The mushrooming Somali
websites are in need of major surgery
if they hope to keep pace with the new
electronic media, or information
highway. But the diagnosis is far from
grave according to recent news
stories, columns, editorials and
opinions that are available in many
Somali websites.
We are moving from
the "oldies" to the business
of instant news as many Somalis and
non-Somalis are still interested to
read the latest developments in
Somalia on a daily basis, but want
more colourful, objective and personal
content that reflects the reality of
the situation. This is not the October
Star in view of the fact that there is
the need for uncensored topics and
greater interaction with readers for
products that are easily digestible in
one sitting and delivered quickly with
most up-to-date information possible.
No one can contest
the fact that Somalia, once the Pearl
of the Indian Ocean in the 1960s, is
now the laughing stock of the
continent, and continues to reel from
under unending blood path and childish
political intrigues perpetrated by a
bunch of petty politicians that
brought the country to its knees. Even
when the international community have
been willing to give them the benefit
of doubt and leeway to do things in a
bid to bring an end to their trivial
differences. But they still continued
to juggle.
As watchdog it is
the top priority of Somali journalists
to tell these perpetrators in clear
terms that it is long over due for
them to get off the gangland
bandwagon. Enough is enough!
In this electronic
age free information is becoming more
mainstream by the minute. Millions of
the latest news is distributed on
websites across the world every
minute, and many of these websites do
not require you to register in order
to log in and get access to their
latest news and are now the driving
force in the industry. All that has
came about from understanding the
readership.
Efficient Internet
search engines, such as Google, are
today's main sources of information as
was the case of popularization of the
television more than 50 years ago.
Commentators and
Editorial writers cannot be blind to
the fact that the people of Somalia
are in a unique position as the only
people in the world who are hostage to
the gun in the hands of individual
pursuits, hungry for power and
ill-gained profit. We cannot be blind
to the fact that the future peace of
the country is in the hands of the
Somali people and not individuals and
that the wishes and aspiration of the
people are respected. It is a test to
the Somali websites to show the way
for the country. We must not summarize
what most of us feel when unpleasant
things are happening to our people.
Words like: Nassib-darro, Ayaan-darro,
Halaag, Naxtin, geeri lama filaan ah
are very frightening words that are
daily utterances in Somalia. But the
gun boys measure their accuracies by
the number of innocent people they hit
with their guns. No sweat!
You should see
people lay down with blood all over
their bodies as they expire in agony,
but it is all pleasure and laughter
from the Mooryaans as they watch the
end result of their gruesome crime.
And if you dared to stop them they
would rip you to pieces. Then the boys
go off and chew copious bundles of the
drug Qaad or Jaad imported from Kenya.
Time to call the
Somali media to account. Unlike their
counterparts at home, who face
threats, censorship, arbitrary
detention and murder, those of us in
the Diaspora are in a position to come
out of the closet and exert pressure
on the perpetrators of clan-based
violence in the South.
Of course, it is
worth mentioning here that the work of
many contributors to some of the
highly regarded websites is very
stimulating and objective, and I wish
them success for the tasks ahead for
they are the real pioneer
torchbearers.
Commentary
By M.M. Afrah,
Email: afrah95@hotmail.com
TALKING
POINT By M. M. Afrahİ
