Dec 27, 2012 (QOL) Qorahay Media Journalist Group condemns the irresponsible and the unprofessional reporting of Universal TV and its reporter Ahmed Abdulrahman (AKA Ahmed Kaabe). Mr. Abdulrahman violated the international journalism code of ethics by reporting untruthful information out of the Ogaden, accepting bribery and extorting money for publishing favorable stories for the Ethiopian government.

Mr. Abdulrahman (Kaabe) have been reporting out of Jigjiga, denying the existence of crimes in the Ogaden while also depicting the region as prosperous and well developed.

Contrary the Ogaden has quite some time been a no-go zone as the Ethiopian government imposed a total humanitarian, economic and media blockade, where international humanitarian aid organizations and international independent media outlets have all been denied access. As a result the Ogaden has become a humanitarian crisis as its population is at the risk of extinction.

If found in the Ogaden, independent journalists are arrested and charged with terrorism to discourage uncovering the collective punishment, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Ethiopian regime against the innocent civilians. Jeffrey Gettleman and later Swedish journalists Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson were found guilty on this charge and were imprisoned.

It is quite clear that Universal TV and its reporters have become cash for coverage and a propaganda tool used by the Ethiopian regime to spread its lies.

Therefore we ask Universal TV and its reporters to refrain from being the voice of the Ethiopian regime or else face legal actions. We also ask Universal TV to be a neutral media that respects the universal journalism code of ethics including the principles of — truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality and fairness.

Lastly we call upon all Somali media and journalist organizations to condemn Universal TV for its acts in the Ogaden and to not follow its footsteps.

We also urge the international journalist organizations to play an active role in achieving peace and stability in the Ogaden by demanding the Ethiopian government allow unhindered access into the Ogaden. In addition, we also request to hold media organizations such as Universal TV accountable for its cash for coverage.

Qorahay Media Journalist Group
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Head-quartered in Nairobi Kenya Qorahay Media Journalist Group is a national non-profit organization dedicated to reporting from the Ogaden and in the horn of Africa in general (Qolmedia@hotmail.com)