THIS IS HOW UR TIGRE GOVERMENT ENHANCE FREEDOM OF PRESS !!!

[Daanyeer]

Source: thisislondon, May 08, 2007




Ethiopia frees New York Times journalists after five-day detention.

Nairobi , Wend, May , 23 , 2007 Waagacusub.com


The Committee to Protect Journalists is relieved by news that Ethiopian authorities released three New York Times journalists on Monday after detaining them for five days.

Nairobi Bureau Chief Jeffrey Gettleman, photographer Vanessa Vick, and videographer Courtenay Morris were arrested May 16 by soldiers in the town of Degeh Bur, the Times reported today on its Web site. The three were reporting on the conflict between the Ethiopian government and separatist rebels in the Ogaden region bordering neighbouring Somalia, according to the newspaper. Authorities repeatedly threatened the journalists, questioned them at gunpoint, refused to notify the U.S. embassy, confiscated their equipment, and, in one instance, kicked Vick in the back, the Times said. The journalists were moved among three different jails before being released from a prison in the capital, Addis Ababa, on Monday.

“We are relieved that Jeffrey Gettleman, Vanessa Vick, and Courtenay Morris have rejoined their colleagues and loved ones,” CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said. “Their detention points out greatly deteriorating press conditions in Ethiopia.”

Ethiopia was among the world’s leading jailers of journalists in 2006, according to CPJ research. It also banned eight newspapers, expelled two foreign reporters, and blocked a number of critical Web sites, according to CPJ research. Last month, Ethiopia's High Court acquitted and set free eight editors and publishers of Amharic-language newspapers who had been jailed on antistate charges in a massive November 2005 government crackdown. Several other journalists are still being held.

[Daanyeer]

Somali Journalists' Union Marks World Press Freedom Day amid a Welter of Violations

Mohamed Amiin

Mogadishu 03, May.07 ( Sh.M.Network) The freedom and safety of journalists in Somalia have come under heavy siege in the first half of 2007, as hostilities escalated in Mogadishu, with three journalists are behind the bars.

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is marking World Press Freedom Day on May 3 with an appeal to the international community to urge the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to stop infringing journalists' rights and to respect the fundamental principles of freedom of press.

This is particularly apt since UNESCO's topics chosen for this year's World Press Freedom Day are Press Freedom, Safety of Journalists and Impunity.

Press freedom violations soared in Somalia in the period from 1st January to 1st May, with the NUSOJ recording 16 attacks on the press, up more than 43% on the same period in 2006.

The heavy toll was: One journalist murdered in Baidoa; two journalists injured in Mogadishu; three journalists arrested and tried in Somaliland and a fourth journalist in absentia; the operating licence withdrawn from an independent newspaper; five journalists and one media assistant arrested in Mogadishu, three of whom are still behind the bars; four journalists beaten; four media outlets attacked in Hargeisa and Mogadishu; five journalists ambushed and robbed; three media institutions briefly closed down; and unauthorised media events in Puntland banned.

Mogadishu has experienced the worst press freedom violations, with journalists being arrested and held, often without explanation. Somali journalists have been resorting to self-censorship to protect themselves.

The TFG, the regime in Somaliland, authorities in Puntland and armed groups have all perpetrated gruesome violations of media freedom. "These predators often accuse journalists and media outlets of producing biased, slanderous and inflammatory reports and of deliberately stirring up violence", said Omar Faruk Osman, Secretary General of NUSOJ.

"Violence against journalists is now routine in Somalia", he said "No predator was punished for any crime against journalists and this impunity is the main enemy of press freedom in Somalia," he added.

NUSOJ has also found that the private interests of several media owners have tainted the reputations of some media outlets, as a conflict of interest has undermined editorial independence, hindering free and fair reporting and exposing journalists to risk. In general journalists working conditions in Somalia are poor.

"We also call on the media owners to enable journalists to exercise editorial freedom and respect their work rights so that a free press can flourish and people can seek dialogue as an alternative to violence."

Press freedom is also under attack from political authorities who keep critical journalists and independent media under constant pressure.


"We are deeply disturbed by these repeated violations of press freedom and the permanent risks facing journalists in the course of their work," said Omar Faruk. "We urge the Somali authorities to end the culture of targeting journalists and media professionals with impunity".



Shabelle Media Network Somalia
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