Total Lack of Freedom of Press, Appalling Violations of Human Rights in Abyssinia (Fake Ethiopia)

The leading international organization RSF (Reporters Sans Frontières – Reporters without Borders) made public a letter they addressed to the racist Tigray dictator of Abyssinia (Fake Ethiopia) in order to expose the unacceptable practices of Meles Zenawi and his racist gang and denounce the appalling violations of Human and Civil Rights in Africa´s most obsolete state.

I herewith republish the RSF Letter which amongst others clearly unveils the intentional degradation of the situation during the pre-electoral period:

"The new code of conduct governing election reporting, adopted at the start of March in anticipation of the upcoming general election, imposed many restrictions on the freedom of journalists".

In addition, I republish two earlier RSF releases that demonstrate that there is absolutely no freedom of press in Abyssinia (Fake Ethiopia); at the end, I add the introductory part from the RSF portal which illustrates the activities of the organization.

Reporters Without Borders writes to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi

http://en.rsf.org/ethiopia-reporters-without-borders-writes-06-05-2010,37394.html

Reporters Without Borders wrote yesterday to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi voicing concern about a deterioration in the climate for journalists in recent weeks and calling on him to consult with his country´s journalists in order to find ways to amend the code of conduct governing election reporting that was adopted in March.

The letter also urged the authorities to stop jamming Voice of America´s Amharic-language broadcasts and raised the case of two journalists employed by the Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency (ERTA) who have been detained for more than a week.

"The climate of fear that we condemned in December 2009, when the weekly Addis Neger decided to stop publishing, seems as palpable as ever in Ethiopia as the country approaches the 23 May general election," the letter said. "We bring to your attention that we are deeply worried about what we consider an apparent and intimidating effect of the measures taken by your government in the past months on journalists, restricting news coverage, and limiting pluralistic views and open criticism."

"The forthcoming polling should be seized as a rare opportunity to show the Ethiopian people and international community that you are willing and prepared to organise elections that are free and transparent and are covered by both Ethiopian and foreign journalists without difficulty."

Referring to the two ERTA journalists, the letter said: "We strongly urge the Ethiopian justice to give Haileyesus Worku and Abdulsemed Mohammed a fair trial, one that establishes whether or not the charges brought against them are well-founded. In the meantime, we call for their provisional release."

Arrested by members of the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission on 26 April, producer Haileyesus Worku and reporter Abdulsemed Mohammed are alleged to have stolen and sold national television programmes to the international TV station Al Jazeera.

They were brought before a federal court on 30 April but were not formally indicted. The judge adjourned the proceedings until 10 May, thereby allowing another week for further investigation and extending their provisional detention. As a result, the two journalists will remain in prison until 10 May at least. Communications minister Bereket Simon has said the case is a purely criminal matter that is unrelated to media freedom.

Recognising in March that his government would possibly jam the Voice of America´s broadcasts in Amharic in the coming weeks, Prime Minister Meles accused the station of "destabilising propaganda."

The new code of conduct governing election reporting, adopted at the start of March in anticipation of the upcoming general election, imposed many restrictions on the freedom of journalists. They will not, for example, be allowed to interview voters, candidates or observers on election day. One of the code´s articles says that journalists must refrain from reporting anything that might incite rebellion or terrorism.

"This vague wording could be interpreted broadly and expose journalists to the possibility of arbitrary arrest," the letter added. "We are also extremely concerned by the fact that journalists could be sentenced to imprisonment for violating this code of conduct."

Picture : Meles Zenawi (AFP / Olivier Morin)

Weekly forced to stop publishing, its journalists flee abroad

http://en.rsf.org/ethiopia-weekly-forced-to-stop-publishing-04-12-2009,35258.html

Reporters Without Borders condemns the climate of fear to which Ethiopia´s independent media are currently exposed. The Addis Ababa-based weekly Addis Neger suspended publication today after several of its editors fled the country in the past few days because they were afraid they would be arrested.

