campaign against Yusuf Garad of BBC.

[Lacageylacag]

The head of BBC somali service is the victim of hate campaign based on envy and clanism.

The cheer level of xaasidnimo is shocking.
Envy never pays.
Sorry the boy is too smart for his detractors.

http://www.waagacusub.com/bbc%20iyo%20y ... garaad.htm

[Pablo Escobar]

Read what a man who knows Yusuf Garad had to say about the man himself.

Long Live Yusuf Garad

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BRAVO: The BBC Somali Service Team

By Adrian Baldwin

I’m a Dutch national who worked and extensively traveled throughout Somalia, South to North, between 1994 and 1998. During my residence, I made many good friends, some of whom I still maintain regular contacts through the Internet. I have developed a hobby and nostalgia to browse Somali websites to update myself of the progresses made in the town and villages I once worked.

At that time, I realized how vital the BBC Somali Service was to the lives of the Somali people. I observed men throng at teashops around 5:30 p.m. to catch their daily dose of local and world news, from their favorite and, of course, only reliable source. Somalis recognize the significance of keeping this important service and had previously appealed against a decision to close the Service.

However, I’m baffled by the continued attack, somewhat personal in nature, on the BBC Somali Service team and particularly its chief editor by few Somali websites, most notably Allpuntland, Wardheernews, Allwadani, and Idamaale. It is hard to digest the daily slanders heavily rained on its editor, a man I personally met and have a great respect for; a man who is genuine and sincere and has taken the Service into a commendable level appreciated by those who really depend on their daily world news. I have met Mr. Garad in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2003 and we had a very good conversation. There are things he talked about which included improving the Service even higher to make one of the best African programmes in the BBC World Service.

I was stunned to read statements like: “close the BBC relay antennas in Puntland”, and begging others to follow suit to close down all BBC relay centers in that country. I asked myself the question of who will lose if the antennas are brought down. I understand that the webmasters of the afore-mentioned websites reside in Europe or North America. I also recognize that these webmasters have the luxury to choose between hundreds of radios and television stations anytime of the day or night and that they don’t need the thirty minute news time that the masses in Somalia cherish to listen. The losers in this case will be the millions living in remote villages and towns in a country that doesn’t have proper mass media such as radios and television.

Then I took the trouble to investigate why these websites where so critical of this marvelous man and his team? My findings of the reason behind the continuous insults, some of which are dehumanizing, against the chief editor and his team is beyond belief.

First, I established the fact that ALL the above-mentioned websites are either edited or owned by people from Puntland. Secondly, I also found out that ALL these websites are pro-Abdullahi Yusuf government. Here is then where the problem lies:

These webmasters wished the BBC to be the mouth piece of the interim president’s government and promote his policies. Unfortunately, when the chief editor asserted the neutrality and independence of the Service from the Somali politics, they decided to destroy his character and dedicated team that work so hard in the most difficult of circumstances. Their motive is to tarnish Mr. Garad’s character in order to persuade the World Service programme editors to dismiss him or demote him. Their means are to continually publish articles, interviews and lies against this good man and his team. And their objective is to get away with murder by knowingly lying and discrediting this highly professional individual and seeking his head. The World Service understands your motives and may not replace Mr. Garad with one of your kin. At least in the West, it doesn’t work that way.

It is worth mentioning that this act is not part of Somali culture or puritan Islamic code of conduct. It is as I understand, after research and years of experience in Somalia, based purely on clan difference and hatred. These are accusations intended to cause maximum damage not only to character assassinate the lead editor but the good men and women who so tirelessly provide unbiased first hand news from the world’s leading news agency, The World Service.

Behold! Clan loyalty in Somali is so sacred that one will not hesitate to kill or hurt fellow citizen without giving a thought in its name. The clan is the Satan that the Somalis worship and where Satan rules, humans are subjugated to perform every undignified act without asking questions. No amount of reason will explain why these websites are so obsessed to dehumanizing a fellow human being. Clan fanaticism is the lowest points a human being can reach.

A piece of advice to these websites, please don’t attack, insult or humiliate someone or some people who are so dedicated to serving your community. Please stop seeking the destruction of the Somali Service, because millions depend on it. Please understand that the Service is an independent entity and no one can influence how it works. Please stop acting as INTERNET WARLORDS who terrorize their victims in every home and internet café. Please stop the continual character assassination of the highly qualified chief editor, who as many Somalis put it, is considered the best ever editor the Somali Service has ever had.

Finally, I would like to strongly commend on the excellent job that the Somali Service team is doing. I congratulate you all for the professionalism, reliability and accuracy of the news that you provide to Somali populations who rely solely on your hard work and dedication. Very well done all!

Adrian Baldwin
The Hague, Netherlands
E-mail: adrian.baldwin@yahoo.com

[Caydid]

Our people are so consumed by clanism that they forget people have merits to get a job. The BBC is a british propaganda machine and never created to enhance somali issues. Rather it was established to take a colonial perspective. There are some issues including the belittling of somalis who don't speak the accepted "somali". But this is often neglected by critics who form their opinions on the clans of those individual who work at the BBC.

I am not defending Garaad but he has an impressive CV.

Read on
http://www.somaliatalk.com/2005/jun/21m405.html

[Lord Diplock]

I think the campaign to oust Mr. Yussuf from his position as the editor of Somali service has been vindictive, childish and utter disgrace. He's an impressive man. I had the opportunity to listen to yesterday's programme, he [Yussuf] presented the show live from Yemen and I must say he asked some pertinent questions and made some salient remarks as always.

I am not from Somalia and I dont no his clan background, but he is a good guy and should be left alone to get on with his job.

[gobdoon]

I say to Mr Garad if you don't like the heat getout of the kitchen,he is the one who has been on the side of the warlords since the collapse of the former government.

[gobdoon]

What does Mr Baldwin know about Somalia,he should stay away any arguments between people who are concerned about the Somali service.

[Caydid]

Gobdoon, if there is a somali more suited for the job the BBC authorities would never have hired Garaad. He deserves the job because he has better merits than the others.

Warlords? Do you want him to side with Abdullahi Yusuf and his thugs? Would you like him to side with YOUR OWN warlords?

This is the problem- you don't notice the warfootings of your own people. You want every news organisation to side with your little tribe.


Somali way.

[gobdoon]

No my friend I am rather speaking on behalf of your people as a good Somalia I care what happens to any poor civilians women and childreen whatever Qabiil they are,but it's unfortunately you people like Garad who failed to seethe need of the country and their people,the only warlords are the ones in Mogadishou the last 14 years destroyed the city and bombarding indiscriminitly but I don't know when people like you and Garad would see who is their enemy and who is holding the whole country on ransom and blocking what work people are doing for Somalia to stand it's own feet oance again.

[gobdoon]

BBC is a partial organisation and has been for a long time,so it's very important to maintain that credibility,I don't know Mr Garad personnaly and have nothing against him as long as he does his job fairly but I have noticed since the Nairobi conference he is leaning towards the warlords in Mogadishou,while millions of Somalis are on the side of the interim government to bring back peace and stablity,because this men in Mogadishou have only their own self intrest at heart and they want Somalia to remain a country ruled by mafia while their families and childreen are in the West faraway from the fire their fathers are burning.