Ethiopia: endorsed media law faces fierce opposition
By Tesfa-alem Tekle
July 6, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) –The new media and information law passed by parliament this week encounters strong opposition from different media groups.
“According to the new law, previous restrictions against media outlets such as detention of journalists suspected of infringement of law have been scrapped” a parliament statement said.
The new law bans censorship of private media and detention of journalists but retains other threats to freedom of expression.
Following the endorsement of the controversial law, the horn of Africa press institute in collaboration with UNESCO and UN higher commissioner for human rights on Wednesday held a workshop over the law.
Many media groups have expressed their deep concern and frustration over the new law.
“The law invokes national security as grounds for impounding materials prior to publication and distribution” participants said.
“The law grants state prosecutors for unlimited rights to lay charges Medias as they wish even after plaintiff drops charges” participants said adding “the implication is to secure law-protection to government officials.”
The participants have demanded ministry of information to be suspended from the authority issued to monitor Medias and they called for a neutral body to take over the authority instead.
The new law also forces media groups to pay 100,000 Birr for moral damages which Editor in chief of the reporter newspaper blasts it as total unfair and burden which doesn’t consider the financial states of Medias and papers.
“Ethiopian law states only 1000 Birr fine for moral damages of a serious crimes such as rape and kidnappings however a 100,000 Birr burden laid to press bodies is an indication of government’s suspicion on medias and law-inbalance”Amare Aregawi said.
Bulcha Demeksa, opposition chair-person for Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement to his side called the bill as “draconian”.
“I consider the day this bill passed as one dark day in the memory of the nation’s history” Bulcha said.
(ST)
biiftuu
Ethiopia: endorsed media law faces fierce opposition
Hey guys how you judge the Ethiopian government. 1000 birr for crime such as rape and so on? Ofcourse the offenders are the government do you think they punish themselves? The poor people even hasn’t got things to eat while the government cadres enjoy themselves with selective drinks and foods. Ofcourse poor people some times do such crime thinking they get to eat free in prison while there is nothing to eat in their home because the govenment emptied the poors their pocket.
Criminals are Mele’s cadres so the punishment made less. The truely don’t care about people.
Biiftuu