(EFJA/IFEX) – Three leading Ethiopian journalists have fled the country and taken refuge in neighbouring Kenya. Garuma Bekele, Tesfaye Deressa and Solomon Nemera, all three of whom used to work for the Amharic newspaper “Urji”, had been in custody since October 1997, when they were arrested. Speaking to the Media for Democracy in Africa coordinator […]
(EFJA/IFEX) – Three leading Ethiopian journalists have fled the country and taken refuge
in neighbouring Kenya. Garuma Bekele, Tesfaye Deressa and Solomon Nemera, all three of whom used to work for the Amharic newspaper “Urji”, had been in custody since October 1997, when they were arrested.
Speaking to the Media for Democracy in Africa coordinator in Nairobi, the journalists said they fled their country, jumping bail, because they believed that they could not receive a fair trial in Ethiopia.
Background Information
On 10 May and 1 June 2001, the court ordered the release of the three journalists after three years and eight months of imprisonment.
The three journalists, who were accused of engaging in terrorist activities, were fighting their cases in court while in prison. Formerly the court had given them prison terms and fined them, alleging that they had violated the press law.
The three journalists were arrested in October 1997, after “Urji” covered the killing of three alleged members of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), an armed separatist organisation, by government forces.
Bekele, Deressa and Nemera were held for more than two years before trial.
In October 1999, Bekele and Deressa were convicted of publishing “false information” and sentenced to one year in prison each. Nemera was convicted in February 2000 and given the same sentence. Under Ethiopian law, all three sentences would normally have been reduced by the time served before trial. While in prison, however, the journalists were additionally charged with terrorist activities, a non-bailable offense that is punishable by no less than fifteen years in jail.
Prosecutors eventually dropped the terrorism charges because of lack of evidence and Bekele and Deressa were immediately released. Nemera continued to be held on a new unspecified charge and was subsequently released on 1 June 2001.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– noting that Ethiopian journalists’ democratic rights are in danger
– asking that the government pay attention to the journalists’ cases
– expressing your deep concern over the cases and protesting any actions that do not follow due process
Appeals To
H.E Ato Meles Zenawi
Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Fax: +251 1 552 020
c/o National Parliament
E-mail: national.parliament@telecom.net.et
H.E Ato Worede wold Wolde
Minister of Justice
Fax: +251 1 550 722
c/o National Parliament
E-mail: national.parliament@telecom.net.et
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
