Ban on EFJA Not Lifted

Ban on EFJA Not Lifted,
IRIN disseminates baseless story
EFJA Press Release
February 25, 2004
ADDIS ABABA - The Ethiopian Free Press Journalists Assoction (EFJA) has reiterated its call on all free press support groups around the world to continue to pressure the government to lift the ban. EFJA also dismissed as baseless a news report circulated by the UN News Network (IRIN) which echoed a misleading government propaganda on February 23rd and said the government has lifted the ban on EFJA. Following is the full press release:

This is to inform and alert that members of the Ethiopian Freepress Journalists’ Association (EFJA), the Ethiopian people and the international community that IRIN, a news agency, on Monday 23 February has disseminated the fabricated news that the ban imposed on EFJA has been lifted. In its deceptive message, IRIN quoted government sources as saying that the ban has been lifted.

Members of EFJA within and outside the country should continue to demand the lifting of the ban imposed on the association and its leadership and express their protest against the measures taken by the regime. Moreover, they should continue to carefully examine baseless information being disseminated calculated to sow seeds of discord and disunity among members and to distort beguile public opinion.

It is to be recalled that over 103 members and candidate members of the association have, through their endorsement signatures, confirmed their condemnation of the ban imposed by the ministry of justice, and that, international press institutes and human rights activities have in messages addressed to prime Minister Meles Zenaw, called on the Ethiopian government to revoke its decision.

The fabricated story was disseminated at a time. When; an IFJ delegation was in Addis Ababa to gather information regarding the situation; when the suit filed against the ministry of justice was being seen; and when eleven members of the US Congress have started giving endorsement signature to conform their protest against the Ethiopian government's action. It is possible to realize that this is a politically motivated, outdated and malicious design calculated to undermined the opposition that has been gathering strength and diverting the attention of the Ethiopian people and above all, of members of the association who strongly stand for the cause their organizational freedom and their profession.

We respectfully call on EFJA and its members, to realize that the ban on the association and its leadership has not been lifted, and to carry on with yet more firm determination their overall struggle for ensuring the respect of their constitutional and organizational freedom. We also respectively call on the Ethiopian people and the international community to understand the reality and make their respective contributions towards the struggle.

EFJA and its members who advocate the rule of law shall continue to exist now, and for ever and ever!

Press freedom shall continue to flourish!

FLASH: Harassed editor flees into exile

ADDIS ABABA - Journalist Sileshi Woldeyes Beyene, Deputy Editor-in-chief of the Amharic weekly free press newspaper and the Amharic monthly Magazine “Tobbia” said that he has been forced to leave the country and live in exile. In an information which he released three days after he left the country (15 February 25, 2004) journalist Sileshi stated that “he was contentiously harassed and intimidated over the phone by unidentified individuals”. He said in his message, "two individuals confronted me while I was on my way home. They asked me to be witness to lies that the former executive committee members of EFJA, especially the president had stole money from the association" and that they would reward him and would be the member of executive committee for the newly established puppet… if he made this statement over the radio and television…”

Sileshi said “he would not engage himself in such a mess and was forced to leave the country."

Kifle Mulat
President, EFJA
Editor-in-Chief, LISANE HEZEB Newspaper and Magazine
Tel/fax: + 251 1 222 107/ +251 1 18 26 20/Mobile: +251 9 22 29 39
Fax: alternate: +251 1 56 49 53)
Email: efjakifle@hotmail.com, efja@telecom.net.et

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