(EFJA/IFEX) – An additional charge has been filed against a member of the free press who is currently in jail. On 2 June 2000, the Federal High Court sentenced Tewodros Kassa, former editor-in-chief of “Ethiop” newspaper, to a one year prison term or payment of a fine of Birr 15,000 (approx. US$1,800), after the court […]
(EFJA/IFEX) – An additional charge has been filed against a member of the free press who is currently in jail. On 2 June 2000, the Federal High Court sentenced Tewodros Kassa, former editor-in-chief of “Ethiop” newspaper, to a one year prison term or payment of a fine of Birr 15,000 (approx. US$1,800), after the court established that he was guilty of disseminating fabricated information in his newspaper that could incite people to political violence. Subsequently, on 13 November, Tewodros Kassa appeared in court on an additional charge filed against him by the prosecutor.
Details of the charges which the prosecutor filed against Tewodros Kassa are as follows: “‘Ethiop’ newspaper, no. 112, Sene 18/1989 Eth.C {1997}, carried a news report titled ‘Businessman killed by unidentified force’. The report speculated that businessman Duki Feyssa may have been murdered by state security forces. Duki is suspected of being a member of the OLF. Tewodros has been charged with defaming the good reputation of Ato Duki by disseminating false information through the newspaper”.
After completing the one year prison term he is currently serving, Tewodros Kassa would go on to fight his case for the second charge. If the court entitles him to bail rights, he will fight his case outside prison. If, however, he is not entitled to bail rights, he will be forced to fight his case while in prison.
State repressive measures against the private press have markedly subsided over the past several months. At present, however, the government seems to have resumed the repression once again. The EFJA has been quite worried about this recent unwelcome development.
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H.E. Ato Meles Zenawi
Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Fax: +251 1 552 020
H.E. Ato Woredewold Wolde
Minister of Justice
Fax: +251 1 550 722
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