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Ethiopian blogger, journalists convicted of terrorism
advertisement01/19/12
Ethiopian blogger, journalists convicted of terrorism
Ethiopian blogger, journalists convicted of terrorism
CPJ
New York, January 19, 2012 - Two journalists and a U.S.-based blogger who was tried in absentia were convicted on charges of terrorism in Ethiopia today and could be sentenced to the death penalty, according to news reports.
Reeyot Alemu, a columnist with the independent weekly Feteh, Deputy Editor Woubshet Taye of the now-defunct weekly Awramba Times, and Elias Kifle, exiled editor of the Washington-based opposition website Ethiopian Review, were convicted today in Federal High Court in the capital, Addis Ababa, according to news reports.
The journalists were charged in September with lending support to an underground network of bannedopposition groups, including Ginbot 7, that the government had designated terrorists, according to CPJ research. In the trial, government prosecutors presented as evidence intercepted emails and phone calls between the journalists, as well as more than 25 Ethiopian Review articles and postings on the activities of the opposition groups and calls for an Arab-style popular uprising, CPJ research shows.
All of the journalists had written articles critical of the Ethiopian government. Taye's newspaper, the Awramba Times, was the target of a smear campaign by state media for raising questions about government policies, CPJ research shows. Alemu wrote columns criticizing the ruling party's policies, including its five-year growth and transformation plan, according to news reports. She also compared Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to former Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, CPJ research shows. Kifle was sentenced in absentia to life in prison in 2007 on charges of treason over critical online coverage of the government's brutal repression of the 2005 post-election protests, according to CPJ research.
Judge Endeshaw Adane of the third criminal bench of the Federal High Court is expected to sentence the journalists on January 26, news reports said. The journalists could face the death penalty, according to news reports. Since 1992, only two peoplehave been executed after being handed the death penalty, while other death sentences have been commuted to life in prison, according to an Ethiopian legal expert.
"The Ethiopian government has a long-standing practice of using umbrella charges of terrorism to silence critical voices," said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita. "These acts are part of a pattern to punish the Ethiopian press for their journalistic work."
Alemu and Taye were arrested in June and held for weeks on government accusations of plotting to sabotage telephone and electricity lines. In September, they were charged under the country's far-reaching anti-terrorism law without their lawyers present, CPJ research shows. Six other Ethiopian bloggers and online journalists were charged with terrorism in November, according to CPJ research, with only Eskinder Nega currently in custody.
Last month, two jailed Swedish journalists were sentenced to 11 years in prison on terrorism charges.
15 comments
Eliass kiftaff always bragged about it on his website with his own words repeatidly.
If they were in deed successful and disrupted our developmental projects and cuase unrest in the country, may be with the price of thousands of innocent Ethiopian lives, we know CPJ would be the first to celebrate, underminding the sovereignity of our country. Because unstable poor and insecure country is their bread and butter to prolong their pathetic lives.
The eri banda elias kiftaff should be extradited to Ethiopia ASAP. We call on America to stop sheltering such anarchic minded cruel individual who advocates terrorism only to settle his personal grudge with few individuals.
This is pure and simple instigating frightness to the public; but this is not going to deter the struggle.
I heard that they are hitting an Russkii agent to find me.
Hehehe....
There is only one terrorist group in Ethiopia, namely Melles Zenaw's TPLF!!!!!!!
All political charges presented by EPRDF as well as by oppositions, have sofar finally concluded in favor of EPRDF . This is a clear indication of the fact that the court system is serving as one wing of EPRDF, just as intelligence and military.
"Each provision in this Chapter has a precedent, either in Ethiopian traditions, or in well-established constitutional precedents abroad. No less than 29 articles have been inserted in the Constitution to provide for the protection of the essential liberties and rights of the people. Thus, We have provided that "no one shall be denied the equal protection of the laws"; that "there shall be no discrimination amongst Ethiopian subjects with respect to the enjoyment of all civil rights";that "there shall be no interference with the exercise in accordance with the law of the rites of any religion or creed by residents of the Empire";that "freedom of speech and of the press is guaranteed throughout the Empire, in accordance with the law";that "correspondence shall be subject to no censorship except in time of declared national emergency." We have, further confirmed our practice that every person accused of a crime shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty and that no one shall be imprisoned for debt, except in case of legally proved fraud." Selected Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, page 406
"Unlike many countries of the world, We have provided the right to any resident of the Empire to bring suit against the Government or ministry, department, agency or instrumentality thereof, for wrongful acts resulting in substantial damage. Likewise, everyone in the Empire shall have the right to present petitions to Us.
