Censorship at Kilil5 Online should end, |
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The primary role of Kilil5 Online which I have been a proud Editor in the past is to be a watchdog over public officials’ actions and inner workings of their Somali Regional State (SRS). I know very well, the reporters and contributors of kilil5 Online have in their reporting taken great risks and sometimes more perilous situations, un¬covering corruption and crimes committed by government officials. However, its shocking and frankly unacceptable when people take great risks to their lives to send very important documents to this website to expose the evil working of the SRS senior officials but the editorial board of this website decides they are not going to release or share that information with the public, which was the intention of the brave individuals who sent it to begin with. I have been told by a reliable source who is part of the editorial board that this website has received more than 7 hours of audio (leaders discussing political killings and massacres of certain ethnic groups, clan leaders, political killings and plans to contain their political opponents, plans to loot large amounts of public money, ways to cover current public corruptions and contracts given to relatives of top leaders) and more than 3 hours of pornography complicating the top leadership of the Somali Regional State.
I’m going public with my disgust for this censorship after several of my attempts, to release these media files, have fallen to a deaf ear, and after I have been told its none of my business (that I don’t work at this website- which I found it disrespectful given I worked at this website for 3 years as editor in chief and built its integrity and strong reputation to where its today). I believe, along with my fellow citizens of the SRS, we are entitled to hear the audios and see the videos in a controlled environment. I believe, kilil5 should do the right thing and allow its readers to access these important documents with a controlled censorship by establishing age verifications mechanism (I have been told the reasons they don’t want to share with readers is because its immoral and they are disgusted with the pornography tapes, that they don’t want to spread evil and sins. I’m also told that they are concerned of privacy and civil litigation by non-public figures in the sex tapes which I understand.) All these concerns are legitimate but the more overriding significance is to expose these filthy and evil leaders who while they are entrusted with positions of leadership are violating that trust and their position of power. These individuals whoever they may be should be held to account and should be exposed for violating and taking advantage of young poor girls. It’s an outrage that in a Muslim society, so-called leaders who would be married, would be teaching young girls’ prostitution. I’m also disgusted by the fact that this type of censorship is happening at this website. You cannot claim to be independent but still be engaged of this type of censorship. It’s an ethical and unacceptable at this reputable website.
Kilil5 Online which has earned the trust of its readers and built its integrity on its impartiality and independence news must realize that, it has crossed the line this time by refusing to release this damming evidence against top Somali regional leaders. I want to remind kilil5’s editorial team that meeting people’s needs for news and information requires independence, commitment to serving the public interest and a profound respect for the truth. Journalists, writers, and media professionals have been at the vanguard of most of the political revolutions that have taken place over the past throughout the world. The above examples illustrate how critical independent media are to democratic, transparent societies and how pervasive and influential media are in today’s world. Citizens around the globe are seeking trustworthy information about issues that affect their daily lives— health, environmental, economic, community, and political —and it is imperative that they have reliable sources that they can trust. The potential of media to encourage democratic development cannot be denied. Media give people a voice, acting as a balance and watchdog to potential government misconduct. Without a voice, citizens cannot be heard; with a voice, they cannot be ignored. Media provide a window into the inner workings of the government, thereby increasing transparency and reducing corruption. Not only are countries more democratic with free and independent media, but their governments are also more accountable. I will urge kilil5 Online to do the right thing and release these important media files to the world.
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Fatuma Dirir is a former editor of kilil5.com and can be reached at fatumadirir@yahoo.com
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