Press watchdog urges Ethiopia to review anti-terrorism law
July 26, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) – An international press watchdog expressed grave concerns over an anti-terrorism law that would hinder press freedom and restrict freedom of expression. The group further called to amend the contested law.
Ethiopian lawmaker passed earlier this month an anti-terrorism proclamation that considers as “acts of terrorism” damage to property and disruption to any public service. Cooperation in these terror acts could be sanctioned by 15 years of imprisonment or even the death penalty.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) sent a letter a letter to Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi expressing its grave concerns about the recently endorsed Anti-terror proclamation which it said further restricts the press freedom in Ethiopia.
According to a Copy of the letter, CPJ send to Sudan Tribune, the group said that the legislation further shrinks press freedom in Ethiopia. The watchdog further said the new law “criminalize independent political coverage and infringe on press freedom as guaranteed by the Ethiopian Constitution.”
The New York based organization further has called on the leader of the ruling party and chief of the Ethiopian government use his influence to reverse this trend. “We urge you to amend statutes in the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation and the Mass Media and Freedom of Information Proclamation that undermine constitutional rights to press freedom.”
“We ask that you conduct an independent review of judicial practices and the application of criminal statutes used to prosecute journalists, and ensure the creation of an independent media regulatory body.”
“We call on you to lift all restrictions on the free exercise of journalism in your country.”
Several journalists, who asked that their names be withheld for fear of government reprisals, told CPJ that they received phone calls and warnings from officials and government supporters to censor coverage scrutinizing the law.
Ethiopian opposition groups have disapproved Ethiopia’s new anti-terrorism law saying it was passed in ambiguous definitions enough to label peaceful blockade of public services or incidental damage to property during public demonstrations as terrorist acts.
Following the endorsement of the Anti-Terror Proclamation on July 7, Amnesty International warned the law could restrict freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and the right to fair trial, with serious implications in the run up to Ethiopia’s 2010 parliamentary election.
The law grants the federal police and national security agency exclusive discretion to carry out warrantless interception of communications, and search and seizure solely on the basis of “reasonable belief” that a terrorist act is in progress or “will be” committed.”
The law also provides for terrorist suspects to be held for up to four months without charge.
Prior to passage of the legislation, Bereket Simon, government communication affairs Minister dismissed concerns of potential abuse. “This is a government that is committed to the constitutional provisions, and in the Constitution, any abuse of power is not allowed.”
Despite these assurances however, the CPJ said the potential for abuse of this law is all the more troubling in light of the government’s long-standing pattern of criminal prosecution of the independent press over critical coverage, and the practices of Ethiopian judges and prosecutors in such cases.
(ST)