Ethiopia: Press freedom 'worsening' - Reporters Without Borders

Ethiopia: Press freedom ‘worsening’ –
Reporters Without Borders

22 March, 2011 | Sudan Tribune
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(ADDIS ABABA) – Press freedom monitoring and campaign
group, Reporters Without Borders, on Tuesday expressed
concern over the deteriorating working climate for journalists in
Ethiopia.

The group accused the

Ethiopian government of

steadily shrinking press

freedom and putting

pressure against the

country’s small number of

independent newspapers.

‘By taking legal action

against news media that

criticize its policies or

simply dare to ask

awkward questions, the

government is trying to

suffocate them’,

Reporters Without

Borders said.

‘As they are unable to pay exorbitant legal costs, newspapers risk
bankruptcy when they are sued or prosecuted.’

The press freedom organization added:

“Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and his government have been
tightening their grip on news and information in the last months.
Ethiopia has joined the list of sub-Saharan countries that are
keeping a close eye on the media and are trying to control or
influence editorial policies. Due to their increasing intolerance, the
authorities are doing everything they can to stifle the critical
impulses of journalists and to make life difficult for the private
media.”

The France-based international non-governmental organization,
urged the Ethiopian government to stop creating climate of fear
against media people.

‘Reporters Without Borders strongly urges the Ethiopian
government to do everything it can to allow the private press to do
its job without fear of intimidation, financially damaging law suits
and self-censorship.’

‘We would also like to take this opportunity to remind the
government of Ethiopia of a number of pledges it made to protect
the constitutionally guaranteed right of the press. We remain
hopeful to see these pledges translated into action immediately.’

Since elections last year Ethiopia has jammed a number of pro-
opposition websites. Reporters without Borders has also urged
the Ethiopian authorities to stop jamming websites.

‘Reporters without Borders is also puzzled by certain cases of
websites being blocked and suspects they are being deliberately
censored’, it said

The group also mentioned newspapers and journalists it said are
under threat.

Courtesy