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| Omar Faruk Osman, President of FAJ |
The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), which represents African journalists on the worldwide stage, condemns in the strongest term the new wave of campaign to stifle press freedom under the guise of counter-terrorism law and security agencies in Ethiopia.
Eskinder Nega, journalist, was arrested in Addis Ababa on Wednesday 14 September along with political activists after the Ethiopian police accused them of “creating havoc and plotting terrorism”.
Another prominent Ethiopian journalist, Argaw Ashine, who is President of the Ethiopia Environmental Journalists Association, fled his country over the last weekend because he was cited in a US diplomatic cable recently released by Wikileaks and he was subsequently summoned for questioning three times by Ethiopian officials to reveal his source within the Ethiopian government who gave him the information he is alleged to have passed on to US diplomats in Addis Ababa in 2009, according to media reports.
“We condemn the arrest and detention of journalists on these trumped-up charges with the ultimate goal of suppressing them and depriving them of their freedoms and rights to work as journalists and citizens,” said Omar Faruk Osman, President of FAJ.
On 7 September two Swedish journalists, Martain Schibbye & John Persson, appeared before a court in the Ethiopian capital city where they were formally charged with terrorism. They were arrested on 27 June after crossing into Ethiopia from Somaliland to report on the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) which is fighting the government forces in the Ogaden region. The journalists reportedly admitted entering Ethiopian territory without visas but denied any involvement in terrorism. Under Ethiopia’s anti-terror legislation the journalists could be sentenced to life imprisonment if convicted.
Two other Ethiopian journalists, deputy editor of the independent weekly Awramba Times Woubshet Taye and Reeyot Alemu, a regular contributor to the independent weekly Feteh, were arrested in June this year and also face charges under the country’s terrorism act.
“African journalists categorically reject these terrorism related charges which have led to an increased climate of fear, harassment and self-censorship among journalists in Ethiopia,” added Osman.
Federal Police Central Intelligence and Crime Intelligence Director Demelash Gebremichael told journalists in Addis Ababa that the journalists and political activities were put under control after the National Intelligence and Security Service and the Federal Police Joint Anti-terror Task Force found them engaged in “destabilizing peace and security in the country and dismantle the constitution”.
FAJ demands Ethiopian authorities to immediately drop these supercilious charges, free the detained journalists, allow journalists to work independently without fear of any repercussions and allow exiled journalists to come back and do their work with safety.
Eskinder Nega, journalist, was arrested in Addis Ababa on Wednesday 14 September along with political activists after the Ethiopian police accused them of “creating havoc and plotting terrorism”.
Another prominent Ethiopian journalist, Argaw Ashine, who is President of the Ethiopia Environmental Journalists Association, fled his country over the last weekend because he was cited in a US diplomatic cable recently released by Wikileaks and he was subsequently summoned for questioning three times by Ethiopian officials to reveal his source within the Ethiopian government who gave him the information he is alleged to have passed on to US diplomats in Addis Ababa in 2009, according to media reports.
“We condemn the arrest and detention of journalists on these trumped-up charges with the ultimate goal of suppressing them and depriving them of their freedoms and rights to work as journalists and citizens,” said Omar Faruk Osman, President of FAJ.
On 7 September two Swedish journalists, Martain Schibbye & John Persson, appeared before a court in the Ethiopian capital city where they were formally charged with terrorism. They were arrested on 27 June after crossing into Ethiopia from Somaliland to report on the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) which is fighting the government forces in the Ogaden region. The journalists reportedly admitted entering Ethiopian territory without visas but denied any involvement in terrorism. Under Ethiopia’s anti-terror legislation the journalists could be sentenced to life imprisonment if convicted.
Two other Ethiopian journalists, deputy editor of the independent weekly Awramba Times Woubshet Taye and Reeyot Alemu, a regular contributor to the independent weekly Feteh, were arrested in June this year and also face charges under the country’s terrorism act.
“African journalists categorically reject these terrorism related charges which have led to an increased climate of fear, harassment and self-censorship among journalists in Ethiopia,” added Osman.
Federal Police Central Intelligence and Crime Intelligence Director Demelash Gebremichael told journalists in Addis Ababa that the journalists and political activities were put under control after the National Intelligence and Security Service and the Federal Police Joint Anti-terror Task Force found them engaged in “destabilizing peace and security in the country and dismantle the constitution”.
FAJ demands Ethiopian authorities to immediately drop these supercilious charges, free the detained journalists, allow journalists to work independently without fear of any repercussions and allow exiled journalists to come back and do their work with safety.
Source: TUJ Tanzania
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