(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 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 disseminating an illegal article in his newspaper. The editor-in-chief was held in custody for a week at Wereda 4 Police Station until his appearance in court. The criminal charge brought against him stated that, “The editor-in-chief of ‘Ethiop’ newspaper published and disseminated, in his newspaper, an illegal article that defames the head of government. The editor-in-chief also published, in his newspaper, an interview with a bandit who claims to be the leader of an illegal group that calls itself the Keffagne Patriotic Front”.
Several newspapers published EFJA’s statement, which protested the denial of the journalist’s right to bail. The court issued an order to the police that the editor-in-chief of “Addis Admas”, one of the newspapers that carried the EFJA statement, should appear in court on 2 April 2003.
In another case, Tsega Moges, editor-in-chief of “Zare New” newspaper was charged with violating the Press Proclamation and the Penal Code. On 26 March, he reported to the Central Investigation Department and gave a statement to police. He was released on bail of 5,000 birr (approx. US$600).
Tsega Moges was charged for publishing an organisation’s statement entitled “The Benishangul People’s Liberation Movement makes a call for struggle” in the 23 February edition of “Zare New”.
During the past two years, the act of summoning members of the free press to the Central Investigation Department, forcing them to give statements and bringing them to court on multiple charges filed against them by the prosecutor had subsided. Lately, however, these acts have resumed with yet greater intensity and vigour. Moreover, the amount of bail being imposed by the court has increased greatly. EFJA expressed its grave concern over these recent developments.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– protesting the legal actions faced by the two editors-in-chief
– expressing concern about the serious challenges faced by Ethiopian journalists and the threat to their democratic rights
Appeals To
H.E. Ato Meles Zenawi
Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Fax: +251 1 552 020
H.E. Ato Siyum Mesfin
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Fax: +251 1 514 300
H.E. Ato Harka Hariye
Minister of Justice
Fax: +251 1 51 08 73
H.E. Ato Bereket Simon
Minister of Information
c/o National Parliament
Fax: +251 1 550 722
E-mail: national.parliament@telecom.net.et
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
