Source:http://english.horseedmedia.net/news/23411.shtml
Should the President of Puntland apologize for his son’s behavior?
By: Osman Khalif
Horseed Media
Editorial
The people of autonomous region of Puntland State of Somalia, have long called for a new change for their state, after the elections in January 2009, many hoped the change that they have long awaited was at last on the way, while others questioned the capacity of the new administration to overcome the challenges a head.
In January 2009, President Abdirahman Mohamud Farole was elected by Puntland Parliament. This was the State’s third peaceful and transparent election followed by a smooth transition, by Gen.Adde Musse’s cabinet and it was a new beginning for Puntland.
Puntland media as well as the majority of the public are and still supporting the new administration, in hope for better future in Puntland with; good governance, transparency, press freedom, enhanced social and political development in the region.
However many people were surprised and outraged by a recent article published by Garowe online, a website owned and managed by Mohamed Farole (the son of Puntland’s President). The article under the title (CPJ embroiled in clan politics) stated that Puntland was engulfed in “…dirty clan politics…”, according to Mohamed Farole..
Mohamed Abdirahman Farole (The Son of Puntland's President)
Mohamed Abdirahman Farole (The Son of Puntland's President)
This article was a response by the son of Puntland’s President to defame the global media watchdog, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) who condemned the recent beating of a journalist working for Horseed Media in Puntland court room.
In a press release dated 17th of July 2009, The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the attack on reporter Aweys Sheikh Nur by security guards during a court session in Bosaso, the commercial capital of Puntland.
The condemnation came as the Puntland Minister for Security Gen.Abdullahi Said Samatar told CPJ, that he will investigate the incident that took place in Bosaso district court, on Wednesday.
Garowe Online’s article by Mr.Mohamed Farole, the editor in chief of that website, openly attacked CPJ accusing them for what he calls, participating the ”dirty clan politics in Somalia”. Of course this was a cheap shot and an absurd idea, but nevertheless it was a clear attempt to mislead people from the main issue, in particular the concerns about violations against independent media in Puntland.
From right: President of Puntland Abdirahman Farole, with his eldest son Mohamed Farole.
From left: the President of Puntland Abdirahman Farole, with his eldest son Mohamed Farole.
Mohamed Farole, the son of Puntland’s President, blamed CPJ for not searching for the facts on the ground, but lets talk about the facts on the ground.
The CPJ’s call for investigations to the beating of journalist in the court room, was balanced and professional.
Not only that but it was a needed support for all Somali journalists, who are operating in one of the most dangerous countries on the planet. They did an excellent job, by researching the facts, through contacting journalists on the scene and the authorities as well.
Mohamed Farole’s idea of dirt clan politics in Puntland, and welcoming the CPJ to that dirty game was out of topic, and simply nonsense.
Mohamed Farole guarded by Presidential bodyguards at Military camp outside Garowe, capital city of Puntland
Mohamed Farole guarded by Presidential bodyguards at a Military camp outside Garowe, capital city of Puntland
The fact that the son of Puntland’s Presidents claimed that clans in Puntland were engaged in dirty clan politics offended many people in Puntland, including the clans, who are unified and are enjoying their peace together, thus undermining the stability in the region.
If Mohamed Farole was a true journalists, he would have shown some kind of solidarity with his colleagues in Puntland, and would join the call to respect and support the freedom of the press in Puntland.
Surely he can do a lot to help the journalists in the region, that is if he wanted to do so!
Bottom right: Mohamed Farole as part of Puntland government delegation in USA, sits in front of his Father and ministers in a meeting with Somalis in Minneapolis.
Bottom right: Mohamed Farole as part of Puntland government delegation in USA, sits in front of his Father and ministers in a meeting with the Somalis community in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Mohamed Farole is visible and present in almost every cabinet meeting of the Puntland administration, and he is usually part of the Puntland government delegations to abroad, along side his Father Dr.Abdirahman Farole, too bad that he is using his relations with the government to daunt other journalists who are serving their people.
It is surprising to see, how Puntland President’s son is also attempting to bully the international media bodies not to intervene or report, about the grave violations against journalists in Somalia.
But lets just go back to the point why Mohamed Farole was so upset about the CPJ’s press release, while he totally ignored other similar calls from other media watchdogs like Reporters without Borders, who also reported the incident in Bosaso court.
It is clear, that the President’ son was troubled by the CPJ’s mention, that he and other Puntland officials were intimidating the independent media in Puntland, not to report certain sensitive issues in Puntland, like the link between Puntland government and piracy off the coast of Somalia.
In late June, Deputy Information Minister and the son of Puntland’s president, Mohamed Abdirahman Farole, told Horseed Media to remove a May 11 article posted on their Web site, according to the editor-in-chief of Horseed Media, Mahad Mussa.
Mussa told CPJ the article was a follow-up to two stories written by the New York Times alleging links between the Puntland government and a pirate leader named Abshir Boyah. Horseed Media refused to take the article down. The media company has investigated links between the pirates and certain Puntland officials.
If the son of Puntland’s President is wary for international condemnations for his relations with Pirate leaders in Puntland, then he should take his distance from them.
Besides, it is illegal in Puntland constitution to threaten and blackmail the independent media and he oath to respect others who are doing their job.
Mohamed Farole would do a huge favor to Puntland and to it’s people if he could just think before he writes his inflammatory articles, if he ignores this advice, then he should also write similar articles in Somali language, so that the people in Puntland could get the chance to read and understand what he is spreading on the web in their own language.
This is all about farole condemnation article he wrote on garowe-online about cbj media...http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/pub ... tics.shtml
He is condemning the indepedent agencies for reporting on the incident that occurred outside Bossaso court where horseed media man got assaulted by puntland soldier. I like garowe-online it is factual media, but when he starts to give his opinions mohamed farole that is when he starts to become a doqon as he gave his opinion of cbj and reporters without borders who criticized the assault of the free media in Bossaso court.
He can not stand there and defend something that is indefensible, this incident that happened there was disgraceful and it should never happen again. PPL make mistakes but u must learn from your mistakes and by denying something like that happened doesn't solve the problem. This what snm media does they deny everything and their problems is never solved. Puntland should never fall into that trap because it is not in our interest. This incident happened, puntland security minister is investigating it, bring the culprit to court and make sure this attack on the free media never occurs again.
U cant say u r democracy and then attack free media...if u wish to hold the title of being democratic u must also know that comes with certain conditions..like free media, free speech, one man and one vote system, bill of rights, and many other factors. U must fullfill all these factors or don't call yourself democracy and just say u r regime. Anyways this mistake has happened, farole son shouldnt be denying it but apologizing for it and its time to go in and fix it so it never occurs again.
