(EFJA/IFEX) – The following is a 4 September 2000 EFJA press release: 4 September 2000 EACH AND EVERY CITIZEN IS OBLIGED TO PROTEST AGAINST THE SUPPRESSION OF INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE The free press has been and continues to be subjected to many forms of pressure that obstructs its smooth operation. Of late, the free press […]
(EFJA/IFEX) – The following is a 4 September 2000 EFJA press release:
4 September 2000
EACH AND EVERY CITIZEN IS OBLIGED TO PROTEST AGAINST THE SUPPRESSION OF INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE
The free press has been and continues to be subjected to many forms of pressure that obstructs its smooth operation.
Of late, the free press has faced a new serious challenge: the exorbitant increase in the price of paper at the international level. This increase is threatening the very existence and survival of the country’s private newspapers and magazines, which are the community’s alternative source of information.
The reason for the large increase is that the Ethiopian government has imposed what it calls a main tariff, sales tax and surtax on paper.
We are convinced that the large tax imposed on paper is tantamount to restricting the flow of information and the dissemination of knowledge. Because of this stumbling block,
1. The very existence of the free press is threatened.
2. The on-going democratization process will be jeopardized.
3. The publications of books and other materials on education, research and creative arts will be quite discouraged.
The government is obliged to take urgent remedial measures before these unwelcome developments assume dangerous proportions.
The Ethiopian Free Press Journalists’ Association (EFJA) has sent letters to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, pertinent governmental offices and the House of Peoples’ Representatives indicating the dangerous trend and calling on the government to urgently lift the taxes levied on paper and to review publications taxes. We believe that we could soon get a favourable response to our appeal. Free press journalists should, however, continue to voice their protest against the newly imposed price increases and taxes.
Free press journalists have been forced to take protest measures that could include boycotting the publication of newspapers and magazines until they get a response to their demand.
Unless the government accepts their demands and gives a quick response to the question of stabilizing the price of paper, free press journalists could express their protest by boycotting publication of newspapers and magazines for one week. Free press journalists would take this action in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and with the permission they would obtain from the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE), that has accepted the Declaration.
Accordingly, the special protest could be voiced for one week, from September 11 to September 17, 2000. Newspaper distributors and vendors have expressed their solidarity in this protest. We call upon writers, researchers, students and teachers, educational institutions and research centres, printing presses and all those who have genuine concern for the development of fine arts and the dissemination of information to stand solidly behind us in this protest.
We also call on all the above to extend their assistance to the free press in terms of easing their burden in their struggle for survival in the event that a quick response is not given to their demand.
Particularly, we call on our professional colleagues, international press organisations, and journalist’s associations throughout the world to make their voices heard about this serious challenge that poses a great danger to the democratic right of Ethiopian journalists, so that they may be given government attention.
Ethiopian Free Press Journalists’ Association – EFJA
Addis Ababa – Ethiopia
4 September, 2000
Kifle Mulat,
President
Recommended Action
Send appeals to:
H.E. Ato Meles Zenawi
Prime Minister of Ethiopia
Fax: +251 1 55 2020
H.E. Ato Werede Woldwelde
Minister of Justice
Fax: +251 1 55 07 22
Please copy appeals to the source by fax if possible.
