Somalia: Puntland journalists call for release of reporter

The Puntland Journalists, have called for the immediate release of Mohamed Yassin Ishak, who has been detained by the Puntland authorities since mid December 2009.
The meeting in Nairobi Kenya, which was organized by the Media Associations of Puntland (MAP), allowed  journalists to express their views on the media crackdown by the Puntland authorities.
They called for the release of the journalist, who works for Voice of America.
“…We are very concerned about the illegal detention of Mohamed Ishak, his safety and we want his immediate release…,”  says Ali Mussa, one of the journalists who participated the meeting.
The journalists called for the authorities and security agencies to respect the Puntland constitution. By law, the Puntland authorities can not detain people without a legal process. The law requires that charges be filed within 48 hours.
Mohamed Yassin Ishak, the Voice of America reporter in Puntland, was arrested on 21st of December 2009, after a midnight raid on his Galkacyo home by security agents.
The Puntland information Minister Abdihakim Ahmed Guled, confirmed the reporter was arrested in suspicion of his involvement of security threats on the state. But the authorities did not elaborate on what security threats and the reporter is still in detention without legal representation.
Mohamed Osman
Horseed Media