Crisis in Ethiopia: “Anti-Terrorism” is a Euphemism to Silence Dissent and Abrogate Journalism
Posted: 21 Aug 2019, 07:36
Governments that censor lose the moral authority to govern. Throughout history, authorities who have reverted to news suppression and harassing dissent have one thing in common, they use the lie of security to nullify privacy and free speech. Such is the case in Ethiopia where Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s regime has shed its reform agenda and embraced the repressive tactics of Hailemariam Desalegn, Meles Zenawi and Mengistu Hailemariam.
Yesterday afternoon, journalist Mesganaw Getachew was arrested on trumped up charges using the ever amorphous “Anti-Terrorism Proclamation”—egregious laws that were implemented by the previous TPLF junta—because Mesganaw had the temerity to record an interview outside a courthouse in Addis Abeba. Remember when PM Abiy promised a new day in Ethiopia,released all political prisoners and swore to respect and preserve a free press? That was so 2018 ago. Abiy has taken Ethiopia back to 2008 as he targets journalists for daring to question government positions.
For the past 44 years, Ethiopia has been shrouded under the blanket of fear, suspicion and repression ushered in during the Derg era, perpetuated by the TPLF and now embraced by the OLF/ODP led Ethiopian government. In Ethiopia, one is safe to stoke ethnic tensions and foment violence the way that Jawar Mohammed does as long as one does not question the Federal government’s plans and policies. However, if one is of a different ethnicity and...continued...
Read full article at: https://ethiopians4cm.org/crisis-in-ethiopia-2019-8-21/
Yesterday afternoon, journalist Mesganaw Getachew was arrested on trumped up charges using the ever amorphous “Anti-Terrorism Proclamation”—egregious laws that were implemented by the previous TPLF junta—because Mesganaw had the temerity to record an interview outside a courthouse in Addis Abeba. Remember when PM Abiy promised a new day in Ethiopia,released all political prisoners and swore to respect and preserve a free press? That was so 2018 ago. Abiy has taken Ethiopia back to 2008 as he targets journalists for daring to question government positions.
For the past 44 years, Ethiopia has been shrouded under the blanket of fear, suspicion and repression ushered in during the Derg era, perpetuated by the TPLF and now embraced by the OLF/ODP led Ethiopian government. In Ethiopia, one is safe to stoke ethnic tensions and foment violence the way that Jawar Mohammed does as long as one does not question the Federal government’s plans and policies. However, if one is of a different ethnicity and...continued...
Read full article at: https://ethiopians4cm.org/crisis-in-ethiopia-2019-8-21/