Eritrea: IFJ condemns government's 'dictatorial' approach to press freedom
The International Federation of Journalists has condemned the Eritrean government's "dictatorial" approach to press freedom, warning that free and independent journalism "faces extinction" in the country. "The international community must intervene to stop the rot," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "Independent journalism faces extinction in Eritrea and the outside world must act now." The concern of the IFJ and other press freedom groups over the Eritrean crisis intensified at the end of last month when the last remaining foreign correspondent was expelled from the country. Jonah Fisher, who worked in Eritrea for 18 months as correspondent for the BBC and Reuters, said the authorities gave him no explanation, but his expulsion followed a period of "increasing difficulties."
IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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PRESS RELEASE/UPDATE - ERITREA
28 October 2004
IFJ condemns government's "dictatorial" approach to press freedom
SOURCE: International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Brussels
**Updates IFEX alerts of 17 September 2004, 19 September, 20 August, 23 and
2 May and 1 April 2003, 10 and 19 September, 7 and 2 August 2002, and
others; for further information on Fisher's expulsion from the country, see
alert of 10 September 2004**
(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an IFJ media release:
IFJ Calls for Action as Free Journalism "Faces Extinction" in Eritrea
The International Federation of Journalists today condemned the Eritrean
government's "dictatorial" approach to press freedom, warning that free and
independent journalism "faces extinction" in the country.
"The international community must intervene to stop the rot," said Aidan
White, IFJ General Secretary. "Independent journalism faces extinction in
Eritrea and the outside world must act now."
The concern of the IFJ and other press freedom groups over the Eritrean
crisis intensified at the end of last month when the last remaining foreign
correspondent was expelled from the country. Jonah Fisher, who worked in
Eritrea for 18 months as correspondent for the BBC and Reuters, said the
authorities gave him no explanation, but his expulsion followed a period of
"increasing difficulties."
The IFJ is pressing the European Union to raise concerns over human rights
and free expression and the continued imprisonment of at least 13
journalists. There are several EU projects in Eritrea financed by the
European Development Fund (EDF), worth 156 million euros for the 2002-2007
period. A core part of this agreement is that the Eritrean government must
respect human rights in order to receive this assistance.
"We welcome recent statements by EU representatives over the need to improve
human rights in Eritrea," said White. "But time is running out. We need some
action to hold the Eritrean authorities accountable for their utter failure
to respect the full terms of their acceptance of this financial support."
The IFJ's intervention is strongly backed by its Swedish affiliate, the
Swedish Journalists' Federation, who are campaigning vigorously for the
release of Dawit Isaac, a journalist and Swedish citizen, who along with 12
other independent journalists have been detained incommunicado, without
charge or trial, since September 2001 when the government shut down
independent newspapers. No charges are known to have been filed against any
of them.
"Eritrea has the worst record in Africa when it comes to attacks on press
freedom and journalists rights," said Arne Konig, Vice President of the
Swedish Journalists' Federation. "Today is the 40th birthday of our
colleague Isaac, who has been in jail for three years without trial already.
We need to mark his anniversary with new efforts to set him free."
Since its independence from Ethiopia in 1991, Eritrean President Afwerki has
purposively shelved the country's constitution, delayed presidential
elections, closed down independent media and jailed hundreds of journalists
and other members of civil society.
"Eritrea is the victim of a systematic repression and censorship of all
independent media," said White. "There is no privately-owned press, the
foreign press have been kicked out, and local journalists are harassed,
detained without trial and subject to intolerable intimidation. This
shameful situation cannot be ignored any longer."
The IFJ represents more than 500,000 journalists in over 110 countries.
To view this statement online please click here:
http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=2764&Language=EN
For further information, contact the IFJ, International Press Centre,
Residence Palace, Block C, 155 Rue de la Loi, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium, tel:
+322 235 2206 or +322 235 2200, fax: +322 235 2219, e-mail:
[email protected], Internet: http://www.ifj.org/
The information contained in this press release/update is the sole
responsibility of IFJ. In citing this material for broadcast or publication,
please credit IFJ.
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