(EFJA/IFEX) – The following is a 6 October 2003 EFJA statement: Journalist beaten up Araya Tesfa Mariam, a journalist with the Amharic-language weekly newspaper “Itiop”, was beaten up by unidentified individuals at about 9.00 p.m. (local time) on 1 October 2003, while on his way home. He sustained very serious physical injuries and is receiving […]
(EFJA/IFEX) – The following is a 6 October 2003 EFJA statement:
Journalist beaten up
Araya Tesfa Mariam, a journalist with the Amharic-language weekly newspaper “Itiop”, was beaten up by unidentified individuals at about 9.00 p.m. (local time) on 1 October 2003, while on his way home. He sustained very serious physical injuries and is receiving medical treatment at Addis Ababa’s Menelik Hospital.
The journalist, who sustained injuries to his head, arms and legs and has broken teeth, said three unidentified men in military uniform jumped out of a police vehicle and beat him up.
He added that the individuals brutally beat him, dumped him under a bridge and left. Police patrolling the area picked him up and informed his family of the attack. Family members then reported the incident to Police Station No. 12.
Efforts are currently being deployed to move Araya to another hospital, where he can receive better treatment, as Menelik Hospital’s emergency unit is crowded with patients suffering from injuries sustained in car accidents. No details are available concerning a possible motive for the beating or the identity of the journalist’s attackers.
The EFJA will continue to monitor the case and provide information as it becomes available. Police Station No. 12 has launched an investigation into the case. The EFJA calls on the government and the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO) to follow up on the case and make their findings public.
The Ethiopian Free Press Journalists’ Association – EFJA
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
6 October 2003
Kifle Mulat
President, EFJA