"The spectre of the 2005 crackdown on the opposition and on the independent press is resurfacing in the run-up to the May 2010 general elections," Reporters Without Borders said. "We condemn the fact that a weekly has been forced to close because of a smear campaign and because its staff was gripped by fear. We hope the government´s assurances will allow it to resume publishing soon."

The press freedom organisation added: "During 2010, a politically sensitive year, we will closely monitor the degree of freedom available to the media and whether journalists are able to work without being subject to intimidation and fear."

An Amharic-language weekly known for being outspoken and critical of the government, Addis Neger announced today that its latest issue (28 November) would be last one until further notice. The management said it had been forced to take this decision because of the government´s intention – confirmed by various sources – to prosecute the newspaper and its staff under an anti-terrorism law that was adopted last summer.

The pro-government newspaper Addis Zemen has meanwhile been virulent in its criticism of Addis Neger in a series of articles in recent weeks while the state television station ETV has been preparing a programme attacking the weekly.

"Our newspaper was one of the country´s best examples of what independent journalists (…) can accomplish," Addis Neger managing editor Mesfin Negash said in press release obtained by Reporters Without Borders. Unfortunately, the government "made our task impossible," he added. Communication minister and government spokesman Bereket Simon meanwhile denied that the authorities had any intention of targeting the newspaper.

Reporters Without Borders wrote to the minister on 15 July voicing concern about the new anti-terrorism law and the press freedom violations it was liable to spawn, and asking him to ensure that journalists, especially opposition ones, would not be the victims of any misuse of this law.

During a visit to Ethiopia in October 2008, Reporters Without Borders met Simon, who was then an adviser to the prime minister. He said at the time that the government wanted to open up to the media and defuse tension with journalists.

Two journalists get one-year jail terms under obsolete law

http://en.rsf.org/ethiopia-two-journalists-get-one-year-jail-04-09-2009,34392.html

Reporters Without Borders is stunned by the one-year jail sentences imposed on two journalists in separate cases brought by the public prosecutor for the alleged dissemination of false information. Both journalists have been held in Kalita prison on the outskirts of Addis Ababa since 24 August. One the prosecutions concerned an article published in 2004 and both were based in part on an obsolete law.

"These prison sentences, and the prosecution of old cases, are all the more surprising as the Ethiopian authorities had been displaying signs of greater tolerance towards the media since 2005," Reporters Without Borders said, calling for the immediate release of the two journalists.

"Coming after the adoption of an anti-terrorism law that could lead to press freedom violations, these sentences show that it is still very dangerous to work as a journalist in Ethiopia," the press freedom organisation added. "It is incomprehensible that the courts are enforcing a law that is no longer in effect."

Federal high court judge Zewdinesh Asres passed a one-year sentence on Asrat Wedajo, the former editor of the weekly Seife Nebelbal, over a 2004 article about human rights violations against individuals in the Oromia regional state. Wedajo, who was not represented by a lawyer at the trial, was convicted under the criminal code and a 1992 press law that was rendered obsolete by the media and access to information law that took effect last December.

Seife Nebelbal, which expressed strong political views and often reported alleged cases of mistreatment of Oromos, was closed during a crackdown on the press in 2005 by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi´s government.

In the other case, Ibrahim Mohamed Ali, the editor of the weekly Salafiyya, was given a one-year sentence under the same provisions for publishing a column last year criticising the education ministry´s plan to ban Muslim students from wearing the veil in state schools. Ali spent 10 days in prison after the article´s publication together with Maria Kadim, the editor of the Muslim daily Al-Quds, and Ezedin Mohamed, its publisher.

Reporters Without Borders wrote to communication minister Bereket Simon on 15 July voicing concern about the newly-adopted anti-terrorism law and the press freedom violations that are liable to result from some of its articles.

During a visit to Ethiopia in October 2008, Reporters Without Borders met Simon, who was then an adviser to the prime minister. He said at the time that the government wanted to open up to the media and defuse tension with journalists.

