April 18, 2002
Threats Coming from any direction would not prevent us from fulfilling our professional obligation
Press Release from EFJA
In statements it has released on April 8/2002 and April 10/2002, the Ministry of Information has alleged that the free press has been sympathizing with and advancing the cause of “Shaiba”. Contrary to such a fabricated and unfounded allegation, the Ethiopian Free press has in line with insuring the respect of peoples rights to self expression and its full commitment to National Unity, been fulfilling to professional obligations.
During “Shabias” unprovoked aggression against Ethiopia, members of the free press stood solidly behind the Ethiopian people who stood together in favor of safeguarding their land against the invader. At that crucial and trying moment, the free press has within the bounds of and in line with its professional ethics, fulfilled its responsibility. At the time, the free press did not give in to threats and confusion that emanated from the “Shabia”. Ethiopian officials used to refer the achievements scoured by the free press in forms of challenging Shabia machinaries.
Today however, the attitude of the government towards the Ethiopian free press has changed for the worse. The government has alleged that the Ethiopian free press has joined the ranks of anti-people forces, the Shabia, traitors and opposition forces. .
The government has issued and disseminated a statement impregnated with threats that tramples upon the people’s rights to freedom of expression, which the free press has been advocating since it, came into existence.
It should be called to mind here that the ruling party has been imposing repressive measures against the free press. And now, it is saddening to note that the ruling party has falsely accused the free press of aligning itself with anti-people and destructive forces. We would, however, leave the verdict to the Ethiopia people.
The ruling party is trying to find scapegoats for the problems that it is facing within and outside itself.
Lately, the ruling party has engaged itself in weaving a cobweb of covert and overt plots against the people right to Freedom of Expression by deliberately incriminating the free press. We seriously demand that the ruling party should put a halt to such fabricated and baseless allegations.
The Ethiopian Free press Journalists’ Association (EFJA) calls on all its members should with out being disturbed by un democratic measures and threats continue to fulfill their obligation of informing and enlightening the public in accordance with the law and being governed by their professional Code of Ethics.
We call on all the Ethiopian people, International press institutions of which EFJA is member and International friends of the free press to closely follow the great danger hovering over the free press and the measures that could be taken to challenge its very existence.
EFJA Executive Committee
Kifle Mulat
President
April 11/2002, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Very Urgent Recommended Action!
The Ethiopian Free press Journalists’ Association (EFJA) particularly calls on IFJ, IPI, IFEX, PEN international, WFPI, WAN, WPFC, CPJ, RSF, ARTICLE 19, CJFE, AJU, AI, MISA, OAU, IMF, World Bank, Africa Watch, EU member States and all International free press institutions, counterpart professional associations, international human rights activists and organizations:
· To make their voices heard about serious challenge that poses a great danger to the very democratic right of the Ethiopian Journalists, so that they would be given government attention.
· To express their deep concern and protest against illegal actions and to send letters of appeal to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, the Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ato Siyum Mesfin, the Ethiopian Minister of Justice Ato Harka Hariye and the Ethiopian Minister of Information Ato Bereket Simon.
Addresses of Ethiopian officials are as follows.
1) H.E Ato Meles Zenawi
Prime Minster of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Fax: 00 251 -1- 552020
2) H.E Ato Siyum Mesfin
Minster of Foreign Affaires
Fax: +251-1- 5143 00
3) H.E Ato Harka Hariye
Minster of Justice
Fax: 00 251 1 517775
4) H.E Ato Bereket Simon
Minster of Information
Fax: +251-1- 550722
c/o National Parliament
E-mail: [email protected]
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