So important have We considered these guarantees of Human Rights and Fundamental Liberties that, in the Revised Constitution, We have stipulated that not only the courts but, in particular, Ourselves, shall at all times assure and protect these Human Rights. They constitute principles which no branch of the Government, be it the Executive, Legislative or Judiciary, can transgress and which, in consequence, must be placed under the particular protection of the Sovereign Himself. We Ourselves will always be ready to act positively to ensure respect for these rights by all branches and every official of the Government. Thus, the lowliest subject of the Empire, the poorest as well as the richest, even the convict in prison, has always the assurance that the Sovereign is at all times vigilant in the protection of his rights and fundamental liberties." HIM Negus Haile Selassie
"It is not necessary to enumerate countries where the people and entire country having lost unity, spiritual or otherwise, have become playgrounds and laughing stocks of outsiders. The historical events of certain countries bear witness to this fact. In our own times, there are those expansionists who by shedding blood, desire to achieve their ambition and by dismembering themselves they are seen as tools for alien interests. Our people from Ethiopia shed blood, to save them from disintegration. Those personalities who believe in freeing a country by secession are selfish and prey to outsiders. We will not accept their motives." Selected Speeches of HIM Negus Haile Selassie I, page 426
"The aim of those leaders that is based on ambition for power and personal gain is one with no firm foundation and will, consequently, crumble easily." Selected Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, page 471
"Every structure must be built on a solid foundation, for those constructed otherwise would soon collapse. The proclamation by which We made land grants to the entire Ethiopian people is the foundation of this scheme." Selected Speeches of HIM Haile Selassie I, page 487
"Man can only begin an enterprise it is for God to dispose of it to a good end." HIM Negus Haile Selassie I
Long Live the Constitutional Monarchy!
Long Live the Kebra Negast!
Long Live the Fetha Negast!
Fire burn down the neo-colonial divide and rule policy of ethnic federalism
Fire burn down the satanic star of secession
Beka! Tinsae Moa Anbessa!
The Lion of Judah shall throw off the yoke and set the captives free!
Remember, Ethiopian Government himself, has been in a very hardship situation when he fought the Derg era cruelty. Mengistu was a MAD DOG, who murdered Millions of Ethiopians.
Who like Mengistu, anyways? May be Nazret. I don't like Mengistu, he murdered my people.
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Happy Holiday.
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Why you guys wish Ethiopians to fight each other? It is simple, you don't have ETHIOPIANISM inside you. Means, you are not Ethiopian. You never help Ethiopia against Foreign Arm struggles. You are a clueless Black Slave Descendants, who are wishing Ethiopians to kill each other. Your Black and White Psychohistory makes your Brain scrambled. You are using our Ethiopian names to abuse the Ethiopian Government and Ethiopians.
We shouldn't investigate further for the blatanat lie is infront of us.
What can we expect when the judge is knwon by the name -Endeshaw. This means in Amharic languge "as he wishes".
Actually the correct name is Endashaw.
Soon all bloggers , including those of us who use Nazret will be catagorized under Terorism.
This is pure senility from the retard shifta at Arat Kilo.
Death to EPRDF.
You know what comes to my mind when I see you here? the Amharic word "Telala". That is what you are. Otherwise, you would not have exclaimed, "down with EPRDF",while comfortably sitting in America. Rememebr, your derg has been saying this raising the left hand, but we the capables pushed him to the cliff/abys. So if you have little balls left, come here the ground and try us.
. . . .this is how powerful the iron fist of dictatorial regime in our beloved country. . . .
. . . .they tried to show us that we are idiot and illiterate that we dont know what their kangaroo court is doing. . . .
. . . .shame on you!. . . .
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