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IFJ deplores
new media law, calls for end to 'media repression' in Ethiopia
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ADDIS
ABEBA(July 12 - 13,2008) - The International Federation
of Journalists (IFJ) on Thursday said it condemned High Court order
to collect fines from four publishing houses stemming from convictions
related to the 2005 post-election riots, saying it was a violation
of press freedom.
The press watchdog also said it an act of a violation to press freedom
on the part of the government to block the issue of press licenses
to some of the owners of these outlets.
IFJ, in a statement e-mailed to The Daily Monitor, called on the African
Union, the United Nations and the international community to stop
the "Ethiopian government's repression" of the media.
Last week the ruling party Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic
Front (EPRDF) led the passage in Parliament of a new law that allows
the state prosecutor to censor the media to "protect national
security," imposes heavy fines on media outlets that break the
law and restricts access to information by the media and the public.
"We are deeply disappointed by the serious press freedom violations
committed by the Ethiopian government and the law passed by the Parliament,"
said Gabriel Baglo, the Director of IFJ Africa office.
"We call on the African Union, the United Nations and the international
community to put pressure on the government of Prime Minister Meles
Zenawi to stop the repression on the media."
On Tuesday July 2, Ethiopia's parliament passed the new media law,
the Mass Media and Freedom of Information Proclamation, which had
been discussed since 2002.
The law allows the state prosecutors to invoke national security as
grounds for impounding materials prior to publication and distribution.
IFJ said it believes the law should be abolished because of the draconian
restrictions it puts on the press even though it does include some
improvements from the media law passed in 1992, including the lifting
of jail terms for journalists convicted of press offences and the
right of journalists to create an independent professional organisation.
"We share the fear of local journalists that the good points
of this law will not be respected by the government," Gabriel
Baglo continued in the statement.
"We can easily doubt the good faith of a government which refuses
to issue licenses to media owners who fulfill all the legal requirements."
Serkalem Fasil, journalist and owner of Serkalem Publishing, and other
media owners were told last year by the Ministry of Information that
they had fulfilled all legal requirements and are entitled to the
licenses by law. Ten months later, however, they have not yet received
their licenses. Citing local sources, IFJ said the file has been blocked
by the Prime Minister office for "unknown reason."
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