EFJA condemns government’s proposed “code of ethics”

(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) – 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 under a common platform,
* enabling journalists to ensure the respect of their profession through common efforts,
* conducting a relentless struggle to ensure the respect of human rights and democratic rights as well as bringing about the flourishing of a free press,
* giving necessary guidance to members in terms of enabling them to assimilate and observe a professional code of ethics and accomplish their journalistic tasks.

For the past nine years, EFJA has been operating to translate into concrete action the objectives which its members have been advocating and promoting. In the future, it will continue to struggle to further ensure the respect of the rights and interests of its members. It has been established that EFJA has, like other civic associations, and with its organizational independence, maintained the capacity to forge closer relations and work with government bodies and other organizations to facilitate favourable conditions for its members. Lately however, EPRDF [Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front] government officials and government media services have released a distorted and mistaken report concerning the Ethiopian Free Press Journalists Association as a propaganda stunt and as a means of gaining political dividends. EFJA would like to inform friends of the free press, the entire Ethiopian people, and professional colleagues and allies in Ethiopia and abroad that the report that has been disseminated has nothing to do with the position of the association and its entire membership. As is well known to all, EFJA has a Professional Code of Ethics and Principles that was approved by its General Congress and has become effective as of December 11/91 E.C.

However, the government media has falsely reported that EFJA would accept the so-called code of ethics that the ruling party is preparing. EFJA would like to inform all concerned parties that the report disseminated by the government media is absolutely baseless. While they have their own code of ethics, EFJA and its membership will not at all accept the code of ethics that is calculated to be imposed on them under the camouflage of directives.

In the past, EFJA has never given in to arm-twisting, impositions, and other illegal practices directed at it. EFJA will, under no circumstances, negotiate its pledge to the people and its professional prestige and freedom.

A discussion was held in accordance with the Minister of Information’s invitation to the President of EFJA. In the course of the discussion, the Minister was told that:
* the task of formulating and effecting a code of ethics is the inalienable right of society, professionals and EFJA, which is the sole representative of free press journalists;
* this task does not fall within the rights and authority of the government, the ruling party or any other institution.

A report carried by the government-owned Amharic-language daily newspaper (Tahsas 29/94) said that a code of ethics is going to be prepared. It should be clear that:
* the idea of preparing a code of ethics put forth in the report is that of the Information Minister and is not a position maintained by EFJA.
* EFJA has not made any agreement in connection with this.

EFJA, which is actively aware of the fact that the Ministry of Information and other executive bodies do not have the right and responsibility to issue directives to free press journalists, would, at this juncture, like to recall that:
* it had reported the case to the 24th Conference of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) (that has over 1/2 million members) and of which EFJA is a member.
* IFJ has taken a position on the issue.
* IFJ has unanimously adopted a resolution to the effect that the Ethiopian government should refrain from taking such measures.

EFJA is making efforts in cooperation with free press journalists to ensure the respect of the journalists’ code of ethics. As an example of this effort, we would like to make reference to the two-day code of ethics workshop that EFJA conducted, at which its members participated.

Of late, we have come to realize that several parties have been engaged in destructive acts calculated to undermine the public confidence won by the free press through great sacrifice and opening the door to brutal attacks by anti-free press forces.

EFJA would like to seize this opportunity to point out that, it will take measures, based on the association’s regulations, against those parties who have not understood the fact that EFJA shoulders the responsibility to ensure the respect of the principles of the code of ethics and its administrative regulations.

In the past, several parties that do not want to witness the growth and development of our association have masterminded plots to undermine and destroy the association. But all their plots have failed. They have been weaving a cobweb of intrigue calculated to drive a wedge between members and bring the ultimate downfall of the association. All these evil attempts have failed through the great struggle waged by members of the association, who have paid sacrifices that include deaths, harassment, fleeing the country and living in exile. We shall leave to the verdict of the entire Ethiopian people the true identity and motives of these parties. The association calls on these parties to refrain from their destructive machinations.

The association wishes to officially inform its members and supporters that the baseless and false reports that have been disseminated by the government media do not represent EFJA and agreements have not been reached on them.

Meanwhile, EFJA calls on all its members and supporters to stand solidly behind its efforts to fulfill its obligation and to stand up to its public trust.

EFJA takes this opportunity to assure everyone that it does not promote any agenda hidden from the Ethiopian people and its entire membership.

The Ethiopian Free Press Journalists’ Association (EFJA) Executive Committee
11 January, 2002
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Kifle Mulat
President, EFJA

Recommended Action

Appeals To

H.E. Ato Siyum Mesfin
Minister of Foreign Affaires
C/o National Parliament
Fax: +251 1 51 43 00
E-mail: national.parliament@telecom.net.et

H.E. Ato Harka Hariye
Minister of Justice
C/o National Parliament
Fax: +251 1 51 08 73
E-mail: national.parliament@telecom.net.et

H.E. Ato Bereket Simon
Minister of Information
C/o National Parliament
Fax: +251 1 55 07 22
E-mail: national.parliament@telecom.net.et

Please copy appeals to the source if possible.