ESAT News (September 15, 2015)
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said today that it would honor journalists and bloggers from Ethiopia and other three countries with the 2015 International Press Freedom Awards.
Journalists and bloggers who endured death threats, attacks, and imprisonments or reported in exile would be honored, the statement said.
Other journalists and bloggers that will be honored with the Ethiopian Zone9 Bloggers are from Malaysia (Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, “Zunar,”), Paraguay (Cándido Figueredo Ruíz), and Syria (Raqqa).
Joel Simon, CPJ executive director praised the journalists and bloggers: “In a very dangerous period for journalists, these awardees have braved threats from repressive governments, drug cartels, and Islamic State.”
Members of Zone 9 bloggers
“Whether through blogs or traditional media outlets, or by drawing cartoons, they risk their personal safety and freedom to bring us the news.”
Ethiopia ranks at number four on CPJ’s most censored list in its publication on the persecution of the Press Globally in 2015.
The Ethiopian government released only five Zone 9 bloggers and journalists who had been languishing in Ethiopian prisons for expressing their views on their blog and social media.
It is recalled that Edom Kassaye, Zelalem Kibret, Asmamaw Hailegiworgis, Tesfalem Weldeyes, and Mahlet Fantahun were told to leave the prison without prior notification or court proceeding before President Obama visited Ethiopia in July. They were charged with terrorism: destabilizing the country, overthrowing the government, receiving financial and material aid from foreign nationals, and aligning themselves with an outlawed Ginbot 7 movement. Then, all the charges were dropped.
Zone9 bloggers, Edom Kassaye and Zelalem Kibret, said they did not have a clue as why they were arrested in the first place. It was also shocking for them to leave their friends behind bars.
The ruling party mouthpiece, Fana Broadcasting Corporation, reported in July that the trial would continue for the remaining four detainees: Befekadu Hailu, Atnaf Birhane, Nathnael Feleke, and Abel Wabella.
During their stay in prison, Edom and Zelalem said they were pushed by Ethiopian authorities to sign self-incriminating statements, which they refused. Zelalem was insulted, abused, and locked in dark room for 24/7. Both bloggers said they are afraid to return to journalism.
Similarly, Ethiopia jailed unknown number of journalists. Eskender Nega, Wusbshet Taye and several other journalists are currently languishing in Ethiopian gulags.
Prison officers, however, released journalist and teacher Reeyot Alemu who was jailed since 2011 on terrorism charges. Reeyot was sentenced to 14 years, but reduced to 5 years on appeal.
Reeyot was accused of terrorism for criticized the government.
It is recalled that President Obama urged Hailemariam Dessalegn to curtail crackdowns on press freedom and open political space during a press conference on Monday July 27, 2015.
Ethiopia is the second leading jailer of journalists in Africa after Eritrea. Freedom House classifies Ethiopia as “Not Free” in their Freedom in the World 2015 Index.
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