Addis Ababa, June 11, 2012–The Committee to Protect Journalists
and the Africa
Media Initiative (AMI) called for the release of journalists being held
under Ethiopia’s anti-terrorism laws and requested a review of those laws as
they affect freedom of speech.
CPJ board member Charlayne Hunter-Gault, CPJ Deputy Director
Robert Mahoney and AMI board member Dele Olojede met Friday in Addis Ababa with
Communications Minister Bereket Simon, a senior figure in the government of
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
In a two-hour meeting, the delegation also expressed
concern about continuing prosecutions of journalists, particularly under the 2009
anti-terrorism statute, which independent publishers and reporters say has
a chilling effect on Ethiopia’s small private media sector.
Ethiopia is holding seven journalists behind bars, according
to CPJ research, making it
Africa’s second leading jailer of journalists behind neighboring Eritrea. Three
Ethiopian and two
Swedish journalists are being held under the anti-terrorism
law, according to CPJ research.
Ethiopian officials insist that journalists are not
being held under security laws for what they have reported. Rather, they have
accused the journalists of involvement in anti-government plots and other
security-related offenses.
“We in the government so far have not invoked this
anti-terrorism law against any individual journalist,” Bereket said. “It’s not
an instrument for censorship, for stifling dissent, or for attacking press
freedom; it is an instrument that ultimately shall be used to protect
Ethiopians enjoying their constitutional rights,” he said.
Asked about concerns that the law intimidates journalists
into silence, Bereket said: “If there
are problems in implementation of any law, the government is ready to sit down
and review.”
Officials said they would consider allowing a delegation of CPJ
and AMI representatives to visit journalists in prison, but no response was
forthcoming by the end of the mission.
“We knew when we came to Addis that the chasm between the
government and the private media was wide and our visit clarified that,” said
Hunter-Gault.
“However disappointed we are that we were unable to visit
the imprisoned journalists to hear their side of the story, we believe
we made the point that a healthy democracy needs a vibrant, even critical
media–the kind that exists in free societies the world over–and
that Ethiopia’s development, as well as its image in the world, will
depend on how it relates to this important feature of a truly democratic
society,” she said.
Bereket acknowledged AMI’s efforts to assist publishers and
journalists and expressed willingness to talk with the country’s private media.
AMI board member Olojede welcomed this, adding, “We also
note the government’s expression of support for AMI plans to organize seminars
and workshops that will bring together all stakeholders, with the aim of
strengthening independent media in Ethiopia.”
The African Media Initiative is a pan-African organization
aimed at assisting private and independent media owners and journalists to meet
the ongoing challenges of media development on the continent.
