Ethiopia: RSF calls for journalists' release
RSF has called on members of the Eritrean parliament to ask for the immediate release of all journalists languishing in jail in Eritrea. "Parliamentarians today have an opportunity to show goodwill and their commitment to press freedom. They must take a firm approach vis-à-vis the executive and call for their release," stated RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. "We recall that Eritrea has become the only country in the entire African continent without a single independent publication," he added.
IFEX- News from the international freedom of expression community
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ALERT UPDATE - ERITREA
1 February 2002
RSF calls on Parliament to seek imprisoned journalists' release
SOURCE: Reporters sans frontières (RSF), Paris
**Updates IFEX alerts of 3 December, 28, 26, 21 and 20 September 2001**
(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has called on members of the Eritrean parliament to ask for
the immediate release of all journalists languishing in jail in Eritrea.
"Parliamentarians today have an opportunity to show goodwill and their
commitment to press freedom. They must take a firm approach vis-à-vis the
executive and call for their release," stated RSF Secretary-General Robert
Ménard. "We recall that Eritrea has become the only country in the entire
African continent without a single independent publication," he added.
On 29 January 2002, Eritrea's National Assembly opened its first session
since 2000. Parliamentarians are set to tackle the issues of jailed
political dissidents and the country's independent press. RSF recalled that
on 18 September 2001, independent newspapers announced that further to a
government order, they were publishing their final issue until further
notice. The head of national television then went on the air to explain that
"independent media have had time to correct their mistakes. They have been
jeopardising national unity." Since then, no independent newspapers have
been published.
At the time, eight journalists were arrested and detained at Police Station
no. 1 in Asmara. They include "Tsigenay" editor-in-chief Yusuf Mohamed Ali,
who was previously detained for several weeks in October 2000 (see IFEX
alert of 26 October 2000), "Meqaleh" editor-in-chief Mattewos Habteab,
previously arrested several times in recent months, "Setit" journalists
Dawit Isaac and Tsehaye Yohannes, "Keste Debena" assistant editor-in-chief
Medhanie Haile and Temesgen Gebreyesus, a member of the newspaper's board of
directors, Emanuel Asrat, from "Zemen", and independent photographer Seyoum
Fsehaye.
RSF still has no news of six other journalists, including former publication
director and founder of "Tsigenay" newspaper Zemenfes Haile, "Meqaleh"
reporter Selamyinghes Beyene, "Setit" editor Simret Seyoum and
editor-in-chief Aaron Berhane, "Admas" editor-in-chief Said Abdulkader and
"Tsigenay" journalist Ghebrehiwet Keleta. They are believed to have either
been imprisoned or to have gone into hiding to escape arrest.
For further information, contact Jean-François Julliard at RSF, rue Geoffroy
Marie, Paris 75009, France, tel: +33 1 44 83 84 84, fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51,
e-mail: [email protected], Internet: http://www.rsf.fr
The information contained in this alert update is the sole responsibility of
RSF. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit
RSF.
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