May 3, 2002

 STATEMENT ON WORLD PRESS DAY STOP THE VIOLATION OF THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IN ETHIOPIA

ON May 3,1991, African journalists gathered in Windhoek, South Africa , and adopted the Windhoek Declaration calling for the respect of the freedom of the press, an end to censorship and the repression against journalists. At present, the fate of the free press is very precarious in many parts of the world.

The EPRDF in Ethiopia has been categorized as one of the few obdurate enemies of the free press. Numerous journalists had been jailed and even now quite a few are purging time unable to pay the imposed heavy bail and fines. Censorship is actually in effect though it is officially non- existent. A very repressive Press law (1994), which is in the process of getting amended and worsened soon, has been used to punish all free journalists who dare to report news and write articles critical of the regime in place. Some journalists like Berhanu Ijigu have disappeared while in custody. Others have died in prison for lack of medical treatment and many others have been forced to flee to Kenya, Djibouti, South Africa and beyond.

World press day is observed to emphasize the need for an end to the violations of the right to a free press, to call an end to the repression, to the murder of journalists who are pursuing their profession. SOCEPP takes the opportunity to call upon the international public to raise its voice against the repressive practices of the regime of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and to help the journalists who are courageously resisting the onslaught they are being subjected to.

RELEASE ALL JAILED JOURNALISTS!

STOP THE REPRESSION AGAINST THE EFJA!

RESPECT THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS!

ABROGATE THE REPRESSIVE 1994 PRESS LAW!

SOCEPP