ciaternalists aSS
City, Mogadishu
Country, Somalia
District, Hamar weyne
Street, Via Roma - Marw Building 23 B
Tel: +2521-5565600 -+31634253535
Press release to
international press freedom and human rights organizations
Mogadishu 19, 12,
2009 (SOFCA)
Press Release
Date:
04/12/2009
Somali exiled journalists in
Uganda outlined jointly press release, expressing their own
problems and misinformation news from
National Union of
Somali Journalists
after (NUSOJ)
had claimed it assists for the Somali journalists who are in exile
in Uganda.
After Debating, and analyzing,
the journalists underlined the transcript articles.
-
NUSOJ
Secretary General, Omar Faruk Osman has edited illegally the
voices of some Somali journalists in Kampala, in which they had
spoken for their congratulation to the press freedom
organizations and human rights defenders who draw their most
excellent attention and support for the Somali journalists in
Uganda. Mr. Faruk Osman must remove that clips on websites
immediately.
-
The Secretary
had posted data of the journalists on websites mentioning that
the NUSOJ covers the basic needs for their lives
for those journalists in Kampala that is a clear fake and again
shameful for NUSOJ.
-
NUSOJ hasn’t paid the financial assistance which Media Supporters
intended for the journalists in
Uganda who fled from Mogadishu
for insecurity, harassment assassinations, threats and other
human rights abuse.
-
The secretary
of NUSOJ has obtained funds on behave for Somali
journalists. Unfortunately, no one else knows that money with
him, such as the income source and the amount of money.
-
We are calling
to international press freedom organizations and Human rights
protectors, as we are journalists who live as refugee in Kampala
that NUSOJ is not responsible for us, and
organizations must not take untruth report from NUSOJ.
At last, we would enormously
appreciate to inform, donors, UN Agencies, international press
freedom organizations and Human rights groups to pay on attention
and support Somali journalists who have bad circumstances and yet
again live as refugee a countries where there is no job
opportunities and again no durable salutation.
Our Names are written below.
Uganda Journalists Union (UJU) was alarmed by
reports aimed at defaming, undermining, maligning, mudsling and
destrying
credibilty of International Federation of Journalists (IFJ),
Eastern Africa
Journalists Association (EAJA), National Union of Somali
Journalists (NUSOJ)
and UJU. We had started taking drastic measures that were going to
have
adverse effect on all exiled Somali journalists in
Uganda. Among the steps
that had started included investigating all Somali journalists now
in Uganda
and keeping them under surveillance to ascertain whether they are
what they
claim to be. We even wanted to find out if they hide under
"journalism" to
accomplish their own selfish motives.
Uganda Journalists Union partner in all Somali matters is National
Union of
Somali Journalists(NUSOJ), as linked up under the International
Federation
of Journalists (IFJ) and EAJA family. Anything outside the IFJ
link, would
be of no interest to UJU and we would not be in position to defend
or
protect any so called "Somali Journalist" even if it meant being
deported by
Kampala authorities. UJU continues to enjoy cordial relationship
and
partnership with NUSOJ and will not be derailed by detractors and
enemies of
press freedom.
It must be noted here that all Somali Journalists who reside in
exile in
Uganda must be prepared to operate under the same arrangement that
brought
them to Uganda and which continues to safe guard their interests
through the
NUSOJ - UJU partnership. UJU or NUSOJ shall not be held liable to
anything
that befalls any Somali journalist or any other exiled national
that is
defiant and is bent at sabotaging programs that assist exiled
journalists
ihn Uganda.
We shall continue to assist exiled journalists in Uganda if they
appreciate
our efforts to try make a safe "haven" for them.
Look forward to your cooperation.
regards
Stephen Ouma Bwire
General Secretary Uganda Journalists Union
Adviser Eastern African Journalists Association (EAJA)
………………………………………
Dear Sir/Madam
> >
> > With reference for our pervious press release issued on
04/12/2009.
> > We are secondly certifying and emphasizing our decisions and
complaints in
> > which we have made in our earlier- statements after we had a
general
> > meeting.
> >
> > Unfortunately, we are very sad the second misinformation that
are made from
> > Somali exiled journalists in
Kampala, who have been experienced human rights
> > abuses in Somalia deciding to live in Uganda as refugee in
which we indebted
> > the Ugandan Government, UNHCR, east and horn Africa human
rights defenders
> > and other international press freedom who aware of our
situation today.
