A Call for an End to the Persecution of Journalists in Ethiopia
By: Naomi Hunt, Press Freedom Adviser for Africa & the Middle East
VIENNA – Twenty international
journalists who have been recognised as World Press Freedom Heroes by
the Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI) have condemned the
Ethiopian government’s decision to jail Eskinder Nega and other
journalists on terrorism charges, and called for their immediate
release. Eskinder Nega, an online writer and critic of the
current Ethiopian government, was arrested in September 2011 and is
accused of supporting terrorism, for which he could face the death
penalty if convicted.
He was jailed shortly after having criticized the
government’s use of anti-terrorism laws to jail other journalists and
opposition figures. This is hardly Eskinder's first brush with the
authorites – he and his wife, also a journalist, were jailed for 17
months on treason charges in the aftermath of the disputed 2005
elections. Their son was born in prison. Since then, Eskinder has been
banned from journalism but has continued to speak out and write.
Ethiopia, which is set to host the
World Economic Forum on Africa in May 2012, jailed Eskinder and four
other journalists on anti-terrorism charges over the past year.
Woubshet Taye, deputy editor of the now-defunct Awramba Times, and Reyot Alemu of Feteh
newspaper were convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison this
January. In December, Swedish journalists Martin Schibbye and Johann
Persson were sentenced to 11 years in prison for aiding terrorists. They
had been arrested last year in the company of rebels in the Ogaden
region.
Last month, IPI Executive Director Alison Bethel
McKenzie called on United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to speak
out against Ethiopia’s use of anti-terror laws to jail journalists,
which IPI said "makes a mockery of the universal right to ‘hold opinions
without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and
ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.’”IPI noted that this practice also undermines “the
fight against real terrorists, who use violence - and not words - to
achieve their ends”.
Each of the men and women who signed this petition has
been honoured for their contributions to freedom of the press in their
home countries and around the world. Many have themselves been jailed
for their work – indeed Turkish author and investigative reporter Nedim
Sener’s battle against terrorism charges, believed by observers to be
designed to silence him as a journalist, is not over yet. Read their
call for Ethiopia’s journalists to be freed, below:
*******************************************************************************
H.E. Meles Zenawi
P.O.Box 1031
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Via Fax: 2511-55-20-20
Dear Prime Minister,
We
are writing to express our extremely strong condemnation of the
Ethiopian government’s decision to jail journalist Eskinder Nega on
terrorism charges on Sep. 14, 2011. We believe the government’s decision
to arrest him violates the rights of freedom of speech and freedom of
the press guaranteed by the Ethiopian constitution, the United Nations’
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights.
The
imprisonment of Eskinder Nega and other journalists represents the
criminalisation of investigation and criticism, which should be part and
parcel of any democratic society. We
are particularly concerned by reports from Human Rights Watch and
Amnesty International that Eskinder may be subject to torture during his
imprisonment.
We
call on the Ethiopian government to unconditionally release Eskinder
and other journalists unjustly detained; to ensure that he and others
are treated humanely; to halt the use of anti-terrorism laws to
prosecute journalists; and to fully defend the rights of the press
outlined by Ethiopia’s constitution and international agreements.Please
note that we are sending this statement to the authorities of the
African Union – including the Chairperson of the African Union
Commission, Dr. Jean Ping, and the Chairperson of the African Commission
on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Catherine Dupe Atoki.
We wish to draw
their attention to the fact that the conduct of the Ethiopian Government
is in conflict with the protocols of the African Union, the African
Union Charter, and the guarantees of freedom of expression protected
under various international human rights instruments including the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Moreover, we find that the
conduct of the Ethiopian government also brings the African Union into
disrepute because its headquarters are in Addis Ababa.
Signed by: Kenneth Best, Liberia – Kenneth Best founded The Daily Observer,
Liberia’s first independent daily, in 1981. As a result of its critical
reporting of Samuel Doe’s dictatorship, Kenneth Best was arrested on
multiple occasions and the paper shut down four times, once for a period
of two years. In 1990, when The Daily Observer facilities were
burnt down, Kenneth Best and his family were exiled to The Gambia, where
another newspaper of the same name was established.
