Monday, April 28, 2014

Kerry Responds to Kristof ‘s Tweet About Arrests of Bloggers in Ethiopia at -Tadias Magazine

Kerry Responds to Kristof ‘s Tweet About Arrests of Bloggers in Ethiopia

 Secretary of State John Kerry and author Nicholas Kristof. (Photo credit: Department of State and WEF)

Tadias Magazine

News Update
Published: Tuesday April 29th, 2014
New York (TADIAS) — Secretary of State John Kerry responded to a tweet from New York Times Op-Ed columnist Nicholas Kristof regarding the recent arrests of several independent journalists and bloggers in Ethiopia. Soon after news of the crackdown in Addis Ababa broke on social media this past weekend, Kristof had tweeted saying “Let’s hope that when John Kerry visits Ethiopia in coming days, he’ll forcefully raise issue of imprisoned bloggers & journalists.”
Kerry who is visiting Ethiopia this week as part of a three country tour of Africa (including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola) assured the award winning journalist that the matter remains high on his agenda. “Important issue,” Kerry replied. “US will stay committed to helping promote & protect press freedom in all corners of world.”
New York-based Human Rights Watch organization notes that “on the afternoon of April 25, police in uniform and civilian clothes conducted what appeared to be a coordinated operation of near-simultaneous arrests. Six members of a group known as the “Zone9” bloggers – Befekadu Hailu, Atnaf Berahane, Natnael Feleke, Mahlet Fantahun, Zelalem Kibret, and Abel Wabela – were arrested at their offices and in the streets. Tesfalem Weldeyes, a freelance journalist, was also arrested during the operation. Edom Kassaye, a second freelance journalist, was arrested on either April 25 or 26; the circumstances of her arrest are unclear but all eight individuals were apparently taken to Maekelawi Police Station, the federal detention center in Addis Ababa, the capital. The arrests also came days before Ethiopia is scheduled to have its human rights record assessed at the United Nations Human Rights Council’s universal periodic review in Geneva on May 6.”
All of the accused have been charged with “inciting public violence” and colluding with “a foreign organization.”
Below is the twitter exchange between Kerry and Kristof:
Let's hope that when @JohnKerry visits in coming days, he'll forcefully raise issue of imprisoned bloggers & journalists
- See more at: http://www.tadias.com/04/29/2014/kerry-responds-to-kristof-s-tweet-about-arrests-of-bloggers-in-ethiopia/#sthash.kGTO0BWH.dpuf

9 Ethiopian Journalist and bloggers appeared in Criminal Court

Addis
Ababa — Three journalists and six bloggers, who were detained starting late
Friday and Saturday, appeared before court on Sunday April 27.
All six of them appeared before the Federal First Instance Court
First Criminal Bench at Arada and were charged with "Working with foreign
organizations that claim to be human rights activists and agreeing in idea and
receiving finance to incite public violence through social media. The detainees
are charged under three files.
Tesfalem Waldyes, Asmamaw Hailegiorgis and Zelalem Kibiret are
charged under one file. Befekadu Hailu, Mahlet Fantahun and Abel Wabela are
charged under another file. Whereas Atinafu Birhane, Natinael Feleke and Edom
Kassaye are charged in a third file. The hearing was presided by a judge Liya
Zenebe.
Police alleged that the suspects have been disseminating
information via social media, internet and websites that destabilizes nation.
Though police requested the court for 15 additional days for
investigation, the court allowed only 10 and 11 days.
Asked about the detainees' condition and the reason for their
arrested, Shimelis Kemal, deputy head of Government Communication Affairs
Office (GCAO) with a state ministerial portfolio, told The Reporter that he did
not know anything but indicated that he would try to assess the matter.
All six bloggers were arrested at night by armed security forces
and taken from their homes to the Federal Police Crime Investigation Sector
'Maekelawi'.


One of the detainees, Tesfalem Waldyes, is a journalist who
occasionally writes for Fortune - the business weekly newspaper - and Addis
Standard magazine.

Ethiopia: Arrests Upstage Kerry Visit | Human Rights Watch


APRIL 28, 2014
The nine arrests signal, once again, that anyone who criticizes the Ethiopian government will be silenced. The timing of the arrests – just days before the US secretary of state’s visit – speaks volumes about Ethiopia’s disregard for free speech.
Leslie Lefkow, deputy Africa director
(Nairobi) – The Ethiopian authorities should immediately release six bloggers and three journalists arrested on April 25 and 26, 2014, unless credible charges are promptly brought.



United States Secretary of State John Kerry, who is scheduled to visit Ethiopia beginning April 29, should urge Ethiopian officials to unconditionally release all activists and journalists who have been arbitrarily detained or convicted in unfair trials. The arrests also came days before Ethiopia is scheduled to have its human rights record assessed at the United Nations Human Rights Council’s universal periodic review in Geneva on May 6.



“The nine arrests signal, once again, that anyone who criticizes the Ethiopian government will be silenced,” said Leslie Lefkow, deputy Africa director. “The timing of the arrests – just days before the US secretary of state’s visit – speaks volumes about Ethiopia’s disregard for free speech.”



