19 May 2007 04:20

SOMALIA WATCH

 
Column
  • Title: [SW Column](SHASNA) MONTH IN REVIEW 
  • Posted by/on:[AMJ][Wednsday, February 28, 2001]
  •  
  • Opinions expressed in this column are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of SW.


    w w w . s o m a l i t a l k . c o m

    SOMALI HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF NORTH AMERICA

    MediaWatch
    Boston, MA
    USA

    February 28, 2001

     

    MISINFORMATION & REVELATIONS IN SOMALIA
    Month in review
    " ...YOU BE THE JUDGE!"

    "TNG, BBC Somali Section and IRIN: The Fuel that Flames the Somali Civil War" " ...and you thought they were really concerned about the Somali plight..."

    HERE come the HEADLINES:

    But first, the truth detectors:

    BAY CENTRE FOR CONFLICT PREVENTION PRESS RELEASE
    BCCP, Kismayo, Somalia, Feb 23, 2001
    Somali Transitional Government and Mogadishu Businessmen With Some News Media Groups Determined to Destabalising Stable Regions of Somalia
    >> Read more...


    >> > > Newsweek Feb. 26 issue
    brought to you by MSNBC

    >> UN: Corruption and Extortion in High Places!
    SHASNA, Feb 23, 2001

    > > BBC and Mogadishu Tabloids are again fabricating headlines!!!!!
    SHASNA, MediaWatch, Feb 22, 2001

    > > Reply To Ms Blackburn of BBC
    GAASHAAN COLUMN, by: Syed, Feb 21, 2001

    > > IRIN a UN initiative that saves..
    SHASNA Feb 16, 2001

    > > AN OPEN LETTER to the BBC
    Feb 15, 2001


    AND NOW THE HEADLINES OF THE PROTECTORS OF MAGADISHU GANGSTERS AND INVADERS
    who according to Prof. I.M. Lewis of LSE " ...seized most of the property that is worth seizing (including women from minority groups)." The same invaders who maim, rob, and kill the innocent and the elderly from Mogadishu to Marka to Kismayo. Here come the all important headlines from IRIN and the BBC World Service:

    IRIN - Somalia: Women in "death by stoning case" imprisoned,
    22 Feb 2001
    IRIN - Somalia: Bosaso elders released,
    22 Feb 2001
    IRIN - Somalia: Women sentenced to death by stoning,
    21 Feb 2001
    IRIN - Somalia: Faction leader joins interim government,
    19 Feb 2001

    Notice that as far as peace and stability in Somalia is concerned, there is not a single headline that is worth a dime! And amazingly they are funded to save "LIVES AND MONEY" while lives and money have been lost by the same people they defend daily!

    AND NOW THE RETRACTIONS:
    AND THEN AFTER THE DAMAGE IS DONE, THE RETRACTION BY THE BBC World Service ADMITTING THAT "..no official confirmation was ever received from Puntland authorities."

    What a lame excuse! How can Puntland authorities confirm a BBC already ran and printed baseless story. They never even made a courtesy call to the local Boosaaso newspapers to confirm the story. But they somehow confirm it with a tabloid known for enticing tribal animosities. A tabloid that is 1,500 KMS away from the scene of the alleged incident. How convenient! May be it was confirmed by the ever vigilant head of the BBC Somali Section, Mr. Yusuf-garaad Omar!

    The YUSUF-GARAAD OMAR (head of BBC Somali Section) TABLOID CROCODILE TEARS:

    The Qaran newspaper in Mogadishu has now printed an apology to their readers.

    And more revelations:

    Police in Puntland have denied a story widely reported in Somalia that two women were sentenced to death for being Lesbians Check BBC Feb 23

    And then IRIN, THE FIRST AND THE LAST TO HAVE RAN AND STILL RUNNING THE BASELESS STORY on IRIN Headlines.

    When we report that IRIN editors and writers fabricate stories on stable regions of Somalia, the following IRIN reporting format is an example:

    (IRIN) Feb. 21, 2001: IRIN reports the baseless, groundless and fabricated story. They specifically mention names, dates, and even that one of the women returned from north America, but if you read the IRIN report, you will notice they did not contribute to any source. To the reader that means they knew it first hand. And with authority, they reported that "One of the convicted women returned from north America two months ago..."

    (IRIN) Feb. 22, 2001: IRIN specifically reports that ".. Humanitarian sources told IRIN on Thursday." Of course, on that same day, both the local authorities and SAHAN newspaper denied the existence of the story. They never bothered to confirm with the proper local sources!

    The inquiries we receive from honest Somalis everywhere are:

    How did they know it? When did they know? Who are the "humanitarian sources" that confirmed this story? Who are the ever quoted but never revealed "UN and Other Sources"?

    After much analysis and inquiries to IRIN leadership, we can only regrettably reach this conclusion: IRIN has declared media war on stable regions of Somalia!!

    IRIN, A respectable humanitarian organization, that is lately becoming to be known as THE THIRD ARM OF THE TNG Faction and the ever present companion of the Mogadishu warlords, tabloids and radio stations, is definitely not heading the UN intended DIRECTION.

    SHASNA Team

    cc: SHASNA Members

     


    *SHASNA is an advocacy group based in Boston, Massachusetts. It stands for the unity and peaceful coexistence of the Somali people. It supports the creation of a Federal system of governance to safeguard the emerging free markets of the Recovery Zones. SHASNA encourages corporate and individual investments in the Recovery Zones. It has presences in both Puntland (Boosaaso, Garoowe, Buurtinle, Bacaadweyn and Gaalkacyo) and Somaliland (Hergeysa, Berbera and Burco).
      

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