Somalia has become one of the world’s forgotten hotspots. Today, the anarchy and violence there are so bad that some have stated it is more dangerous than even Iraq & Afghanistan. Besides the world’s indifference (and media reluctance to cover ANOTHER Islamic war) the reason we are not getting news from the region is because the press has been directly targetted. The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) states that in the past 6 months, a large number of journalists and other media workers were subjected to various methods of violence and oppression, including harassment, threats, beatings, arbitrary detention, censorship, kidnapping and even murder.

This past Saturday Canadian journalist Amanda Lindhout, along with Australian photojournalist Nigel Brennan, local Somali photojournalist Abdifatah Mohammed Elmi & their driver were kidnapped. Prior to the ambush, the 3 were on their way to document the plight of Somalia’s Internally Displayed People, war refugees unable to return to their homes. They had planned to photograph & interviewed these unfortunate victims but instead were suddenly thrust into the story themselves.

Sources claim that the hostages are being held in north-eastern Mogadishu, in the neighborhood of Suqa Holaha. The suspected captors have only been described as a “local militia”…how politically correct. There is no indication as to whether this militia was aligned with Islamist separatists – an odd, if surprisingly common omission, considering we are fighting a worldwide war against Islamic terror. Many of the so-called “militias” are Islamic insurgents. Incidentally, on the same day as the abduction these Islamic insurgents were able to capture Kismayo, the nation’s third largest city.

Thus far there have been no claims of responsibility. The local “Islamist Spokesman” decried:

“We don’t know who kidnapped them. There is a [rebel] group which kidnaps for ransom, separate from rivals who have political objectives,” Islamist spokesman Sheikh Abdirahim Isse Adow said.

Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General:

“We are appalled by this cruel abduction of journalists and call for the immediate release of our colleagues who are being held captive because of their noble work for Somali people”.

“We demand that those holding Abdifatah Mohammed Elmi, Nigel Brenan and Amanda Lindhout free them unconditionally and immediately… We are worried about their safety as we have had no contact with anybody saying they are holding three journalists and their driver”.

“They were simply doing their job of reporting the story and presenting the plight of Somali people to the world”

The Annual Report of Press Freedom Violations in Somalia for 2007 is a testament to the lawless tragedy that has overtaken the region. It describes the deaths of 8 journalists, some, like Radio Journalist Abshir Ali Gabre & Ahmed Hassan Mahab were targetted, captured and shot. Others fell victim to the anarchy that is synonymous with civil war, Mohammed Abdullahi Khalif was killed when the “army” shot into the market he was investigating.

The report lists several pages of arbitrary arrests, media houses that have been shelled, and newscasts ordered shut down. These attacks on the press are as despicable, if not more-so than the targetting of civilians in their homes. An attack on professional journalists is an attack on truth; those that target civilians usually have very dark secrets they wish to keep from public view.

Wingless hopes for the best. Our hopes and thoughts are with their families in this trying time. Canada & Australia must continue to demand the immediate unconditional release of these reporters. If release is not forthcoming or if the captives are mistreated then their native lands must ensure the demise of the militia & it’s members. Allowing rogue gangs to target or capture Westerners (esp. in reporting capacity) unchallenged is a very dangerous precedent that cannot be tolerated.

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