Mogadishu, 1 June: Maryan Mahmud Qalanjo, a female journalist working for Shabeelle Radio, one of the most popular radio stations in Somalia, was badly beaten, tortured and snatched away with guns in Baydhabo [alternative spelling Baidoa] today by armed militias loyal to the Speaker of the Somali parliament, Sharif Hasan Shaykh Adan.

The journalist was on her way to the airport of Baidoa to do her normal journalist duties when the taxi she was travelling in was stopped by the militias of Sharif Hasan Shaykh Adan as quoted from other journalists in Baidoa and eye witnesses on the scene of the attack.

The motivation of this attack on journalist Maryan is said to be that Sharif Hasan Shaykh Adan, who is now on a trip in Gaalkacyo in central Somalia, and his militias are very furious with a news report this female journalist has sent this morning to Shabeelle Radio Station in Mogadishu. This news report was based on interviews, she made with some members of the Somali parliament who accused the Speaker of overstepping his duty as a legislator into executive after he signed a memorandum of understanding between the Transitional Federal Parliament and the Puntland authority in northeast Somalia after both authorities rifted over natural resources exploration in Puntland.

The militias pulled Ms Maryan Muhammad from her taxi, stepped on her, hit her with butts of their guns and lastly snatched her away under guns.

Earlier last May, Shabeelle radio station was forcibly closed for few hours by similar militias from Sharif Hasan Shaykh Adan, Speaker of the Somali Federal Parliament, after Shabelle interviewed a local chief in Baidoa who was accusing Sharif Hasan of power manipulating in setting a local administration for Baidoa town.

Baidoa is the seat of the Transitional Federal of Government of Somalia.

Source: Shabeelle Media Network website, Mogadishu, in English 1 Jun 06

BBC Mon Alert AF1 AFEau MD1 Media 010606/ib

top