The House of Peoples’ Representatives last week discussed the newly drafted press law. The government believes that the bill will be instrumental in creating and developing a “responsible” press. But to the opposition parties, the bill constitutes a tool which the government can use to suppress freedom of expression.
Five years ago, the government introduced a draft press law which many in the country and abroad described as a “draconian” law. Following an outcry by the private press, and an appeal by some of the western embassies here, the government stopped short of putting it into law.
Now, it has come up with a new one that appears to be less “draconian”, albeit a very restrictive law, as some see it. Some parliamentarians argue that there is no way that the law guarantees access to information.
Some of the MPs spoke out against what they called “restrictive” provisions in the draft press law. Temesgen Zewdie, an opposition MP, said that the draft law severely curbs freedom of expression, and is directed at people’s freedom. The draft, according to him, violates the freedom of expression stipulated in Article 29 of the Ethiopia Constitution.
Ownership of the media is another issue which some MPs raised their concerns about. The draft law prohibits multiple ownership of print and electronic media. It prevents an owner of a media outlet from owning another outlet, or having effective control over other outlets.
The new law also forces owners to divulge their sources of capital, and that any source outside the country is completely prohibited. Temesgen argues that the law is intended to curb the right of citizens from setting up press outlets. He added that Ethiopians in the Diaspora, those who adopted other citizenships, will also be barred from investing their money in the media due to the draft law. “Just because government anticipates challenges from the private press, such shameful proclamation cannot be written into law,” he stressed.
The right of access to information as provided in the draft proclamation is another point of controversy for the parliamentarians. According to Article 14 of the proclamation, the possibility of getting information from government institutions heavily relies on the goodwill of the public relations officer of the institution. Article 14.3 stipulates that the public relations officer has thirty working days to respond to the request by the person seeking a specific information. On top of that, he can refuse to give that information if he deems it necessary.
The public relations officer is also empowered to extend the thirty-day period to sixty days, “if many other similar requests are made by others, if compiling the information requires obtaining the information from branch offices or if it becomes necessary for the officer to consult with other government organizations,” as written in Article 14.8. Temesgen raised his concern about getting timely information from government institutions if such provisions are included in the press law.
Tesfaye Fufa of the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM) opposes the inclusion of articles which by nature belong to the criminal code rather the press law. He said that his party believes that the press law must be re-drafted by an independent board whose members represent different sectors of the society.
The preamble of the proclamation has it that it has become necessary to replace the existing press law i.e., proclamation 34/92 with a more advanced law. Unlike what opposition parties argue about, the preamble stresses that the proposed law guarantees freedom of expression and ensures transparency in government institutions.
Compared to the existing law, the draft proclamation levies heavy fines on press outlets that transgress the law. A media organization can be fined up to 100,000 birr for defamation. This amount of fine has not been stipulated in the previous law.
A federal or regional prosecutor can bar publications from being distributed if he is convinced that irreparable damage could be done once the publications reach the public.
The prosecutor is also empowered to bar the distribution without seeking a court order, if he doesn’t have “enough” time to secure one. After that he has to notify the court of his decision within 48 hours. The court will have 24 hours to approve or disapprove the prosecutor’s decision after it receives notification from the prosecutor.
After the debate in parliament, it was decided to refer the draft press law to the parliamentary standing committees for Legal and Administrative Affairs and the Information and Cultural Affairs. 302 MPs voted in favor and 34 against it.
One could ask what will happen to the several government owned media outlets such as Ethiopian Television, Radio Ethiopia, and the several newspapers if the law is put into effect. Since multiple ownership will be prohibited if the proclamation is voted into law, what will happen to these government owned media organizations? Will they be privatized? Or will the law only apply to private ownership? If that is the case, can the government be above the law?
Ethiopian officials say a border demarcation with neighboring Sudan is underway although an agreement has not yet been reached.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday that the demarcation process was being executed with mutual respect and based on historical evidences.
This border demarcation activity is based on the agreements signed with Sudan and former colonial master Britain.
Both countries, which have shared a common border committee since 1972 have been trying to re-demarcate the border since 2001.
The African Affairs Director in the ministry, Mr Wahde Belay, said there was no disagreement between Sudan and Ethiopia to solve the issue without the intervention of third party adding that the demarcation of 1600km border might take a longer time to finalise.
Ethiopia and Sudan first signed the border agreement in 1903 and 1909 and agreed to re-demarcate the border in 1972.
On May 12th 2008, Suldan Fowsi Mohamed Ali, a prominent community elder and a peace activist was sentenced to 22 years in prison by an Ethiopian regional court in Jigjiga (also Jijiga). On the same date Haji Ibrahim Had, a well-known businessman and financier of an anti-ONLF (Ogaden National Liberation Front) clan based militia was also sentenced to 16 years in prison by the same court. The two detainees will be transferred to Zuway prison, in ‘Amhara region’.
On August 28th 2007, in Jigjiga, Ethiopian [Woyanne regime] security forces and the local police took Suldan Fowsi Mohamed Ali from his residence in the dead of night. And then he was transferred to an underground military detention in Jigjiga. He was among a number of outspoken critics of the Ethiopian [Woyanne] government’s policies in the Ogaden who were arrested before the arrival of the UN fact-finding mission in the region. He has been brought before the regional court several times. Each time, He was taken back to his cell for lack of evidence.
Recently, Suldan Fowsi was charged with masterminding of two hand grenade attacks which took place in Dhagaxbuur and Jigjiga, on May 28th 2007 and collaborating with the bandits,” a term Ethiopian authorities [Woyannes] frequently use to designate members of ONLF.
