Journalist disappears during riots
New York, April 23, 2001 — CPJ is greatly concerned about the disappearance of Seifu Mekonnen, a reporter for Mebrek, an Amharic-language weekly based in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. Mekonnen was last seen on the afternoon of April 21 at a press conference of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council, a local non-governmental organization, sources…
Attacks on the Press 2000: Africa Analysis
PRESS COVERAGE OF ARMED CONFLICTS CONTINUED TO STIR THE HOSTILITY of governments and rebel factions alike and claim reporters’ lives, but the prominent role of the press in the often-volatile process of democratization also brought unprecedented challenges to journalists working in Africa. CPJ confirmed that in 2000, five journalists were killed specifically because of their…
Attacks on the Press 2000: Ethiopia
AFTER PRIME MINISTER MELES ZENAWI AND ERITREAN PRESIDENT Isaias Afeworki signed a peace treaty on December 12, 2000, Zenawi announced that the end of the two-year-long border war would allow his government to strengthen Ethiopian democracy. But with seven journalists in jail at year’s end, it was unclear whether the newly reelected prime minister would…
Attacks on the Press in 2000: Journalists in Prison
EIGHTY-ONE JOURNALISTS WERE IN PRISON AROUND THE WORLD at the end of 2000, jailed for practicing their profession. The number is down slightly from the previous year, when 87 were in jail, and represents a significant decline from 1998, when 118 journalists were imprisoned. While jailing journalists can be an effective means of stifling bad…
Journalist jailed for defamation
New York, March 8, 2001 — Ethiopian journalist Tilahun Bekele, editor of the defunct Amharic-language weekly Fetash, was charged with criminal defamation by an Addis Ababa court and jailed, CPJ sources reported. Bekele has been in government custody since February 7, when he was arrested in connection with an article he had published more than…
Editor of Amharic weekly released on bail
New York, February 28, 2001 – Befekadu Moreda, editor of the private Amharic-language weekly Tomar, was released on bail on February 27, after spending two weeks in jail for refusing to reveal sources for a story on a secessionist movement. Kifle Mulat, the president of the Ethiopian Free Press Journalists Association (EFJA), said the relative…
Yet another journalist detained for reporting on separatist movements
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is appalled at the deplorable treatment of independent journalists and news outlets in Ethiopia, Africa’s foremost jailer of journalists in recent years. We are particularly concerned about the recent arrest and detention of Befekadu Moreda, editor of the private Amharic-language weekly Tomar.
Attacks on the Press 1999: Africa Analysis
By Claudia McElroyAll over Africa, conflict continued to be the single biggest threat to journalists and to press freedom itself. Both civil and cross-border wars were effectively used as an excuse by governments (and rebel forces) to harass, intimidate, and censor the press–often in the name of “national security”–and in some cases to kill journalists…
Attacks on the Press 1999: Enemies of the Press
Each year on World Press Freedom Day (May 3), CPJ announces its list of the ten worst enemies of the press. Those who made the list this year, as in the past, earned the dubious distinction by exhibiting particular zeal in the ruthless suppression of press freedom. They were singled out for their unrelenting and…
LEGAL AT LAST, LOCAL PRESS GROUP APPEALS FOR INTERNATIONAL AID
New York, March 15, 2000 — After a seven year wait, the Ethiopian Free Press Journalists Association (EFJA) has obtained a certificate of legal recognition from the Ethiopian government, according to CPJ sources in Addis Ababa. Justice Minister Worede-Wolb Wolbe signed the certificate on March 13. It sanctions the EFJA’s work, which includes documenting press…