Awramba Times editor tortured

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA — The deputy editor of Awramba Times, Woubshet Taye, who was arrested a week ago, June 19, may have been tortured by the interrogators at Maekelawi Prison, according to a family member.

It’s been 8 days since Woubshet has been picked up by heavily armed security forces and thrown in jail. So far no one has been allowed to visit him.

Another journalist, Reeyot Alemu, who was arrested last Monday, is also held incommunicado.

A relative of Woubshet told Ethiopian Review correspondent in Addis Ababa today that he fears Woubshet and the other prisoners are being tortured and urged press right groups to speak out on their behalf.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has issued a statement condemning the arrests of Woubshet and Reeyot.

Since Friday, June 17, the Woyanne junta has been rounding up journalists and hundreds of suspected dissidents in a new wave of arrests.