New government proposals threaten press freedom and EFJA

(EFJA/IFEX) – The following is a 17 January 2003 EFJA statement: The very existence of EFJA is at a risk! The right of citizens to freedom of expression has, for ages, been brutally suppressed in countries like Ethiopia, where democratic systems have not been established. After the EPRDF (Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front) put the […]

(EFJA/IFEX) – The following is a 17 January 2003 EFJA statement:

The very existence of EFJA is at a risk!

The right of citizens to freedom of expression has, for ages, been brutally suppressed in countries like Ethiopia, where democratic systems have not been established.

After the EPRDF (Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front) put the entire country under its control and usurped state power, it accepted and ratified the UN Declaration of Human Rights, approved the charter during the transition period and promulgated the press proclamation. Ever since then, numerous free press publications have been rendering services as alternative sources of information.

The free press publications that emerged in our country, which had no previous experience in terms of exercising the right to freedom of the press, are only ten years old. It is therefore believed that the free press publications may have shortcomings due to a lack of sufficient knowledge and training.

EFJA and counterpart international associations and human rights organizations have maintained that it is possible to avoid problems and mistakes that arise from a lack of sufficient practical experience through training for practicing journalists and not through subjecting them to various forms of punishment, including imprisonment, harassment, intimidation and enforcing new laws.

The Ethiopian government, through the Ministry of Information, conducted a three-day national symposium (from January 15 to 17) to address the following theme: “The Ethiopian government wants to come closer to, and discuss issues with, the free press to enable it to play the constructive role expected of it in the national development process.”

The government’s purpose in organising the symposium is clear: it is a propaganda stunt designed to show to the world that the government is democratic. It is also a measure calculated to win the hearts and sympathies of donors and creditors.

The symposium was originally scheduled to be held from February 8 to 10. EFJA was invited to present a paper to the symposium entitled, “Problems Faced by the Free Press and their Solutions”. In accordance with the invitation, EFJA had prepared the paper, but for unknown reasons, the Ministry of Information announced that the programme was cancelled. One month after the announcement of the cancellation, the entire event was held in secret, and then, the objectives of the symposium were only revealed through a telephone message.

The agenda items of the symposium focused on the new press law being drafted exclusively by the Ministry of Information, the draft journalists’ and publishers’ code of ethics and regulations for the establishment of a press council.

The agenda item on the problems facing the free press and their solutions was totally dropped.

The issues being discussed by the symposium are well known to EFJA, international counterpart associations, human rights organizations and activists since February 2001. These organizations have repeatedly commented on the issues faced by the free press.

EFJA had requested that the authorities give it a copy of the draft press law and see to it that the draft law is developed with the participation of citizens, professional lawyers and EFJA members. Unfortunately, however, the pertinent offices did not give EFJA a satisfactory response to its request.

EFJA and counterpart international associations have repeatedly stated that the matters of a journalists’ professional code of ethics and a press council should be addressed by those parties that are directly concerned, and not by the government.

EFJA had expressed its willingness to jointly organize the symposium and enable it to come up with fruitful results. Yet the government has sidelined the repeated calls made by EFJA and counterpart international institutions, and decided instead to conduct the symposium through the Ministry of Information, with the support of the British Embassy, to discuss the new press law, which is designed to undermine the existence of the free press. Members of the free press did not participate in the symposium.

EFJA and its members were present at the symposium but withdrew after the opening because they were invited as mere guests and promises that were made to them at the outset were broken.

EFJA and its entire membership have been disappointed by the fact that the British government, which does not itself have a press law and has given recognition to organizations such as Article 19 and human rights originations such as Amnesty International, has extended financial support for the running of the symposium, in which journalists of government media services, employees of regional information bureaus and public relations professionals are participating and various department heads are presenting study papers.

Members of the Ethiopian free press have undergone great suffering under the repressive press law and civil and criminal laws that have been in force for the past 40 years. Heavy fines have been imposed on them. They have been thrown in prison. In spite of all these and other repressive measures against them, they have been in a position to withstand the measures and maintain their existence. Other additional pressures imposed on free press publications include the occasional increase of printing costs, income tax increases and lately, the imposition of a value-added tax (VAT). These measures have greatly threatened the very existence and survival of the free press.

These events come at a time when the value-added tax is on the verge of throwing many of the free press publications out of business. Requests are also being made at the international level for the repeal of the existing press law, because it is not in tune with the constitution and contains many ambiguous provisions. There has been a call for its replacement with a new law that would involve broad participation. The government has made public a draft proclamation that will end the existence of the free press.

If the government enforces a professional code of ethics and regulations for the establishment of a press council (which should be put in effect by those directly concerned), it will serve as a clear indication that democratic rights are being trampled upon and that dictatorship is gaining the upper hand in this country.

EFJA and its members have played a vanguard role in exercising the right to freedom of expression. However, inasmuch as the right to freedom of expression is the right of all human beings, the Ethiopian people, our international allies and supporters and human rights organizations are asked to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Ethiopian free press and make their voices heard.

EFJA also calls on Ethiopia media professionals and friends of the free press to fulfil their obligations and prevent this danger facing the free press.

EFJA strongly protests the activities of the Ministry of Information, which are aimed at promulgating a press law that restricts freedom of expression and information exchange and exposes Ethiopian free press journalists to imprisonment and fines under the guise of a code of ethics.

EFJA will keep you all informed of the latest developments on this matter.

Kifle Mulat
President, EFJA
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Recommended Action

Appeals To

H.E. Ato Meles Zenawi

Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Fax: +251 1 552 020

H.E. Ato Bereket Simon

Minister of Information

Fax: +251 1 533 510

E-mail: Minoi@telecom.net.et
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.