The Associations’ Registration Office in the Ministry of Justice has, in a statement it gave over Radio Ethiopia and Ethiopian Television on the evening of Nov. 4/2003, said it is making preparations to take measures against the Ethiopian Free press Journalists’ Association (EFJA) which obtained recognition seven years after its establishment and which has, for the past three years, been performing its tasks under very difficult and challenging conditions.

We in EFJA have, over the past three years, and since the past several months especially have been making efforts to withstand and challenge destructive propaganda and other malicious campaigns calculated to undermine our very survival launched against us by senior government officials, government controlled media and organs of the ruling party. So far, we have done all the piles of difficult homework given to us by the Association’s Registration office in the Ministry of Justice. We have been submitting periodic reports to the Ministry of justice (Ref.no.EFJA/0162,March 20,03/ Ref.no.EFJA/0163,March 28,03/ Ref.no.EFJA/0173, April 30,03/ Ref.no.EFJA/0177, June 5,03/ Ref.no.EFJA/0180, June 17,03/ Ref.no.EFJA 194, July 28,03/ Ref.no.EFJA/0196, Oct.2,03/regarding the activities of our association. Although we have given practical response to all the difficult assignment, the registration, is, by giving lame and trivial excuses and reasons, presently in engaged in a systematic destructive activity to demolish EFJA, create division between its members and incriminate its leadership.

At present, the existence of free press journalists and EFJA is at risk. This is a crucial moment at which the Ethiopian people, all our professional allies and all democratic forces should muster their forces and salvage the Ethiopian free press from permanent destruction. This is a crucial time when, you (our allies), friends of the free press and all concerned should give a rapid response to the final question of existence and survival put before you especially by members of the free press and our association (EFJA).

Our compatriots and our International allies are acutely aware of the fact that ill-wishers have left no stone unturned to directly or indirectly bring the life of EFJA to an end.

We members of the free press were organized on the basis of the citizenship rights and human rights guaranteed to us by the constitution. In the process of organizing ourselves we enjoyed the support and confidence of our people. Ever since we were organized under EFJA, we have been performing over tasks only in accordance with the law.

We have been demanding and continue to demand one thing: that over citizenship rights guaranteed to us by the constitution should not be infringed. The registration office has said in to statement that “it is ready to take action against EFJA because it has not fulfilled its legally required responsibilities.” Seen in light of the rights guaranteed to us by the constitution, this statement is absolutely irrelevant. We therefore urge the Registration offer to re-examine and re-consider its decision.

We call upon the House of Peoples Representatives, the Minister of Justice, to prevent the Registration office from taking such an action against our association.

We call on our international calleagues and allies, civic and professional associations to voice their protest against the planned action;

We call on members of EFJA - to make their own individual preparation for the 4th Regular general conference due to be held on Saturday, December 15/2003; - To carry out their mission of explaining to our people and the international community the injustices being perpetrated against us by the authorities.

EFJA will as of November 5/2003, make efforts to transmit information on current situations and on development related to it.

Once again, we call on all members, our people, democratic forces and the international community to closely follow the developments.