Al jazeera reporterAl Jazeera's Nazanine Moshiri "twinterviews" the hardline fighters who want to replace the Somali government with an Islamic state. The group began tweeting on December 7 under the handle HSM Press Office - an acronym for Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen, or Movement of Holy Warrior Youth.
Al shababThis is my take on your tweeting. http://blogs.aljazeera.net/africa/2011/ ... s-tweeting
Then an hour later Al shabab picks out a sentence of the anti Al shabab, Al jazeera ArticleIf #US has a virtual embassy in #Tehran, why can't HSM maintain a virtual presence to impart the reality of Somali warfare?
"I have been to Somalia many times. When I am there, I can barely get mobile phone reception and internet access is a luxury. If the group is indeed tweeting from the depths of Somalia, this shows how sophisticated an operation it must have developed."
Al shabab responds
Your comment regarding lack of reception is open to dispute;Somali telecom industry is booming with millions of subscribers
Al jazeera reporter
True, but you have to be on same network as the person you are calling. When desk in Doha calls us, often can't get through.
Al shabab
A little inconvenient, of course, but tele-density here in Somalia is 3X higher than that of some countries, like Ethiopia!
Al jazeera reporter
but unfortunately, the Somali war isn't virtual is it. People on both sides are being killed or injured.
Al shabab
bloodshed is the predictable corollary of foreign intervention; its impact on geopolitical structure of the region is broad
Al jazeera reporter
how do you view the way you are portrayed by the media?
Al shabab
Most of it is propaganda masqueraded as objectivity, thus precluding the possibility of obtaining anything impartial
Al jazeera reporter
Do your views on Twitter represent the whole of your movement? Isn't Al Shabab fragmented, into different layers of leadership?
Al shabab
Yes do & HSM is united unlike the crippled TFG militia. A fragmented org. couldn't possibly confront so many adversaries.
Al jazeera reporter
what will it take for you to come to the negotiating table, and lay down your arms?
Al shabab
How can one lay down his arms when his enemies are grinding their swords to terminate him. No to negotiations under invasion
Al jazeera reporter
Most ordinary Somalis want peace, and reconstruction, what message do you have for them?
Al jazeera reporter (again)
what are you fighting for? International Jihad? Or a peaceful united future for Somalis?
Al shabab
To free our people from the ignominy of invasion &live according to the Laws of Shari'ah (Qur'an) It's our prerogative right!
Al shabab (Again)
This must be #AlJazeera's innovative new approach to Twitter interviews. Should we call it Twinterview?
