May 3/ 2007

WORLD PRESS DAY

REPRESSION OF FREE PRESS INTENSIFIED IN ETHIOPIA

World Press Day has been observed in silence in Ethiopia. More than a dozen journalists are in jail. Some 8 others were released recently after more than a year of illegal incarceration. The independent press has been muzzled; only pro- government or government owned newspapers are allowed to appear. The Meles Zenawi regime is one of the worst predators of the free press in the world.

 Journalists Berhanu Ijigu and Kumsa Berayu were detained years ago and they have disappeared since. Journalist and human rights activist Tesfaye Tadesse was brutally hacked to death near his house by two government security agents. Dozens of independent journalists have been forced to flee. The regime is trying to pass a new and more repessive press law. The control of the ruling party over the mass media (press,tv,newspapers,radio) is almost absolute.The ruling party controls all internet communication and not only intercepts e mails but has banned or blocked (with the help of China) many Ethiopian web sites and blogs. All this goes even against its own Constitution. In Ethiopia, freedom of the press is non existent, as illusory as any claims of the existence of due process and the rule of law.

 As the world observes the World Press Day, SOCEPP calls on all supporters of the freedom of the press to condemn the repression in Ethiopia in this field and to demand the immediate release of all jailed journalists. The Meles Zenawi government must account for disappeared journalists like Berhanu Ijigu and heed the call for the immediate arrest and trial of those who killed and ordered the killing of journalist Tesfaye Tadesse.

 Release all jailed journalists!!

Take off the gag imposed on the free press!!

Support the struggle for freedom of the press in Ethiopia!!!