that the
dissolution was "illegal" and represented the government's
interference in an independent organization. The group
claimed the minister interfered with Article 19 of the
Transitional Federal Charter (TFC) in dissolving the NMC.
(Note: Article 19 refers to the right to assemble. End note.)
--------------
Comment
--------------
4. (SBU) We inquired with Mohamed immediately upon hearing
this news, and he replied immediately with remarks very
similar to those in the statements by ASOJ and NUSOJ. While
we are not certain of the groups' involvement in the
dissolution of the NMC, the disagreement among journalist
groups is perhaps another reflection of the often disparate
agendas of journalist associations, which disagree, fracture,
and reinvent themselves on a regular basis. We will engage
thQinister, who is planning to pass through Nairobi soon,
very directly on this issue, emphasizing the importance we
place on a free and vibrant press as part of Somalia's
rebuilding process. End comment.
RANNEBERGER