| Somali
News |
||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Albany continues to support journalists and press freedom in Somalia Mogadishu Arbaco 24 October 2012 SMC
Albany continues to support journalists and press freedom in Somalia Dear Mr Boumelha, Albany is saddened to see a further round of untruthful allegations concerning employment conditions in Radio Bar Kulan in Nairobi (“Global Petition: UN urged to end “labour rights violations at Radio Bar Kulan”, October 22nd, 2012). The statement passed from the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) to the UN makes numerous inaccurate comments about Radio Bar Kulan (RBK), Albany Associates and the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ). We regret that the IFJ has neither checked the facts in this case, nor approached us for information. This is unfortunate in an organisation committed to upholding high standards of journalism. Albany is proud to have helped establish RBK as a beacon of press freedom and responsible reporting on the Somali press landscape. Amidst the most difficult circumstances imaginable, RBK journalists have played a critical role reporting recent events in Somalia. We are equally proud of our record managing RBK and its stable of brave journalists who have risked their lives reporting in Somalia. We categorically refute all allegations of abusing employment rights and intimidating journalists and can state that the conditions of work for RBK employees are among, if not, the best of any Somali media. Although our record speaks for itself, we are pleased to note that the Somali government has recently praised RBK for its performance in this respect. Writing to the UN on 17th October 2012, Mahmoud Jirde Hussein, the Somali minister of labour, expressed his concern about the “repeated and false allegations against Radio Bar Kulan” and stated he was “fully satisfied… [that] Radio Bar Kulan treats its employees with dignity and respect”. RBK, the minister wrote, is “the only radio station in Somalia that has an international standard of labour rights”. The minister also regretted the actions of “former NUSOJ representative” Mr Omar Farouk who, despite having “no legitimacy to make such accusations”, claims to represent NUSOJ in Somalia. Determining the leadership of a national institution is not a decision for Albany. It is a matter of national law. In the case of NUSOJ this was determined in an official decision by the Somali government’s Attorney General of February 6th 2012, in which Mr Mohammed Ibrahim was recognised as its secretary-general. This has subsequently been confirmed by the ministries of labour and information in Mogadishu. Taking our lead from the Somali government, Albany recognises Mr Ibrahim’s leadership of NUSOJ. Albany has repeatedly sought meetings with Mr Farouk to discuss all the issues he has raised but these approaches have been rebuffed at every turn. We have also requested the IFJ to facilitate a meeting with Mr Farouk to address this situation but again we have not received an answer. We repeat our invitation for the IFJ to send an independent observer to verify the conditions under which RBK journalists work. The facts on the ground must count for more than repeated false allegations. Albany is pleased to report that from November 2nd, in line with its remit to build RBK as a pillar of public sector broadcasting in Somalia, the company will be handing over full control of the station to RBK’s own management. RBK will have its own charter that defines its editorial independence and governance. RBK and its journalists have already played a pivotal and inspirational role informing and entertaining the Somali public during an extraordinary period of the country’s transition towards a more hopeful future. We now wish it every success as it embarks confidently on a new era. ENDS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Simon Haselock Director E: simon@albanyassociates.com M: +44 7921 769 267 Web Updating, Somaliweyn Website
Somaliweyn Media Center (SMC)
Somaliweyn Media Center (SMC)
|
