(EFJA/IFEX) – The following is a 4 March 2002 EFJA press release: Journalist imprisoned for ten months for failing to produce bail released The Federal High Court had imposed bail of Birr 16,000 (approx. US$1,915) on journalist Tamrat Zuma, editor-in-chief of “Atkurot” newspaper, who was charged with violating the Press Law. Zuma was kept in […]
(EFJA/IFEX) – The following is a 4 March 2002 EFJA press release:
Journalist imprisoned for ten months for failing to produce bail released
The Federal High Court had imposed bail of Birr 16,000 (approx. US$1,915) on journalist Tamrat Zuma, editor-in-chief of “Atkurot” newspaper, who was charged with violating the Press Law. Zuma was kept in Addis Ababa prison from 25 May 2001 to 4 March 2002 for failing to produce bail. Neither Zuma nor the Ethiopian Free Press Journalists’ Association (EFJA) were able to produce the exorbitant amount of money requested. After ten months in prison, the required bail was produced through the joint efforts of EFJA and the cooperation of journalists’ associations and international organisations. As a result, Zuma was released today, 4 March. His case is still pending.
The EFJA takes this opportunity to express its deep appreciation to our international friends who have made an important contribution towards obtaining Zuma’s release. It also expresses its gratitude to international press institutions, human rights activists and friends of the free press who expressed their solidarity and voiced their protest against the mistreatment of Ethiopian free press journalists.
4 March 2002
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Ethiopian Free press Journalists’ Association (EFJA)
Kifle Mulat
President, EFJA
