CNN Eye on Africa – A propaganda spreader of Ethiopian govt
Demanding tasks ahead for CNN Eye on Africa in the Horn of Africa
By Keransso Biyyaa*
July 21, 2006 — We are all aware that one of the biggest media houses in the world has launched a program that focuses on issues from Africa. It called CNN Eye on Africa. In terms of focusing the attention of the developed countries on Africa, CNN’s attempts deserve an applaud from the 600 million African population. Whereas peoples may welcome CNN some African dictators may frown at the unwanted presence and surely think of trapping the CNN to serve their own agenda setting functions by having it to report on only the “development” activities they are engaged in. Of course, what caused me worry about this is how the CNN has started telling the stories of the Ethiopian tyrant government led by Meles Zenawi. In two days I watched CNN’s Eye on Africa, I have seen CNN report on the flower industry in Oromia Ethiopia. It reported, “the economy is booming in Ethiopia”. I, kind of, burst into laughter because I know that the flower industry is short-lived and has only few sites in Oromia State. What caused my laughter wasn’t the wild generalisation of economic boom at one tiny spot to the whole country, but the way the tyrant ruling EPRDF/TPLF elites are guiding CNN to cover only those soft and positive developments to disguise the political economic, social and environmental crises that it is causing in the whole region of Horn of Africa. Any way that is not my subject for today.
CNN should be aware that the people in the Horn of Africa welcome it in applauds because they look on it as an alternative media on which their plights can be aired to the world. As is well known to the world, in Ethiopia, there is hardly freedom of speech and assembly as the government controls almost all the communication channels to serve its needs. From the beginning, CNN should reject being enticed by the Ethiopian Prime Minister who only wants to convey his own agenda to the world. It rather should recognise the populace is really in need of being reported about. CNN EYE ON AFRICA should not forget Ethiopia is where freedom and democracy have failed because of the ruling party, EPRDF.
On the second CNN EYE ON AFRICA program on Ethiopia I watched, it is so much evident that the regime in Finfinne (Addis) is attempting to entice CNN. Melese’s short appearance on CNN screen telling the world that it essential to use broadcast Educational systems from abroad via the high-tech ICT infrastructure, is a possible sign that CNN will be enticed innocently. I have now been a teacher myself for 33 years and there is no time that I have observed crisis in the Ethiopian Educational System specially that of plazma-tvelevison lesson transmissions for real-time classrooms. During the transmissions, both the teacher and the student have no control over what is going on. Especially the teacher just stands watching the broadcast like a fool, maybe with lots of resentments inside. For sure if CNN Eye on Africa asks the people and the students and teachers concerned whether that is a political decision, or educational research based decision, it will find out that it is absolutely a political decision contrary to the Meles’ hypes about that. Ridiculous of all, the people who were selected to comment on broadcast-based education are selected Tigrean cadre schools teachers as can be told from their Tigere-language twisted accent.
The point is if the CNN wants to remain popular amongst populations in the Horn of Africa, it is expected to report on:
– The harsh prisons, and concentration camps in Ethiopia
– The difficult lives of grassroots in rural areas because of HIV/ADS related crises
– EPRDF/TPLF caused inter ethnic conflicts in Oromia and it neighbouring regions
– Reporting on injustices perpetrated on dissident voices in the country and seeking to pave the way for all-inclusive talks
– Discerning that the Ethiopian Government is a terrorist government in the Horn
– The crises in Darfur, Sudan
– The crises in Somalia
These suggestions are just meant to give CNN EYE ON AFRICA global awareness that tyrant governments want to disguise those issues though they are burning issues of public interest. And I believe CNN understands the tricks that the Ethiopian government is playing to oppress the Ethiopian People. I do also think CNN has its own standards of doing things in the Horn of Africa region. Lastly, I leave CNN EYE on Africa with an applaud for focussing on Africa and specially on the Horn of Africa.
* Kerranso is based in Addis Ababa. He can be reached at [email protected]