October 2nd, 2008
An Ethiopian journalist accompanying Prime Minister Meles Zenawi defected to seek asylum.
Shewangizaw Kassahun, special journalist at the Prime Minister’s office, national palace and parliament, who was also head of the Audio Visual department at the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), came to the US with premier to attend the annual global initiative of the Clinton Foundation and UN general assembly.
The journalist has attended the six days meeting with the premier and finished his final mission before leaving the group for good. Anonymous sources at the News Agency say Shewangizaw was a photo journalist and web editor very close to the palace. His defection has stunned the premiers group including his fellow journalists who never suspect him of failing to return home. His reason of defection is yet not known.
It is known that journalists working for government owned media ENA, ETV, Ethiopian Radio and Ethiopian Press Agency fail to return home if they get the chance to go abroad. This year alone not less than 10 journalists sought asylum in South Africa, Japan, England and USA. Shewangizaw adds the immigrating journalist number to over a dozen.
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Nation without a journalist - 70 fired , 22 defected
Non-stop campaign to eradicate Ethiopian journalists,independent and government, from their job and the country has been continue. Now it seems the TPLF government officials have decide to run the country without a journalist.
With in the last 3 years more than 70 journalists who worked for the state controlled media and the ruling dictator party news networks had fired from their job, and 22 others had defected the country in the last 2 years.
Based on Ethiopian Freepress Journalists Association(EFJA),update report which was released on June 10,2006, on the Ethio-Dutch Journalists conference, Amsterdam, The Netherlands,about 100 journalists from independent media are in exile,including EFJA president Mr.Kifle Mulat.
List of 37 Fired Government Journalists ( 2006 EFJA Report)
1-Eshetu Geletu , Ethiopian radio
2-Eyader Addis,Ethiopian radio
3-Daniel Amare,Ethiopian radio
4-Tigst Asfaw,FM97.1 radio
5-Selome Desta,FM97.1 radio
6-Nigussei Kibru,Ethiopian news agency(ENA)
7-Worku Chala,ENA
8-Teshager Shiferaw,ENA
9-Sileshi Tessema,ENA
10-Eliyas Amare,Ethiopian tv(ETV)
11-Ashenafi Berihun,ETV
12-Abnet Bekele,ETV
13-Zelalem Gudeta,ETV
14-Fikadu Damte,ETV
15-Bereket Teklu,ETV
16-Habtamu Bogale,ETV
17-Samuel Fikre,ETV
18-Endale Zewde,ETV
19-Genet Abebe,ETV freelancer
20-Hailegebriel Endashaw,Ethiopian Press Agency(EPA)
21-Berhanu Assefa,EPA
22-Tsige Gebreamlak,EPA
23-Abebech Wolde,EPA
24-Letekidan,EPA
25-Daniel Mekonnen,EPA
26-Zenebe Wella,EPA
27-Gashaw Melese,EPA
28-Kersima Musien,EPA
29-Matha Hailu,EPA
30 -Melaku Adela,EPA
31-Hassen Ousman,EPA
32-Eskinder,EPA
33-Getachew Shiferaw,EPA
34-Solomon Getachew,EPA
35-Yalew Aklilu,EPA
36-Tewodros Atlaw,EPA
37-Eskinder Merhatsaedik,Abyotawi Democrasi Newspaper
Source: Deje Selam
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