> >
> > We are very sorry the recent series massages we have received
from Stephen
> > Ouma Bwire GENERAL SECRETARY UGANDA JOURNALISTS UNION (UJU)
ADVISER EASTERN
> > AFRICA JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION (EAJA),
> >
> > This person whom we do not know him through since we have been
in here and
> > again is not a Somali exiled journalists, not Ugandan
authority, as he said
> > in his massages that the Somali exiled journalists will
deported back to
> > Somali after investigation into those journalists according to
his massages.
> >
> > Mr. Stephen argued that we are not Somali journalists ignoring
our photos
> > and the statements we had issued.
> > Stephen also said in his massages that there is NUSOJ Vice
President in
> >
Kampala,
who is that person? Who elected that person?
> >
> > As we are journalists who fled from Somalia we do not aware of
that vice
> > president he stated and sure any press freedom organizations
knows our
> > situations, since we did reach this country.
> >
> > We are certifying as we are senior Somali journalists no one
cropped and
> > manipulated our photographs and signatures.
> >
> > We asked ourselves many times where does Stephen come from?
And who is he?
> > Why did he get in the way our matters? What is his aim and
about his threats
> > toward us?
> >
> > These threats are out of principles of the journalism and
press freedom.
> >
> > Officially, we would like to inform an international press
freedom
> > organizations and human rights organizations that we can’t be
captives for
> > Secretary general of NUSOJ Omar Faruk and Stephen,
> >
> > We do confirm that we are not part of NUSOJ and Stephen Ouma
Bwire's
> > organization, since we are senior Somali Exiled journalists.
They are
> > trying to stand our head. But we are going to argue them to
keep press
> > freedom.
> > Once more, everyone who wants to know our cohesion and unit
could relate
> > below contacts.
> >
> > 1. Ahmed Omar Hashi “ Axmedtaajir” axmedtaaajir25@hotmail.com
> > Tel:+256784051676
> >
> > 2. Bashir Diirie Naaleeye: naleye10@hotmail.com
,Tel:+256784131810
> >
> > 3. Ibrahim Mohamed Hussein “Jeekey”: jeekey6@hotmail.com
> > Tel:+256784704352
> >
> > 4. Omar Nur Gutale: guutaale@msn.com, Tel:+256777096711
> >
> > 5. Hassan Mohamud Ahmed “Xasan fanax”: hassanfanax@yahoo.com ,
> > mogvoa@gmail.com , Tel: +256754649349
> >
> > 6. Yahye Mohamed Addow: yahye143@yahoo.com ,Tel:+256775432200
> >
> > 7. Elmi Osman Farah “ Boodhari”: boodhari111@hotmail.com ,
> > Tel:+256784131815
> >
> > 8. Ahmedsaadaq Yusuf Mohamed: saadaqcade@yahoo.com
,Tel:+256775631779
> >
> > 9. Mohamed Mohamud Odawaa: farcade20@hotmail.com
,Tel:+256702547217
> >
> > 10. Mohamed Ibrahim Rage: hadraawi2@hotmail.com
,Tel:+256785423399
> >
> > 11. Sahra Yusuf Mohamed: sahrayuusuf32@hotmail.com
,Tel:+256784426648
> >
> > 12. Nimco Abdi Hassan: nimco8852@hotmail.com ,Tel:256777573278
>
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEAR CUMAR,
> YOU ARE 100 PER CENT RIGHT YOU DO NOT QUALIFY TO JOIN A CREDIBLE
> JOURNALISTS' ORGANISATION LIKE UJU OR NUSOJ.
>
> FIRST OF ALL YOU ARE NOT A PROFESSIONAL JOURNALIST BUT ONE OF
THE
> QUESTIONABLE CHARACTERS AT LARGE IN KAMPALA WHO ARE BEING
> INVESTIGATED. YOUR INTERESTS ARE IN " FINANCIAL RIGHTS
DEFENDERS" SO
> RELAX THERE.
