Free Media Under Attack In Ethiopia
The United States is deeply concerned about the prosecution primarily of journalists and political activists under the anti-terrorism law.
Pedestrians walk past the Federal High Court building in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (file)
July 6, 2012 (VOA News) – A court in Ethiopia has convicted a prominent journalist and seven other citizens there, along with 16 who were tried in absentia, of violations of the country’s anti-terrorism law. It was the third case in six months in which journalists were tried under that statute. The United States is deeply concerned about the prosecution primarily of journalists and political activists under the anti-terrorism law. The practice raises serious questions and concerns about the intent of the law and about the sanctity of Ethiopians’ constitutionally guaranteed rights of freedom of expression.
Journalist and online blogger Eskinder Nega was arrested last September and accused of trying to incite violence with a series of articles that he wrote and posted online. He was also videotaped at a town hall meeting discussing the “Arab Spring” protests in Tunisia, Egypt and other countries and whether such demonstrations were possible in Ethiopia.Prosecutors said Nega’s activities and those of the other defendants violated the anti-terrorism law because they could encourage others to attempt terrorist acts – charges that all of the defendants denied. Read more…
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Oromo Woman who gave birth on street of Addis Ababa says hospital turned her away
July 6, 2012
Kedija Abdullah, a mother of three, gave birth to a baby boy on the streets as she was turned away from St Paul hospital because she was unable to pay for treatment, she said.
Late in the afternoon of last Friday, Kedija went into labor and headed to the state owned St Paul Hospital for delivery. However, as she could only afford the two-birr payment patient card and could not meet expenses for other services related to delivery and gloves, she was turned away from the hospital. As a result, she gave birth to her baby on the roadside across the hospital with the help of a passerby lady and street children from the neighborhood.
Dr Solomon Dabi, Medical Director of St Paul Hospital, told The Reporter that the hospital had never turned away a patient before and every patient who comes to the hospital in an emergency has the right to get treatment. Read more…
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