The Allegation of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is Unfounded

Freedom of expression is one of the major features of democracy. The progress of democratization is indeed impossible without press freedom.

It is clearly known that Ethiopia has been exercising press freedom since the downfall of “Derg” regime in 1991. The constitution of Federal Democratic republic of Ethiopia legalized the right of press freedom. Consequently, censorship, which CPJ has accused of Ethiopia, is completely banned since then.

Evidently, with the existence of democracy in the country in the past sixteen years, more than 1,000 newspapers and magazines with different names and treating various issues and contents have enjoyed this right and have been in circulation all over the country. Currently, eighty-one private newspapers and magazines and forty-three permanent correspondents working for foreign news agencies are but in existence. correspondents working for foreign news agencies are operational. Many among these, report independently on issues that are critical of the government. They are operating freely focusing on political, economic, social and other issues without any interference or imposition in any form by the government.

Nevertheless, CPJ has accused of Ethiopia as if the government has banned political newspapers and magazines except for sports and romantic ones. This allegation is absolutely far from the truth. It seems that it is a deliberate act to hide the reality. Kasahun Addis, a journalist, who had reported wrongly stated statement twice, was apologized after admitting his mistakes saying that he had been misquoted by the Washington Post; but has now on the contrary, complained about being threatened and harassed. So, this explicitly denotes that he either is doing things out of a journalist ethics or has some hidden mission of his own to accomplish. Moreover, he might have used this false allegation as a camouflage to cover up his weakness.

It must be clear that the government has never levied any imposition on any press, in any form. However, it has to be known that there have been presses went out of publication and circulation due to their own internal problems and weaknesses they rather know very well for themselves. It must be clear that for better understanding any neutral and interested group can closely observe and verify the reality on the ground for himself.

Taking information from one side only, CPJ repeatedly accused Ethiopia of mistreating press. Purely biased, the stand of CPJ, therefore, has become questionable. On the contrary, In lieu of defaming and accusing Ethiopia, CPJ should rather attach prior importance to do its level best with affairs relevant to journalists who lack professional ethics and help them maximize their capacity to produce sound and unbiased reports and information.