Lydia Cacho, Mexico
– One of Mexico’s most famous journalists, reporting on organised
crime, political corruption, domestic violence, and child prostitution,
Lydia Cacho has raised awareness of serious issues facing women and
children in Mexico. Lydia has written for Novedades de Cancún and Por Esto, as well as books including Los Demonios del Eden: El Poder Que Protege a la Pornografía Infantil ("The
Demons of Eden: The Power That Protects Child Pornography"). Lydia
Cacho remains committed to her work despite having been imprisoned and
tortured.
Juan Pablo Cardenas, Chile – As chief editor of Análisis
during General Pinochet’s regime, Juan Pablo faced constant harassment
and legal prosecution. Despite the murder of one of his journalists,
Cardenas remained committed to reporting on government corruption and
human rights abuses. He once endured a 541-night prison sentence for
offending the armed forces in his editorials. Now, Juan Pablo continues
to write for national and international publications and is currently a
professor at the University of Chile’s School of Journalism.
May Chidiac, Lebanon
– Dr. May Chidiac is the founder and president of the May Chidiac
Foundation. Known for her criticism of Syria’s sway over Lebanon, an
issue that was seldom critically discussed in the country, May Chidiac
worked as the main anchor on political talk show Bi Kol Jor’a. May
Chidiac nearly lost her life in a car bomb attack in 2005, which left
her severely injured.
Sir Harold Evans, United Kingdom - One of Britain’s most respected journalists and the crusading editor of The Sunday Times
for 14 years, Sir Harold Evans brought a new style of investigative
reporting to his country. He has authored and edited best-sellers and
served as a contributor to various media houses including The Guardian and the BBC. In 2011, Sir Evans joined the Reuters news agency as editor-at-large.
Akbar Ganji, Iran
– Often called ‘Iran’s most prominent political dissident’, Akbar Ganji
spent six years in Evin prison for a 1999 series of articles he wrote
for Sobh Emrouz newspaper about Iran’s notorious ‘chain murders’. Akbar
Ganji also wrote a number of articles accusing high level political
figures and clerics of being involved in assassinations of dissidents
and intellectuals. In 2000, Ganji was arrested for spreading propaganda
and endangering national security. He spent six years in prison, much of
it in solitary confinement. However he used this time to write his
“Republican Manifesto”. After his release in 2006, Akbar Ganji left Iran
and has been campaigning for democracy. He published his first book in
English in 2008, entitled The Road to Democracy in Iran.
Amira Hass, Israel – As a journalist for Ha’aretz,
Amira Hass has covered the Gaza strip and Palestinian affairs for
years, becoming the first Israeli journalist to live in the Palestinian
territories. Amira Hass was convinced that the Israelis needed to know
the truth about the plight of the Palestinian people. Despite arrests
and confrontations with the Israeli authorities and the Palestinian
National Authority, she continues to report with independence.
Daoud Kuttab, Jordan
– Daoud Kuttab is General Manager at the Community Media Network, Amman
and Founder of AmmanNet, Amman, Jordan, the Arab world’s first Internet
radio station. One of the best known Palestinian journalists, Kuttab
fought for a free media in the Palestinian Territories under both the
Israelis and the Palestinian Authorit. He has worked for a number of
publications including Al Fajr and Al Quds, but went on to help
establish both the Arabic Media Internet Network in 1995 and the
Institute of Modern Media at Al Quds University in 1996.
Gwen Lister, Namibia – As founder and former editor of The Namibian,
Gwen Lister remained committed to reporting injustice and corruption
both before and after Namibia’s independence from apartheid South
Africa, despite prosecutions, raids and violent attacks. She previously
co-founded the Windhoek Observer and worked as a political editor. She is a founder of the Media Institute of Southern Africa.
Raymond Louw, South Africa
– Raymond Louw is a veteran champion of press freedom and journalists’
rights. Chairman of the South African Press Council and one of the
founding members of the South African National Editors’ Forum, until
2011 Louw also worked as the editor and publisher of Southern Africa Report, a private current affairs weekly. Raymond Louw previously worked for the Sunday Times and the Rand Daily Mail, which was renowned for its investigative journalism with regards to apartheid and other issues.
Veran Matic, Serbia
– As co-founder of Radio B92, Veran Matic provided an accurate and
impartial account of events in Serbia, whilst standing up to pressure
from the authorities and withstanding multiple threats, physical attacks
and arrests. B92 was banned in 1991 and again in 1996. The radio
station was repeatedly jammed and then closed down, but it continued to
operate via the Internet. Mass rallies and protests forced the
authorities to open the station again. Matic established the Association
of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), a network of independent radio
stations in Serbia and Montenegro, in an attempt to provide listeners
with objective news. ANEM is still going strong today with more than 50
independent radio and television stations.
