(EFJA/IFEX) – The following is an EFJA Executive Committee statement: EFJA’s existence at a crucial point Government considers taking action to ban EFJA In a statement broadcast on Radio Ethiopia and Ethiopian Television on the evening of 4 November 2003, the Ministry of Justice’s Associations’ Registration Office said it is preparing to take measures against […]
(EFJA/IFEX) – The following is an EFJA Executive Committee statement:
EFJA’s existence at a crucial point
Government considers taking action to ban EFJA
In a statement broadcast on Radio Ethiopia and Ethiopian Television on the evening of 4 November 2003, the Ministry of Justice’s Associations’ Registration Office said it is preparing to take measures against the Ethiopian Free Press Journalists’ Association (EFJA), which obtained official recognition seven years after its establishment and which for the past three years has been carrying out its work under very difficult and challenging conditions.
We at EFJA have over the past three years, and in the past several months in particular, been making efforts to withstand and challenge destructive propaganda and other malicious campaigns aimed at undermining us. These campaigns have been launched against us by senior government officials, government-controlled media and the ruling party. We have provided all the information required by the Associations Registration Office and have been submitting periodic reports to the Ministry of justice regarding the activities of our association. Even though we have provided the necessary information, the Associations Registration Office is presently engaged in a systematic campaign to target EFJA, create divisions between its members and discredit its leadership.
At present, independent journalism and EFJA’s existence are at risk. This is a crucial moment and one in which the Ethiopian people, our colleagues and supporters of democracy should combine forces, responding immediately to come to the aid of the free press.
We, the members of the free press, organised ourselves based on the civil and human rights guaranteed to us by the Constitution. In the process of organising ourselves we enjoyed the support and confidence of our people. Since its inception, EFJA has been carrying out its work in accordance with the law.
We have been demanding and continue to demand one thing: that the civil rights guaranteed to us by the Constitution not be infringed upon. The Associations Registration Office said in its statement that “it is prepared to take action against EFJA because it has not fulfilled its legally required responsibilities.” In light of the rights guaranteed to us by the Constitution, this statement is unacceptable. We therefore urge the Associations Registration Office to re-examine and reconsider its decision.
We call on our international colleagues and allies and civic and professional associations to voice their protest against the planned action.
We call on members of EFJA to prepare for the fourth general conference, due to be held on 15 December 2003, and to carry out their mission of explaining to our people and the international community the injustices being perpetrated against us by the authorities.
Once again, we call on our members, our people, supporters of democracy and the international community to closely follow the development of this case in Ethiopia.
EFJA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
4 NOVEMBER 2003
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
Kifle Mulat
President, EFJA
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Send appeals to authorities:
– calling on them to prevent the Associations Registration Office from taking action against EFJA
APPEALS TO:
House of Representatives
P.O. Box 80001
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: +251 1 550 900
H.E. Ato Girma Wolde Giorgis
President
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
P.O. Box 1031
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: +251 1 555 020
H.E. Ato Meles Zenawi
Prime Minister
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
P.O. Box 1031
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: +251 1 552 020
H.E. Ato Harka Hariye
Justice Minister
P.O. Box 1031
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: +251 1 552 020
Federal Police Commissioner
P.O. Box 199
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: +251 1 534 253
H.E. Ato Bereket Simon
Information Minister
Fax: +251 1 533 510
E-mail: Minoi@telecom.net.et
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
For further information, contact Kifle Mulat, President, EFJA, P.O. Box 31317 / 33232, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, tel/fax: +251 1 55 50 21, mobile: +251 1 (09) 222 939, e-mail: efja@telecom.net.et, efjakifle@hotmail.com
