November 27/2000

HARASSMENT OF JOURNALISTS CONTINUES

 The government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has continued with its harassment of independent journalists in Ethiopia. The vice president of the Ethiopian Free Journalists Association, Ato ZEGEYE HAILE, has been arrested in Addis Abeba and attempts by EFJA officials to contact him have been fruitless. Ato Zegeye is also the publisher of the GENANAW newspaper. Editors of GOH, MAHLET and ABYSSINIA newspapers had also been summoned and interrogated by the police. They were released thanks to sureties. This is one usual tactic of the government: summoning journalists, subjecting them to interrogation, summoning them again and so on and on.

The EPRDF government has also tapped the phones of the independent journalists and newspapers and continues to intercept their mail. It is to be recalled that the government raised printing and paper costs to drive some of the newspapers out of business. Editors and journalists are arrested under the so called Press Law ( that actually contravenes the freedom of the press) and then fined exorbitant sums thereby assuring their prolonged stay behind bars since they cannot afford to pay the fine. 

The EPRDF government has imposed a quasi-total control over the media and is feverishly attempting the few independent newspapers that dare to continue the combat for freedom of the press. Write your protest letter to the EPRDF prime minister (Meles Zenawi, p.o.box 1031, Addis Abeba,Ethiopia.tel./fax 251-1-552020 with a copy to the EFJA, p.o.box 31317,Addis Abeba,Ethiopia.Tel/fax 251-1-555021)

SOCEPP