Adam Michnik, Poland
– As a former dissident, writer, historian, lecturer and journalist,
Adam Michnik is known for his defence of human rights. He spent a total
of six years in prison between 1965 and 1986 for his opposition to
communist rule in Poland. As editor in chief of the first independent
Polish daily, Gazeta Wyborcza, Adam Michnik has remained
committed to the paper’s independence. Today, the newspaper remains the
top-selling daily in Poland, and one of the most respected in Europe.
Fred M’membe, Zambia
– Known for his outspoken defence of press freedom and his paper’s
exposés on government corruption and abuses of power, Frank M’membe is
founder and editor-in-chief for The Post, Zambia’s leading
independent daily. Despite harassment, raids, multiple lawsuits
including accusations of defamation and treason confiscation and
censorship, Frank M’membe continues to uphold the principle of press
freedom. Frank M’membe is also a founder of the Media Institute of
Southern Africa, which fosters a free and independent media.
Nizar Nayouf, Syria – Nizar Nayouf repeatedly paid the price for his work. While working as editor in chief for Sawt Al Democratiyya,
and because of his affiliation with the Committee for the Defence of
Democratic Freedom, Nayouf was sentenced in 1992 to ten years in prison.
He spent most of this time in solitary confinement and was tortured,
but still managed to write four books. Since his release from prison,
Nizar Nayouf has left Syria and is chief editor of Syria Truth.
Pap Saine, The Gambia – Gambian publisher and editor Pap Saine is the publisher and editor of The Point
and a Reuters correspondent for West and Central Africa. Pap Saine has
faced imprisonment and harassment for his work, particularly for his
commitment to press freedom and revealing the truth about Deyda Hydara,
his co-founder who was murdered by unknown men in 2004.
Faraj Sarkohi, Iran –
A writer and journalist, Faraj Sarkohi was persecuted by both the Shah
of Iran and the Islamic Republic of Iran. As a result of his work for Adineh,
a literary monthly he founded and edited, Faraj Sarkohi faced
imprisonment and torture before he was forced into exile. He continues
to campaign for greater press freedom in Iran.
Nedim Sener, Turkey
– After spending a year behind bars, Nedim Sener was recently released
from prison pending trial. He faces allegations that his criticism of
government investigations into alleged coup plots demonstrated support
for those plots. Sener is an author and investigative journalist with
Turkish daily newspaper Posta. His work includes publication of a
book on the 2007 murder of his friend, Turkish-Armenian journalist
Hrant Dink, which accused Turkish security agencies of failing to
prevent Dink's murder.
Arun Shourie, India
– One of India’s most renowned and controversial journalists, Arun
Shourie was the uncompromising editor of the English-language daily Indian Express,
and introduced a new style of independent investigative journalism to
India. At one stage, there were 300 cases filed against the Indian Express
by the government but Shourie remained committed to press freedom,
ensuring him a vast following, and many enemies, across India. Arun
Shourie is now working in politics and previously was a Minister for the
Bharatiya Janata Party.
Ricardo Uceda, Peru
– Famous for his fearless reporting on government corruption and the
military’s abuse of human rights, Ricardo Uceda is one of Peru’s most
renowned investigative journalists. As editor of newsweekly Sí,
Ricardo Uceda revealed military abuses and faced physical threats and
censorship. Ricardo Uceda also founded the Investigative Unit of El Comercio, Peru’s oldest daily, and previously he also worked for El Mundo, Expreso, El Diario, El Nacional, Canal 2 and La Razón, and is a founding member of Instituto Prensa y Sociedad (Press and Society Institute).
Jose Ruben Zamora, Guatemala – Founder and former editor-in-chief of the independent daily Siglo Veintiuno
(21st Century), Jose Ruben Zamora has built up a reputation for
reporting on taboo subjects and exposés covering corruption, drug
trafficking and human rights violations. Zamora resigned as editor in
chief of Siglo Veintiuno in 1996 and launched a new daily, El Periódico,
which continues its critical coverage. Zamora has faced censorship,
harassment, death threats, kidnapping and attacks for his work.
International Press Institute contact: Naomi Hunt +43 1 512 90 11 or nhunt@freemedia.at
Committee to Free Eskinder Nega contact: Jason McLure +1 202 370 6905