>
> I CAN SEE WHERE THESE ARGUMENTS, FORGERIES, CONCOCTIONS, DECEIT,
FALSE
> PRETENCE, EMBEZZLEMENT, SWINDLING AND FABRICATION BY THE SO
CALLED
> "EAST AND HORN OF
AFRICA
HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS" IS HEADED. LET POLICE
> AND OTHER SECURITY AGENCIES DO THEIR WORK. THE TRUTH WILL COME
OUT.
>
> I DID NOT START THIS EXCHANGE BUT WAS STARTED BY SOMALIS
THEMSELVES
> WHO CRIED FOUL OF ONE ORGNISATION CALLED HORN AND ET OF AFRICA
HUMAN
> RIGHTS DEFENDERS" THAT IS USING THEM TO REAP RESOURCES FROM
THEIR
> FEEBLE AFFLICTIONS. INDEED I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE PREPARED TO
> TESTIFY BEYOND THIS STAGE.
>
> IS THE "EAST AND HORN OF
AFRICA
HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS" "A REGIONAL"
> ORGANIZATION AS IT CLAIMS TO BE OR IS JUST A SOMALI ORGANISATION
THAT
> HAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF CIVIL UNREST IN SOMALIA TO CON DISPLACED,
> DISGRUNTLED AND FLEEING SOMALI PEOPLE?. DOES IT SERVE THE REGION
OR
> SELECTED AREAS OR INDIVIDUALS WHERE IT THINKS IT CAN REAP HEAVY
> DIVIDENDS FROM DUBIOUS UNDERTAKINGS?. HY IS IT INTERESTED MAINLY
IN
> JOURNALISTS?. I
>
> THE ORGANISATION IS HEADED BY A SOMALI NATIONAL CALLED HASSAN
SHIRE
> WHO HAS MADE A FORTUNE OUT OF A PREDICAMENT, SENSELESS KILLINGS,
> DISPLACEMENT AND CIVIL UNREST IN SOMALIA. THE MORE KILLINGS
OCCURRING
> EVERYDAY AND MORE SOMALIS FEELING, THE MORE MONEY HE POCKETS
FROM
> DONORS. DOES HE EVER WISH PEACE TO PREVAIL IN SOMALIA?.
>
> HE HAS DISCOVERED THAT HE CAN EARN MORE MONEY IF HE PRETENDED TO
BE
> PROTECTING JOURNALISTS IN
EAST AFRICA
AND UGANDA IN PARTICULAR.
>
> BUT INVESTIGATIONS SO FAR HAVE UNEARTHED A SCAM WHERE HASSAN
SHIRE AND
> HIS ORGANISATION ARE PRESENTING QUACK JOURNALISTS YET THEY ARE
> ACTUALLY NOT JOURNALISTS AND HAVE NEVER BEEN JOURNALISTS.
>
> HIS LIST INCLUDES TRADERS SOME OF WHOM OPERATE INTERNET CAFES IN
>
KAMPALA,
HAWKERS, "JACKS OF ALL TRADE" AND QUESTIONABLE CHARACTERS IN
> SOME
KAMPALA
SURBURBS OF KISENYI, KABALAGALA, NSAMBYA AND KATWE.
>
> WHAT IRKS US MOST IS HIS CRAFTY PRETENCE OF WRITING EMAILS AND
COINING
> SOMALI NAMES PURPOTING TO BE SOMALI JOURNALISTS OPPOSED TO IFJ
AND
> ITS AFFILIATES.
>
> THIS MAN IS A SOMALI HIMSELF WHO SHOULD BE IN THE FOREFRONT
TREATING
> HIS COUNTRYMEN WITH DIGINITY AND IN A HUMAN WAY THAN FORCING
THEM TO
> FOLLOW HIS VERSES, WHOLE HEARTEDLY.
>
> CONFESSIONS BY SOMALI JOURNALISTS INDICATE THAT HASSAN SHIRE
> TRAVERSES KISENYI SOMALI SURBURB IN KAMPALA LOOKING FOR
> SOMALIS.
>
> HE WILL CONVINCE ONE TO WORSHIP HIM AND HIS SO CALLED HUMAN
RIGHTS
> DEFENDERS IN EXCHANGE FOR $20 BUT WILL FORCE ONE TO SIGN A FORM
> BEARING MORE MONEY THAN HE ACTUALLY PAYS OUT AS ASSISTANCE.
