ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – Ethiopia’s state-appointed human rights body referred to as on Friday for the release 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.
In the newest round-up, Temesgen Desalegn of Feteh Magazine and Yayesew Shimelis of Ethio Forum Media had been held on Thursday in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission mentioned.
Last 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 International Broadcasting.
Rights fee head Daniel Bekele mentioned the whole quantity of detained journalists was now 16 and urged their speedy release.
“No declare in regards to the alleged offence dedicated by way of media justifies violation of the newly adopted media regulation which clearly prohibits pre-trial detention of individuals charged with committing an offence by way of the media,” he mentioned in a press release.
Government spokesperson Legesse Tulu didn’t instantly reply to requests for touch upon Bekele’s assertion.
But the federal government put out a warning to media in a press release final week: “The authorities 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 retailers and journalists.”
(Reporting by Nairobi Newsroom; Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Andrew (*16*))