On the afternoon of April 25, police in uniform and civilian clothes conducted what appeared to be a coordinated operation of near-simultaneous arrests. Six members of a group known as the “Zone9” bloggers – Befekadu Hailu, Atnaf Berahane, Natnael Feleke, Mahlet Fantahun, Zelalem Kibret, and Abel Wabela – were arrested at their offices and in the streets. Tesfalem Weldeyes, a freelance journalist, was also arrested during the operation. Edom Kassaye, a second freelance journalist, was arrested on either April 25 or 26; the circumstances of her arrest are unclear but all eight individuals were apparently taken to Maekelawi Police Station, the federal detention center in Addis Ababa, the capital.



The police searched the bloggers and journalists’ offices and homes, reportedly with search warrants, and confiscated private laptops and literature. On April 26, another journalist, Asmamaw Hailegeorgis of Addis Guday newspaper, was also arrested and is reportedly detained in Maekelawi.



The detainees are currently being held incommunicado. On the morning of April 26, relatives were denied access to the detainees by Maekelawi guards, and only allowed to deposit food.



Human Rights Watch released a report in October 2013 documenting serious human rights abuses, including torture and other ill-treatment,unlawful interrogation tactics, and poor detention conditions in Maekelawi against political detainees, including journalists. Detainees at Maekelawi are seldom granted access to legal counsel or their relatives during the initial investigation phase.



The Zone9 bloggers have faced increasing harassment by the authorities over the last six months. Sources told Human Rights Watch that one of the bloggers and one of the journalists have been regularly approached, including at home, by alleged intelligence agents and asked about the work of the group and their alleged links to political opposition parties and human rights groups. The blogger was asked a week before their arrest of the names and personal information of all the Zone9 members. The arrests on April 25, 2014, came two days after Zone9 posted a statement on social media saying they planned to increase their activism after a period of laying low because of ongoing intimidation.



A Human Rights Watch report in March described the technologies used by the Ethiopian government to conduct surveillance of perceived political opponents, activists, and journalists inside the country and among the diaspora. It highlights how the government’s monopoly over all mobile and Internet services through its sole, state-owned telecom operator, Ethio Telecom, facilitates abuse of surveillance powers.



Kerry is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom in Addis Ababa “to discuss efforts to advance peace and democracy in the region.” Kerry should strongly urge the Ethiopian government to end arbitrary arrests, release all activists and journalists unjustly detained or convicted, and promptly amend draconian laws on freedom of association and terrorism that have frequently been used to justify arbitrary arrests and political prosecutions. The Obama administration has said very little about the need for human rights reforms in Ethiopia.



“Secretary Kerry should be clear that the Ethiopian government’s crackdown on media and civil society harms ties with the US,” Lefkow said.  “Continued repression in Ethiopia cannot mean business as usual for Ethiopia-US relations.”

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Ethiopia detains bloggers and journalist - Africa - Al Jazeera English




Security forces arrest six bloggers and a journalist in latest crackdown on opposition voices.

Last updated: 26 Apr 2014 19:20
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The Ethiopian government has arrested six independent bloggers and a journalist in what human rights group Amnesty International has called a "suffocating grip on freedom of expression".

Six members of independent blogger and activist group ‘Zone 9’ and a prominent Ethiopian journalist were arrested on Friday in the capital Addis Ababa.

These arrests appear to be yet another alarming round up of opposition or independent voices
Claire Beston, Amnesty International
All six bloggers were arrested at night by armed security forces and taken from their homes to the Federal Police Crime Investigation Sector ‘Maikelawi’, where political prisoners are alleged to be held in pre-trial, and sometimes arbitrary detention.

The Zone 9 group who are said to be very critical of government policy and have a strong following on social media had temporarily suspended their activities earlier this year after accusing the government of harassing their members.

Journalist Tesfalem Waldyes who writes independent commentary on political issues for a Ethiopian newspaper was also arrested.

According to Ethiopian journalist Simegnish Yekoye, Waldyes is being denied visitation by friends and family and it's unclear what prompted his arrest and what charges he is being held under.

Simegnish Yekoye told Al Jazeera she was unaware of why the government had clamped down on journalists and their was growing fear on the future of a free press.

"I am very scared, I don't know what's going to happen next," she said.

Ranked 143 in the 2014 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index, media watchdogs say 49 journalists fled the country between 2007 and 2012 to evade government persecution.

Ethiopia: Journalism under anti-terrorism law
Human rights group Amesty International criticised the arrests, saying "these arrests appear to be yet another alarming round up of opposition or independent voices".

"The Ethiopian government is tightening its suffocating grip on freedom of expression in a major crackdown which has seen the arrest of numerous independent, critical and opposition voices over the last two days", Claire Beston, Ethiopia researcher at Amnesty International, said.

Al Jazeera's Mohammed Adow reporting from Bahir Dar said it was unclear what will happen to the detained journalists.

"There are scores of journalists currently serving between 14 and 27 years in prison with some charged on terrorism offences."