>
> WHY SHOULD "HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS" BEG FOR FUNDS FROM DONORS
UNDER
> THE PRETEX OF HELPING EXILED SOMALIS BUT SWINDLE WHAT ONE WOULD
CALL
> MEAGER RESOURCES DONATED THROUGH HANDOUTS AND GOODWILL OF
SYMPATHIZERS
> OR GOOD SAMARITANS
>
> ARE THESE FELLOW "HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDES" OR FINANCIAL RIGHTS
> SWINDLERS?. WE SHALL NOT ALLOW THEM TO THREATEN INNOCENT AND
PEACEFUL
> SOMALIS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT SUBSCRIBE TO THEIR DUBIOUS
UNDERTAKINGS.
>
> TO THE CONTRARY, AND BY COPY OF THIS MESSAGE, WE ARE SENDING
THIS
> INFORMATION TO RELEVANT AUTHORITIES AND SECURITY AGENCIES TO
HANDLE.
>
>
UGANDA
JOURNALISTS UNION AND NATIONAL UNION OF SOMALI JOURNALISTS
> (NUSOJ) DO NOT LOOK FOR OR COERCE SOMALI JOURNALISTS IN KAMPALA
BUT
> SOMALIS THEMSELVES KNOW THE ROLE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TWO
> ORGANISATIONS TO THEIR PLIGHT.
>
> BY THIS MESSAGE I ADVISE SOMALI JOURNALISTS RESIST ANY THREATS
FROM
> HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND IN PARTICULAR HASSAN SHIRE. JUST
REPORT
> SUCH THREATS BY EMAILING ALL THE PEOPLE ON THIS MAILIING LIST
YOU WILL
> BE ASSISTED. ALREADY THIS MATTER IS BEING INVESTIGATED AND
HANDLED BY
> RELEVANT AUTHORITIES.
>
> SOMEONE ON THIS MAILING LIST ASKED WHO IS STEPHEN OUMA BWIRE?.
THIS
> CONFIRMS THAT THE PERSON ASKING IS NOT A JOURNALIST BUT ONE OF
THOSE
> QUACK JOURNALISTS BEING ASSEMBLED IN KAMPALA HOODWINK DONORS.
>
> STEPHEN OUMA BWIRE
> GENERAL SECRETARY
>
>
UGANDA
JOURNALISTS UNION
> ADVISER
EASTERN AFRICA JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION
…………………………………………………………………..
Dear,
Stephen ouma.
It is Unfortunate that you pointed us as we are not
professional journalists, but as traders when we made shed light
on that we are no more part of Nusoj. The main fundamental purpose
in which we pulled out of Nusoj is after suffering a lot from its
troubles and fabrications made against the Somali exiled
journalists in
Uganda, Kampala.
So, isn’t that a clear indicator that you will recognize
every journalist who is part of
Uganda journalists
Union and exercises his free expression as a businessman?.
Isn’t that too in opposition to press freedom?
Mr. Stephen, you mentioned in one of your written
statements we received that anyone who opposes International
federal journalists (IFJ) and Nusoj is an enemy.
It is first worth knowing that we are associates of IFJ
and friends as well. Because IFJ did support the Somali
journalists and shared difficulties and grievances as earlier done
by other international press freedom organizations.
It is also worth remembering that secretary general of IFJ
aidan white has put much effort for the unity and togetherness of
the Somali journalists.
We have never been involved in criticizing IFJ. But it
seems that you are now fabricating an atmosphere of hostility
between us and IFJ.
We feel that (Name) National union of Somali journalists
stands for unity among Somali journalists. But we believe
discontent of its leadership and we have no desire to setup
parallel organization.
We are informing all press freedom advocates and human
rights organizations that any problem which sustains Somali
journalists, here in
Uganda
will be on the shoulders of Stephen and the secretary general of
Nusoj, since Stephen in particular specified our whereabouts in
Kampala. This is exactly or almost similar to threats,
intimidations and killings we left behind or fled from home.
We again feel very much grateful for RSF,CPJ,IFJ, EHAHDP
and the entire donors for helping us get out the heartbreaking
situation in
Somalia.
Somali
exiled journalists in
Kampala
ASOJ Committe Cheif Hassan Sheik Ahmed Video 
