Ethiopian rights body seeks release of 16 detained journalists
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – Ethiopia’s state-appointed human rights physique known as on Friday for the discharge of 16 journalists and media personnel after new arrests in current days within the capital Addis Ababa and the restive area of Amhara.
Press watchdogs and rights teams say Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s authorities is more and more intimidating the media and harassing opponents because it seeks to quell unrest in areas.
Ethiopian authorities have been significantly cracking down in Amhara and Oromiya areas just lately. They justify arrests of media personnel by accusing them of siding with rebels.
Within the newest round-up, Temesgen Desalegn of Feteh Journal and Yayesew Shimelis of Ethio Discussion board Media had been held on Thursday in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian Human Rights Fee stated.
Final week, Amhara authorities arrested 5 journalists of media outlet Ashara in a transfer thought linked to their protection of a volunteer militia know as Fano.
On the identical day, Amhara authorities additionally arrested one other 4 staff of U.S.-based on-line outlet Nisir Worldwide Broadcasting.
Rights fee head Daniel Bekele stated the entire variety of detained journalists was now 16 and urged their rapid launch.
“No declare concerning the alleged offence dedicated via media justifies violation of the newly adopted media legislation which clearly prohibits pre-trial detention of individuals charged with committing an offence via the media,” he stated in a press release.
Authorities spokesperson Legesse Tulu didn’t instantly reply to requests for touch upon Bekele’s assertion.
However the authorities put out a warning to media in a press release final week: “The federal government will proceed to take irreversible measure on people concerned in unlawful actions who’re planning and dealing to create havoc and chaos, additionally on these carrying a cloak of media shops and journalists.”
(Reporting by Nairobi Newsroom; Writing by George Obulutsa; Enhancing by Andrew Cawthorne)