Suldan Fowsi was a member of a group of Ogaden elders who were mandated by the Ethiopian Prime Minister [Woyanne leader] Meles Zenawi to negotiate with the ONLF, on June 29th 2005. It should be noted that he was the mediator who successfully negotiated the release of the Chinese Workers who were taken by ONLF fighters, on 24th April 2007, in the Cobolle oil exploration field attack.
It is worthwhile to mention that Suldan Fowsi is a cousin of Bashir Ahmed Makhtal, the Canadian citizen who was handed over to the Ethiopian government [Woyanne regime] by Kenya at Mogadishu airport, on January 21st 2007.Since then Bashir is being held incommunicado without charge or trial.
Suldan Fowsi’s family members and relatives were subjected to constant harassment, intimidation, arbitrary detention and extensive torture. Those who are not in detention went into hiding for fear of their lives.
Haji Ibrahim Had was a sworn enemy of the ONLF. After the killing of his elder brother accidentally by the ONLF, he formed an anti-ONLF militia with the help of the Ethiopian Government [Woyanne]. His militia cooperated and collaborated with the Ethiopian [Woyanne] Armed Forces to undermine the ONLF. His younger brother was killed in one of the many engagements between his militia and ONLF fighters.
Haji Ibrahim Had was detained in December 2007. He was accused of collaborating with ‘the bandits,’ facilitating the Cobolle operation and having secret arrangements with the ONLF. He was brought before the regional court, in Jigjiga, on May 07th 2008, and then was taken back to his cell for lack of evidence and witnesses.
The two detainees were maltreated and denied medical care during their detention.
On April 04th 2008, when Mr. Abdi Mohamoud Omar, the head of the Somali Regional State Security and Justice Bureau, verbally attacked, Suldan Fowsi Mohamed Ali with a hateful and offensive language, during an interview with VOA Somali Section, Mr. Omar then confirmed Fowsi’s eventual condemnation. Since that day, court’s ruling had become a fait accoompli.
Suldan Fowsi and Haji Ibrahim Had pleaded not guilty. But regional court’s sentence was 22 and 16 years’ imprisonment respectively. They were not informed the particulars of the charges and reasons for their arrest, have not had access to any evidence presented against them, and were not represented by a proper legal counsel.
Hence, they did not receive fair trial in accordance with recognized international standards. On the basis of available information about their cases, the OHRC believes that there was not credible evidence for their conviction, and their trial was a mockery of justice, and considers Suldan Fowsi prisoner of conscience and Haji Ibrahim Had a victim of personal vendetta.
To the best of the Ogaden Human Rights Committee’s knowledge, Suldan Fowsi was not involved in any illegal or violent activity. He was a respectable community elder and peace activist. Haji Ibrahim Had was a notable businessman, an anti-ONLF and an ally of the Ethiopian [Woyanne] Government.
The Ogaden Human Rights Committee is concerned about their safety and well-being and opposes their transfer to the notorious Zuway prison.
The OHRC condemns the verdict of the Jigjiga Kangaroo Court and demands their unconditional and immediate release.
Addis Ababa Mayor-Elect Dr Berhanu Nega and colleagues will give a press conference tomorrow, Wednesday, to announce the formation of a new political movement. The press conference will be held in the afternoon (4:00 PM) at the Ethiopian Television Network’s studio in Alexandria, Virginia — a suburb of Washington DC.
The announcement — which is planned to coincide with the 3rd anniversary of the May 15, 2005 elections — has created a great deal of interest in Ethiopian communities around the world. It is currently a subject of much discussion by almost every Ethiopian who follows Ethiopian politics closely. It is not without a reason. Since he was released from prison last July, Dr Berhanu has become the most articulate and forceful voice in demanding the end of Woyanne’s illigitimate rule. His uncompromising stand on respecting the choice the people of Ethiopia made on May 15, 2005, has positioned him as a leading opposition figure. While his colleagues in the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (Kinijit) chose to continue working within the system inside the country, Dr Berhanu has reached a different conclusion: we have seen the extreme savagery and lawlessness of the Woyanne regime and that the people of Ethiopia have the right to use any means necessary and available to them to protect themselves from the regime’s atrocities.
Dr Berhanu is joined by some highly experienced and smart individuals such as Ato Andargachew Tsige, Ato Mesfin Aman, Ato Daniel Assefa and others who are expected to make up the core of the new movement’s leadership.
According to sources close to the group, talks have already started with the Oromo Liberation Front and other major Ethiopian opposition forces to establish a politico-military alliance against the Woyanne junta. The talks could and is hopped to lead to a transitional government in exile.
The 1996 Atlanta Olympic’s 10,000 metres champion Derartu Tulu “has joined a star-studded women’s field for this weekend’s office furniture in BulgariamebeliBupa Great Manchester Run,” according to the Press Association.
Derartu, who currently resides in Addis Ababa, had been on maternity and injury-related leave for several years.
At the Manchester 10k, she will face “several overseas stars aiming to win the 10 kilometres road race,” PA reports.
“Deraratu will be up against world marathon champion Catherine Ndereba, Rose Cheruiyot – runner-up in the recent Bupa Great Edinburgh Run – and former Flora London Marathon winner Margaret Okaya.”
Addis Ababa Mayor-Elect Dr Berhanu Nega and colleagues are preparing to make a major announcement next Wednesday in Washington DC, about their future political move. They have scheduled a press conference at the Ethiopian Television Network’s studio on May 14 at 10:00 AM. All Ethiopian and other media are invited to the press conference.
According to sources close to Dr Berhanu, the group will announce the formation of a new political movement that will aim to bring about an end to the Woyanne bloody regime in collaboration with other Ethiopian organizations, including those that are waging armed struggle.
The press conference will be aired live via Ethiopian Review Radio Network, Ethiopian Current Affair Discussion Forum, and other media.
VOA, DW, EriTV, Addis Dimts and other radio programs are also expected to air the press conference to their audience in Ethiopia.
