Ethiopian Free Press Journalists Association

(EFJA/IFEX) – On 26 March 2002, Melese Shine, editor-in-chief of the private Amharic-language weekly “Ethiop”, was sent to Addis Ababa Prison for being unable to produce bail of 10,000 birr (approx. US$1,200) that was imposed on him by the Fifth Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court. The prosecutor has charged him with printing and […]

(EFJA/IFEX) – On 15 March 2002, Gezaw Taye Wordofa, editor-in-chief of the Amharic weekly newspaper “Lamrot”, was put under police custody on charges of publishing and disseminating “immoral and indecent literature” in the April-May 2000 edition of the newspaper. On 21 March, Gezaw appeared before the Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court. The court […]

(EFJA/IFEX) – On 20 March 2002, “Ethiop” newspaper editor-in-chief Melese Shine appeared before the Federal High Court’s Fifth Criminal Bench on charges of “violating the Press Proclamation”. He was denied bail and remanded in custody at the Wereda 4 Police Station. He is scheduled to appear in court on 26 March. The court filed two […]

(EFJA/IFEX) – The following is a 15 March 2002 EJFA report on a number of legal actions launched against newspaper editors: 1. “Tobbia” newspaper editor-in-chief Ato Kebebew Gebyehu Filate The prosecutor has charged “Tobbia” newspaper editor-in-chief Ato Kebebew Gebyehu Filate with publishing and disseminating: a) a September 2001 “Tobbia” article titled “This challenging situation could […]

(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) – On 1 March 2002, the First Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court found EFJA President Kifle Mulat guilty of violating the Press Proclamation and fined him Birr 12,000 (approx. US$1,435). The Court ruled that Mulat is guilty of having “published material that disseminated fabricated information against the state and [of] spreading information […]

(EFJA/IFEX) – On Monday 25 February 2002, EFJA President Kifle Mulat appeared before the First Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court. The court was expected to rule on a case pending against Mulat since his release from seven months of imprisonment in 1998. However, the case was adjourned until Friday 1 March. The reason […]

(EFJA/IFEX) – On 25 January 2002, Zekarias Tesfaye, the publisher of the Amharic private weekly newspaper “Netsanet”, was arrested and detained by plainclothes police and security officers while having lunch with friends at a hotel. He was taken to the Central Investigation Office in a land cruiser with plate No. Code 2-39418. After making a […]

(EFJA/IFEX) – The following is an 11 January 2002 EFJA press release: EFJA will not accept the directives imposed on it by the rulers under the camouflage of a professional code of ethics It is well known that the Ethiopian Free Press Journalists’ Association was established for the purpose of: * bringing Ethiopian journalists together […]

(EFJA/IFEX) – EFJA is expressing concern over the alarming increase in the harassment of journalists, who have been summoned to the Central Investigation Office and often sentenced to jail terms by the government. Tilahun Bekele, former editor-in-chief of “Maebel” newspaper and current editor-in-chief of “Netsebrak” newspaper, was sentenced to a one year jail term for […]

(EFJA/IFEX) – Tsegaye Ayalew, editor-in-chief of “Genanaw”, and Robel Mitiku, editor-in-chief of “Gohe”, were among several editors-in-chief of private newspapers who were ordered to report to the Central Investigation Department in Addis Ababa the week of 19 to 26 November 2001. The two were detained on 20 and 21 November 2001, respectively, after making statements […]

(EFJA/IFEX) – On 19 November 2001, Wesenseged Gebrekidan, deputy editor-in-chief of “ETOP” newspaper, was summoned and notified by the Central Investigation Office (Makelawi) that a press charge was filed against him with the Federal High Court’s Third Criminal Bench. Gebrekidan is scheduled to be heard in court on 8 March 2002. Kidushabet Belachew, editor-in-chief of […]

(EFJA/IFEX) – On 9 November 2001, Kifle Mulat, president of the EFJA and editor-in-chief of “Ethio Time” newspaper, was summoned and notified by Central Investigation Office (Makelawi) agents that a press charge was filed against him with the Federal High Court’s First Criminal Bench. Mulat is scheduled to be heard in court on 5 December. […]

(EFJA/IFEX) – The following is a 7 November 2001 press release: New wave of harassment against journalists Repressive state measures against journalists working for the Ethiopian free press have subsided markedly over the past several months. At present, however, the government seems to have resumed the repression. On 1 November 2001, a new wave of […]

(EFJA/IFEX) – Though the harrassment of journalists working in the private media in Ethiopia had decreased in recent months, it has now stepped up again. On 31 October 2001, Ato Behailu Desalegn, editor-in-chief of the local English-language weekly “Capital”, was summoned to appear at the Zone 1, Woreda 3 police station. He was charged at […]

(EFJA/IFEX) – Lubaba Sa-id, editor-in-chief of “Tarik” newspaper, was imprisoned because she was unable to pay bail of 1,000 Birr (approx. US$120). The accused published two articles on pages one and six of the “Tarik” newspaper, (1st year No.52) issued on Nehassie 4/1988. They were titled: “The OPDO cadre official who has replaced Samora Yenous […]