IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
> _________________________________________________________________
>
> ACTION ALERT UPDATE - ETHIOPIA
>
> 5 July 2002
>
> Two editors released on bail
>
> SOURCE: Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC), International PEN, London
>
> **Updates IFEX alerts on the Shine case of 9, 5 and 4 April, 29 and 22
March
> 2002, 8 November and 12 January 2001 and 15 November 2000; alerts on the
Taye
> case of 5 April, 26 and 20 March 2002; alerts on the Said case of 9 and 4
April
> 2002**
>
> (WiPC/IFEX) - Melese Shine, editor-in-chief of the weekly "Ethiop", was
released
> on bail of 12,000 birr (approx. US$1,440) on 25 June 2002. He had been
detained
> since 19 March when he was charged with publishing and disseminating an
article
> defaming the head of government, and publishing an interview with an
alleged
> member of an illegal group.
>
> Gizaw Taye, the editor-in-chief of the "Lamrot" newspaper, was also
released on
> bail on 24 June. He had been held since 15 March on press charges.
>
> It is estimated that there are at least 80 such cases waiting to go to
trial
> involving journalists.
>
> Lubaba Said, the former editor-in-chief of the "Tarik" newspaper,
continues to
> serve her one-year sentence handed down on 3 April for "fabricating news
that
> could have a negative psychological effect on members of the armed forces
and
> disturb the minds of the people".
>
> International PEN welcomes the long delayed bailing of Shine and Taye but
> reiterates its assertion that the Ethiopian authorities systematically use
> defamation laws as a means of harassing and silencing journalists.
>
> RECOMMENDED ACTION:
>
> Send appeals to authorities:
> - calling for the immediate release of Said
> - urging the authorities to drop all criminal charges filed against
journalists
> under press laws
>
> APPEALS TO:
>
> H.E. Ato Meles Zenawi
> Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
> Office of the Prime Minister
> P.O. Box 1031
> Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
> Fax: +251 1 552 020
>
> H.E. Ato Harka Hariye
> Minister of Justice
> c/o National Parliament
> Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
> Fax: +251 1 51 08 73/ +251 1 55 02 78
>
> Both the above share the e-mail address:
[email protected]
>
> Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
>
> For further information, contact Dixe Wills at the WiPC, International
PEN, 9/10
> Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Road, London EC1M 7AT, U.K., tel: +44 207
253
> 3226, fax: +44 207 253 5711, e-mail: [email protected], [email protected],
> Internet: http://www.oneworld.org/internatpen/
>
> The information contained in this action alert update is the sole
responsibility
> of WiPC. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please
credit
> WiPC.
> _________________________________________________________________
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