IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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PRESS RELEASE - SOMALIA

12 March 2003

IFJ calls for media community's participation in peace talks, legal
protection of press freedom

SOURCE: International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Brussels

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an 11 March 2003 IFJ media release:

World Journalists Support Demand for Somali Media Delegation To Join Peace
Conference in Kenya

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today renewed calls on the
regional Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD) in the Kenyan
capital, Nairobi, responsible for organising the current Somalia peace
talks, to guarantee formal participation by the Eastern Africa Media
Institute (EAMI) Somalia Chapter as the formal civil society representative
of the Somali media community.

Last month, on 19 February, the IFJ formally approached the conference
organizers on the same issue. However, the Somali media community are still
denied the right to participate fully. Almost all civil society groups in
Somalia are represented, except for the media. The IFJ strongly believes
that journalists should be involved in all policy discussions on media
regulation, freedom of the press and freedom of expression.

The EAMI Somalia Chapter is lobbying for a media clause on press freedom,
freedom of expression, and general media regulations to be included in the
future provisional charter for Somalia's transitional administration.

The IFJ, which is the world's largest organization of journalists,
representing more than 500,000 journalists in over 100 countries, supports
formal Somali media representation, and sees the legal protection of press
freedom and a climate where journalists can work without fear or oppression
as vital to Somalia's process of attaining democracy.

The peace talks are aimed at establishing a broadly-based government in
Somalia. The talks, which opened on 15 October last year, have already seen
controversy over the number of participants and the allocation of seats to
the various groups.

For further information, contact the IFJ, International Press Center,
Residence Palace 155, Rue de la Loi - Bloc C, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium, tel:
+322 235 2200 or +322 235 22 01, fax: +322 235 22 19, e-mail:
[email protected], Internet: http://www.ifj.org/

The information contained in this press release is the sole responsibility
of IFJ. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit
IFJ.
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