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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Press Freedom: Ethiopia Crackdown (TV)
HEADLINE: Ethiopia Holding Journalists in Detention Centers Without Charge
TEASER: Government attempting to scare members of media into censoring themselves on controversial issues, rights groups say
PUBLISHED AT: 06/07/2022 at 9:30am
BYLINE: HALIMA ATHUMANI
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
VIDEOGRAPHER: Yidnkeachew Lemma
VIDEO EDITOR: Yidnkeachew Lemma
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: DLJ, Reifenrath, SR (ok)
VIDEO SOURCE (S): All VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO x__
TRT: 3:06
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO)) Police in Ethiopia in the past month have arrested at least 19 journalists and are keeping them in detention centers without charge. Rights groups say the government is intentionally targeting journalists to scare them into self-censorship on the war in the Tigray region and other issues. Halima Athumani talks to a lawyer who is trying to help those detained in this report from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
((NARRATOR))
In less than a month, according to the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, the country’s federal police force has arrested and detained 19 online journalists.
The federal government has accused the 19 of various crimes but has yet to file any official charges. Two of the journalists are due to appear in court Tuesday.
A human rights lawyer working to free the journalists spoke to VOA on condition he remain anonymous because of concerns for his safety.
The lawyer says police are making arbitrary arrests of journalists seen as critical of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
He says Abiy’s government is sending a message.
((Anonymous Lawyer (In English 19secs)) ((NEED A MALE VOICE OVER))
“Don’t speak up. Don’t be a voice for the voiceless. And the government will be happy if no one criticizes its activities, duties and responsibilities.”
((NARRATOR))
The Ethiopian media law clearly stipulates that no journalist should be detained because of his or her work.
Tamrat Hailu, the deputy chairperson of the Ethiopian Media Council, says that the council has been given little or no information on the journalists and that the arrests are not being conducted properly.
((Tamrat Hailu, Ethiopian Media Council Deputy Chairperson (In English 15secs))
“They are not detained in the proper prison. Even some of them are not appearing in the courts. This is the main problem with the Ethiopia media landscape.”
((NARRATOR))
Last week, the Federal Police Commission said police were investigating ten individuals suspected of disseminating content disruptive to the peace and security of the country.
Police said they had also identified what they called 111 unlawful internet-based media outlets.
These outlets, according to the federal police, broadcast without permission and disseminated content that could incite conflict over ethnic and religious issues.
((Mandatory Zoom courtesy))
However, Muthoki Mumo, the
((end courtesy))
sub-Saharan African representative of the Committee to Protect Journalists, says the
((Mandatory Zoom courtesy))
accusations against the arrested journalists are disingenuous.
((Muthoki Mumo, Committee to Protect Journalists (In English 25secs)))
"Some of these journalists, they were moved from where they were arrested in Bahir Dar and were taken far away. Their condition remains unclear. And if you look at the journalists arrested in Addis Ababa, the pattern is the same. Vague allegations, not backed up by evidence, and police repeatedly claiming that they need to investigate and failing to answer questions about which specific offenses."
((end Zoom courtesy))
((NARRATOR))
Many Ethiopian journalists turned down our request to speak on the record in fear of what may happen.
One journalist said, “It is not about being brave, it’s about the consequences. It is not a good time to speak, and as I speak now, I know it could be me today. They are acting like dogs and are biting.”
((Halima Athumani, for VOA News, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
BylineHalima Athumani
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
