(EFJA/IFEX) – The former editor-in-chief of the private Amharic monthly magazine “Tobia” has been fined 12,000 Birr (about US$1500). On 17 October 2000, the Second Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court sentenced Taye Belachew on charges of spreading false charges against the government and arousing hatred against the Tigrigna-speaking people. As is common, Articles […]
(EFJA/IFEX) – The former editor-in-chief of the private Amharic monthly magazine “Tobia” has been fined 12,000 Birr (about US$1500).
On 17 October 2000, the Second Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court sentenced Taye Belachew on charges of spreading false charges against the government and arousing hatred against the Tigrigna-speaking people. As is common, Articles 10/1, 10/2 and 20/1 of Press Proclamation no. 34/92 and Article 480 of the Penal Code were cited for the charge.
The two articles published in the monthly journal (“Tobia”, vol. 4 no 11 and 12), both of which were opinion pieces, were entitled “The strategy for the Re-unification of Mereb Melash (Eritrea) with Ethiopia”, by Professor Tilahun Yilma, and “The Root of All sprouted from this land”, by Tsegaye Gebre Medihin Araya.
The former editor-in-chief was held in the Central Investigation Department Prison for seventy-seven days without charge for the same issue.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– suggesting that the payment of Birr 12,000 decided by the court against Belachew is unjust and unfair, and requesting his release
– calling attention to the cases of the twenty-six members of the free press, including those imprisoned journalists whose cases are pending in court, so that they may be given governmental attention
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:
H.E. Ato Meles Zenawi
Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Fax: +251 1 55 20 20
H. E. Ato Worede Wold Wolde
Minister of Justice
Fax: +251 1 55 07 22
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