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Somalia in high speed internet 'culture shock'-BBC News -


People use computers at an internet cafe in the Hodan area of Mogadishu, 9 October 2013Internet cafes are popular in the capital, Mogadishu
Some residents of Somalia's capital have been experiencing a form of "culture shock" since fibre optic services launched over the last week, an internet provider has told the BBC.
"Any video or site just pops up... they're very excited about the speed," Somalia Wireless's Liban Egal says.
Until now access to the internet has been via dial-up or satellite links.
Earlier this year, 3G mobile phone services were cut off because of a threat from Islamist militants.

A satellite in Mogadishu
The al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group issued a directive in January ordering all internet services to be stopped, saying those who did not comply would be seen as "working with the enemy" and dealt with according to Islamic law.
Al-Shabab was driven out of the capital, Mogadishu, in August 2011, but still controls many smaller towns and rural areas in the south and centre of the country where they have imposed a strict version of Sharia.
Following their threat, 3G networks nationwide were turned off but the project to launch fibre optic cable services continued in the capital, the BBC's Moalimu Mohammed reports from Mogadishu.
'Day and night'

He says the fibre optic connections, which have been rolled out over the last week by several internet providers, are only available in Mogadishu.
map
People have been flocking to hotels and internet cafes to try out the fast service - some seeing video platforms like YouTube and social networking sites for the first time, our correspondent says.
Mr Egal said the difference in speed was like the difference between "day and night".
For those residents who have recently returned from the diaspora the development was a relief, he said.
It was "almost a culture shock" for those who have never left Somalia, he added.
He said the move would be a huge boost for the country, which is recovering from more than two decades of civil war.
"Every time a fibre optic cable is connected to a country they see their GDP [gross domestic product] going up because their communication costs go down," Mr Egal said.
"All life will be affected - businesses, the government, universities - they all will see the benefits."
Our reporter says the current security situation will limit the rollout of fibre optic services to the rest of the country.
Since 1991 Somalia has seen clan-based warlords, rival politicians and Islamist militants battle for control - a situation that has allowed lawlessness to flourish.
An African Union force has been helping the UN-backed government fight al-Shabab, which wants to create an Islamic state in Somalia.

Ethiopia law suppresses press freedom -Press TV



The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX), a continental body of African free expression organizations, condemned the 27-year sentence imposed by Ethiopia on veteran Somali journalist, Mohamed Aweys Mudey. Ethiopian prosecutors accused Mudey of having information about Al-Shabab operations in Ethiopia and charged him with participating in terror activities. Mudey, who was persecuted under Ethiopia's anti-terror law, was arrested in Addis Ababa in November 2013. The repressive anti-terrorism law, adopted in 2009, is a threat that continues to hang over journalists, forcing them to censor themselves. Opposition says the government has been criminalizing Ethiopians who express their opinions about government policies ever since. They also say Addis Ababa must clarify its broad definition of terrorism. However, the government says the opposition is seeking to glorify convicted terrorists and is “downplaying the danger” Ethiopia is facing as a result of terrorism. According to the New York-based independent Committee to Protect Journalists, over ten journalists have been charged under the anti-terrorism law. The committee says Ethiopia has the highest number of exiled journalists in the world. Human rights groups accuse Ethiopia’s government of using the country’s anti-terrorism legislation to end peaceful dissent. The Ethiopian constitution, however, guarantees the right to freedom of expression.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Ethiopian Journalist Reeyot Alemu Has Been in Jail for 1,000 Days · Global Voices

March 16, 2014 marked the 1,000th day of imprisonment for Ethiopian journalistReeyot Alemu. She is serving a five-year sentence after she was found guilty on terrorism charges in January 2012.
Jailed Ethiopian journalist Reeyot Alemu.Photo source: Facebook page of Free Reyoot Alemu campaign.

Jailed Ethiopian journalist Reeyot Alemu. Photo via Facebook page of Free Reyoot Alemu campaign.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the Ethiopian government has convicted 11 independent journalists and bloggers including Reeyot and Eskinder Nega under a sweeping anti-terrorism law since 2011. Among those jailed are two Swedish journalists who are serving an 11-year sentence for allegedly supporting an ethnic Somali rebel group.
In this blog post, blogger BefeQadu Z Hailu described the plight of imprisoned Ethiopian journalists:
If the objective of imprisonment is to correct the convicted ones, then to encourage reading and education should be one of the tools to meet the objective. In Kality prison both are allowed but not easily to these journalists and others who are convicted in relation to ‘terrorism’.
These prisoners are not allowed to get books. Eskinder says, “Especially those kinds of books that have titles combining words of ‘Ethiopia’ and ‘history’ are not allowed in.” The same is true to the ward of Reeyot Alemu and others such as Wubshet Taye, Bekele Gerba, etc.
Local independent newspapers and magazines are not also allowed in; Eskinder further explained it to me that even News TV channels like BBC and Aljazeera are not allowed to be viewed in zones where he and others are imprisoned.
Reeyot Alemu, after a tough struggle with the prison admins and after the media revealed the story, is now allowed to get distance education. But, it is still difficult for her to get supplementary books other than the books directly sent to her from the College.
Twitter users sent out tweets using the hashtag #ReeyotAlemu