Ethiopia’s media war
Ethiopian anti-terrorism laws are forcing journalists into exile and prison, a push the government says will secure the nation.
Ethiopia’s jailed Zone 9 bloggers are on trial this week for terrorism and treason, charges facing more than two dozen journalists, bloggers and publishers. To avoid arrest, 30 journalists fled the country in the past year. The government says they’re criminals, destabilising Ethiopia’s fragile democracy in the name of “press freedom.” Rights groups say they’re victims of repression. Join us at 1930GMT.
On this episode of The Stream, we speak to:
Soliyana Shimeles Gebremichael @Soli_GM
Exiled co-founder of the Zone 9 Bloggers
zone9ethio.blogspot.ca
Tamerat Negera Feyisa @AbbaSheger
Exiled journalist and co-founder of Addis Neger newspaper
Tamrat Gebregiorgis @Tingert
Managing editor of Addis Fortune
addisfortune.com
Abiy Berhane
Minister counselor for public diplomacy & communication, Ethiopian Embassy in UK
ethioembassy.org.uk
What do you think? How much dissent should Ethiopia allow its media to exercise? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.