From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Thu Feb 12 2009 - 16:16:42 EST
Al Jazeera uses dodgy documents for Somalia documentary
Feb 12, 2009 - 3:43:06 PM
The Toxic Truth, a documentary aired on Al Jazeera TV on Saturday, January
17, 2009 raised more questions about people involved in the illicit business
of dumping toxic waste along Somalia's coast. Before the 2004 Tsunami
uncovered toxic waste dumped in the Somali seas, rumours were making the
rounds that Somali politicians have a role in the environmental crimes that
put lives of Somalis at risk.
Ali Mahdi Mohamed, former interim president of Somalia, has been accused of
having a role in the deal that enabled foreign companies to dump toxic waste
along the coats of Somalia. Al Jazeera documentary sought to
investigate, among other things, the link between foreigners contracted to
dump toxic waste in Somali seas, and Somali politicians. In 1994 an Italian
journalist, Ilaria Alpi, and her camera operator, Miran Hrovatin were
murdered in Mogadishu. Ilaria was reportedly investigating the use of
Italian aid for Somalia to smuggle arms and dump toxic waste in Somalia.
Al Jazeera <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lM7VCIuCXI> documentary aims to
substantiate allegations that Somali politicians and associates working with
Italy based companies, whose dealings Ilaria was partly investigating, were
behind the murder of the Ilaria and Miran. This very theory is undermined by
inadequate research that comes to light if one watches the The Toxic Truth.
In March 1994 when the two journalists were brutally murdered, Mogadishu was
divided into two parts: the north, ruled by the former interim president
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Mahdi_Mohamed> Ali Mahdi Mohamed , and the
south, ruled my late General
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Mahdi_Mohamed> Mohamed Farah Aideed , the
former chairman of United Somali Congress. In both parts of Mogadishu, a
large number armed clan militias accountable to no one had roamed in the
streets. Mogadishu was split into two parts in November 1991 when General
Aideed attempted to topple Ali Mahdi Mohamed. The unsuccessful coup
triggered internecine clan warfare between forces loyal to the Ali Mahdi
Mohamed and General Aideed. Although UNISOM forces were in Mogadihsu when
Ilaria and Miran were gunned down, only traders and people with no direct
role in the clan conflict were able to shuttle between the north and south
Mogadishu. It is not clear whether the Italian Foreign Ministry advised the
murdered journalists on travelling to Somalia. Journalists operating in a
divided city like 1990s Mogadishu hire security staff belonging to a part of
the city they are working. Security arrangements are facilitated by
associates from the group ruling the fiefdom (north or south Mogadishu).
Hashi Omar Hassan is serving 26 years in an Italian prison for the murder of
the Ilaria and Miran. Douglas Duale, a lawyer for Hashi told Al Jazeera
that " the idea of killing the journalists originated in Italy, not
Somalia, Somalia only did the handiwork.
" Al Jazeera's inadequate research into the arms smuggling into Somalia
comes to the fore in the documents shown in The Toxic Truth particularly a
letter from the Yemeni Ministry of Defence dated " 15th. April 1991"
indicating that the weapons on a ship were for Yemen. Somali fishing ships
were allegedly used to smuggle the weapons. The Somali ships perating under
thane of Shifco were based in Yemen following the overthrow of the military
regime in 1991. The Yemeni Ministry of Defence letter used for Al Jazeera
documentary is apparently dodgy. The letter-head bears the title: People's
Democratic Republic of Yemen", a county name for South Yemen before the
north and south Yemen united in 1990 to form the Republic of Yemen. No
effort was made to check the contents of the letter or to ascertain
whether it is fake or one forged by Shifco management based in the Yemen.
The signature on the letter is attributable to no one but to the Ministry of
Defence.
Another letter allegedly from the office of the former Somali interim
president Ali Mahdi Mohamed in which "he authorises the the building of
dumping ground in Somalia" raises fundamental questions about the editorial
judgement of Al Jazeera. The letter attributed to Ali Mahdi Mohamed was
issued on 19/8/1996, several weeks before the death of his rival General
Mohamed Farah Aideed in Mogadishu. Al Jazeera did not give Ali Mahdi Mohamed
a right of reply.
The issue of dumping toxic waste in Somalia was first covered the
<http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg13518390.400-toxic-waste-adds-to-soma
lias-woes-.html> New Scientist magazine in 1992. "Talks aimed at stopping
millions of tonnes of European toxic waste being dumped in strife-torn
Somalia have started between officials of the UN Environment Programme and
the Italian and Swiss governments," reported New Scientist on 19 September
1992.
There are two theories about Al Jazeera's flawed The Toxic Truth on
environmental crime committed against Somalia. One theory posits that Al
Jazeera was unwittingly dragged into Somali power-struggle to settle score
with people who cannot defend themselves against the media might of a major
news organisation like Al Jazeera. Another theory points to an intricate web
of deceit to put the blame on the shoulders of Somali political leaders who
allegedly made a deal with companies involved in dumping toxic waste in
seas. Rigourous research could have weeded out major flaws that make The
Toxic Truth look more like a cover-up than an exemplary investigative
report on a major environmental crime.
by Liban Ahmad, <mailto:libahm@gmail.com> libahm@gmail.com