DECEMBER 12/2003
DENOUNCE THE RESTRICTIONS AGAINST THE LEADERS OF THE EFJA
The EPRDF authorities in Addis Abeba banned the Ethiopian Free Journalists' Association (EFJA) and have now stepped up their illegal action by ordering the officials of the EFJA not to telephone, fax, e mail, send mail by post to anyone. The restriction has also confined their movement.
Officially, the Ministry of Justice is in the forefront of the banning and illegal moves against the EFJA but it is evident for all those who know the political reality of Ethiopia that the Minister of Justice has little or no power and that such orders like the banning of the EFJA emanate from the closed circle of the EPRDF political bureau. In other words, the action against the EFJA is not administrative but outright political and part of the relentless drive by the EPRDF to stamp out the free press in one way or another. It is to be recalled that a draconian and repressive Press Law draft has been presented and could be decreed shortly.
The pretext used by the EPRDF to ban the EFJA is flimsy and it follws the government sponsored attempt to set up a rival association. The same technique had been used against the central trade union (CETU) and the Ethiopian Teachers' Association. Denial of the autonomy of civic associations is a routine practice of the rulers of Ethiopia. By setting up a substitute association that would claim to be "independent" (much as some ostensibly "independent" newspapers are actually controlled by the EPRDF), the authorities are attempting yet another serious blow against the freedom of the press and freedom of association.
SOCEPP realizes that the lives of the EFJA officials are in danger in the face of the increasing repressive measures. Bearing this in mind and condemning the banning of the EFJA, SOCEPP calls on the donor countries to exert effective pressure on the EPRDF so that the ban against the EFJA gets lifted and the EFJA officials get to enjoy their basic human rights without fear of reprisal or repression.
Stop the violation of the rights of the EFJA leaders!!
End the ban imposed on the EFJA!
SOCEPP
