Ethiopia arrests 2 journalists from
independent paper
New York, November 5, 2013--Ethiopian police have
arrested without charge two editors of the leading
independent Amharic weekly Ethio-Mihdar, according to local
journalists.
Police in the town of Legetafo, northeast of the capital Addis
Ababa, on Monday arrested Getachew Worku in connection
a story published in October alleging corruption in the town
administration, according to Muluken Tesfaw, a reporter
with the paper, who spoke to Getachew shortly after his
arrest. Getachew has not been charged, he said.
On Saturday, police arrested Million Degnew, the general
manager of the newspaper, and Muna Ahmedin, a
secretary, said Muluken and local journalists. Muna was
released the same day but Million remains in custody
without charge, Muluken said.
"A free and inquisitive media is a cornerstone of
development that should benefit all Ethiopians," said CPJ's
Africa Program Coordinator Sue Valentine. "Repeatedly
detaining journalists without charge is an intimidation tactic
that must end. We urge the authorities to release Million
Degnew and Getachew Worku immediately."
The government has harassed Ethio-Mihdar in the past for
its independent coverage, according to CPJ research. Million
and Getachew have been sued for defamation by the public
Hawassa University, according to local journalists and news
reports. University officials are seeking 300,000 birr
(US$15,000) and the closure of the newspaper over a
report alleging corruption in the school's administration,
according to local journalists.
In May, Muluken was detained for 10 days while reporting
on evictions of farmers from their land in northwest
Ethiopia. He was released without charge.
Ethiopia trails only Eritrea as Africa's worst jailer of
journalists, according to CPJ's annual prison census. More
than 75 publications have been forced to close under
government pressure since 1993, CPJ research shows.
Source: http://www.cpj.org/2013/
journali
independent paper
New York, November 5, 2013--Ethiopian police have
arrested without charge two editors of the leading
independent Amharic weekly Ethio-Mihdar, according to local
journalists.
Police in the town of Legetafo, northeast of the capital Addis
Ababa, on Monday arrested Getachew Worku in connection
a story published in October alleging corruption in the town
administration, according to Muluken Tesfaw, a reporter
with the paper, who spoke to Getachew shortly after his
arrest. Getachew has not been charged, he said.
On Saturday, police arrested Million Degnew, the general
manager of the newspaper, and Muna Ahmedin, a
secretary, said Muluken and local journalists. Muna was
released the same day but Million remains in custody
without charge, Muluken said.
"A free and inquisitive media is a cornerstone of
development that should benefit all Ethiopians," said CPJ's
Africa Program Coordinator Sue Valentine. "Repeatedly
detaining journalists without charge is an intimidation tactic
that must end. We urge the authorities to release Million
Degnew and Getachew Worku immediately."
The government has harassed Ethio-Mihdar in the past for
its independent coverage, according to CPJ research. Million
and Getachew have been sued for defamation by the public
Hawassa University, according to local journalists and news
reports. University officials are seeking 300,000 birr
(US$15,000) and the closure of the newspaper over a
report alleging corruption in the school's administration,
according to local journalists.
In May, Muluken was detained for 10 days while reporting
on evictions of farmers from their land in northwest
Ethiopia. He was released without charge.
Ethiopia trails only Eritrea as Africa's worst jailer of
journalists, according to CPJ's annual prison census. More
than 75 publications have been forced to close under
government pressure since 1993, CPJ research shows.
Source: http://www.cpj.org/2013/
journali
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