ETHIOPIA: IFEX MEMBERS RAISE CONCERNS OVER PRESS LAW (ifex.org)
Nineteen IFEX members have written to the 
Ethiopian government raising concerns over the latest draft of a proposed press law they say contains serious restrictions on freedom of expression.
In a letter to Ethiopian Information Minister Bereket Simon, the organisations have urged the government to ensure that national consultations on the draft law respect the concerns of international, regional and local free-expression groups.
While the latest draft of the "Proclamation to Provide for the Freedom of the Press" contains improvements over previous versions, serious problems remain, the IFEX members say. >> read full article
http://www.article19.org/docimages/1817.doc
http://www.freemedia.at/EthiopiaReport2004.htm
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/60360/
http://www.cpj.org/news/2004/Ethiopia23july04na.html
http://www.article19.org/docimages/1410.doc
in amharic
Press Release 11/13/2003
EEDN's stand against Suspension of Ethiopian Free Press Journalists' Association (EFJA) by EPRDF regime
As part of its relentless campaign against independent professional and civic organizations in the country, the EPRDF regime currently in power in Ethiopia has just announced the suspension of activities by the Ethiopian Free Press Journalists' Association (EFJA) as of November 10, 2003. As you know, the EFJA represents the independent press in a country where the state enjoys near monopoly of the media, and the government routinely denies the private press the right of access to what is considered in the public domain in all democratic societies.
The association received official recognition only three years ago--some seven years after its establishment following the issuance of the 1992 Press Law. Over the past few years, members of EFJA have been routinely jailed for indefatigably exposing official corruption and ineptitude, and many members were openly assassinated. Too many of the country's ablest journalists today languish in jail, face endless harassment, or are forced to live in exile.
While the pretext for the ban on EFJA's activities is its apparent failure to submit documents for renewal of license, it is an open secret that the action was triggered by EFJA's courageous and effective opposition to a draft press law whose draconian restrictions have been widely condemned by international bodies. Although Ethiopia is signatory to the major international conventions, both the 1992 and the proposed press laws contravene in important respects the freedom of _expression that is guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Human Rights, the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of _Expression in Africa, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
The Ethiopian Email Distribution Network (EEDN), one of the largest and oldest discussion lists in the Diaspora, deplores this irresponsible attack on the freedom of speech purportedly enshrined in Article 29 of the Ethiopian Federal Constitution. The EEDN Board deeply appreciates that a basic tenet of representative democracy is that free citizens have a voice in government, and that this voice is an informed one. An independent and responsible press serves as an indispensable watchdog especially in countries like Ethiopia where democracy exists only in form. This wanton attack on fledgling institutions of restraint on abuse of public office is yet another bad omen that the regime has abandoned all pretenses of being committed to deepening the democratization process.
We respectfully urge you to condemn this act in the strongest terms possible as an expression of your support for the cause of democracy in Ethiopia.
Thank you for your support
Members of EEDN
Join EEDN! - Free Sign Up
EFJA Related News:
Ethiopian press group shut down
BBC - Tuesday, 11 November, 2003
ETHIOPIA: Journalists’ association suspended
Committee to Protect Journalists - November 12, 2003
Concern Over Possible Government Ban of Ethiopia Free Press Journalists' Association (EFJA)
AllAfrica.com - November 6, 2003 - EFJA Executive Committee statement
Kifle Mulat
World Free Press Institute, 2000
Ethiopian press strike looms
BBC - Wednesday, 6 September, 2000