Reporters Without Borders understands that the ethiopian government made encouraging strides to open up access of information to journalists following the pledge. However, the press freedom organisation fears that such indictments of journalists based on obsolete law could derail progress in the relations between the government and the media.

Reporters Without Borders remains hopeful that the ethiopian government will work vigorously to create an environment that enables journalists to work without intimidation and fear.

Introduction

http://en.rsf.org/introduction-24-04-2009,32617.html

"Don´t wait to be deprived of news to stand up and fight for it"

In some countries a journalist can be thrown in prison for years for a single offending word or photo. Jailing or killing a journalist removes a vital witness to events and threatens the right of us all to be informed. Reporters Without Borders has fought for press freedom on a daily basis since it was founded in 1985.

Investigate, expose and support

Reporters Without Borders:

defends journalists and media assistants imprisoned or persecuted for doing their job and exposes the mistreatment and torture of them in many countries.

fights against censorship and laws that undermine press freedom.

gives financial aid each year to 100 or so journalists or media outlets in difficulty (to pay for lawyers, medical care and equipment) as well to the families of imprisoned journalists.

works to improve the safety of journalists, especially those reporting in war zones.

Before taking action, Reporters Without Borders researchers, who each handle a region (Africa, the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe and the former Soviet bloc, Middle East/ North Africa) or a topic such as the Internet, compile reports of press freedom violations. After checking the information, the researchers and the organisations´ correspondents send protest letters to the authorities to put pressure on governments which do not respect the right to inform and to be informed, and send releases to the media to drum up support for the journalists under attack.

Sometimes gathering information is not enough. A Reporters Without Borders fact-finding mission is then sent to investigate on the spot the working conditions of journalists, as well as cases of imprisoned or murdered journalists, and also to meet with the authorities in the country concerned.

Publicity campaigns conducted with the help of public relations firms aim to inform people and try to give countries which do not respect this basic right a bad name in the eyes of international institutions, the media and governments that have ties with them.

Reporters Without Borders is funded by the sale of its twice-annual albums of photographs as well as calendars, by auctions, small and large donations, member dues, public grants and partnerships with private firms.

An international organisation

Reporters Without Borders is present in all five continents through its national branches (in Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland), its offices in New York, Tokyo and Washington, and the more than 120 correspondents it has in other countries. The organisation also works closely with local and regional press freedom groups that are members of the Reporters Without Borders Network, in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Burma, Colombia, Democratic Congo, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Peru, Romania, Russia, Somalia, the United States and Tunisia.

Reporters Without Borders is registered in France as a non-profit organisation and has consultant status at the United Nations.

In 2005, the organisation won the European Parliament´s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

A constantly-updated website

All the organisation´s press releases and publications are available online in five languages (Arabic, English, French, Spanish and Persian) at its website www.rsf.org which keeps a daily-updated list of journalists killed or imprisoned around the world. It also contains detailed reports on special cases and invites the public to sign online petitions for the release of jailed journalists.

Press freedom events

As well as its daily press releases, fact-finding mission reports and regular publications, Reporters Without Borders stages several annual events to highlight the issue of press freedom.

The round-up of press freedom in the world In January, the organisation summarises the previous year, with the number of journalists arrested, threatened, physically attacked or killed and media censored.

World Press Freedom Day On this day (May 3), Reporters Without Borders publishes its list of the predators of press freedom, as well as a book of photographs which is sold to raise money for the organisation to continue its work.

The Worldwide Press Freedom Index Issued in October, measuring the degree of freedom journalists and media have in more than 160 countries.

Jailed Journalists Support Day Reporters Without Borders has lobbied media and journalists since 1989 to "adopt" journalists imprisoned for doing their job and to publicise their plight on this day each November so they are not forgotten. A second book of photographs is also published on the day to raise money to help imprisoned journalists.

The Reporters Without Borders Prize In December. This honours a journalist who, by work, attitude or principled stands, has shown strong belief in press freedom, a media outlet that exemplifies the battle for the right to inform the public and to be informed, a defender of press freedom and a cyber-dissident spearheading freedom of expression online.