EMF — Journalist Nebiat Gebissa, who worked in the state-owned Ethiopia radio and television Agency (ERTA), witnesse government’s crackdown on the mass media, rampant corruption and the ongoing human right abuses in Ethiopia.

“Journalists at ERTA are severely restricted by government censorship and exercise self censorship while free press journalists are often imprisoned for any critical coverage.” Nebiat said in a brief interview with EMF. “That is why we all are refrained from any critical commentaries on the government”

Article 29, 3a of the constitution prohibits any form of censorship in Ethiopia.

According to Nebiat, self censorship is prevalent in Ethiopia especially during elections periods. In 2005 election, she had to make a live coverage in the capital where an opposition CUD party swiped all the contested seats. The next day, she was harassed, jailed for 43 days and finally told to leave the agency.

Dereje Tedla

She was labeled as member of the opposition party - anti government journalist. She then started working at Ethiopian volunteer media professionals on population and development issues.

Nebiat also witnessed government’s blockage of accesses to all critical internet websites.

In Ethiopia, any form of criticism against the government, exposure of corruption or right abuses are exposes the journalist from intimidation to capital punishment, she said.

According to independent media watchdogs Ethiopia is on the top of Africa’s enemies of the free press.

Nuhamiin Biqila Yadataa

At least 100 free press journalists and 40 government journalists are known to have been exiled for fear of persecutions.

Nuhamiin Biqila Yadataa, a woman VOA journalist exiled to UK after suffering under Ethiopian security forces. Nuhamiin Biqilaa was targeted by th Government because of her fact based report which was exposing the dictator government human rights abuses.

Shewangizaw Kassahun

Shewangizaw Kassahun, special journalist at the Prime Minister’s office, who was also head of the Audio Visual department at the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), came to the US with premier to attend UN general assembly, didn’t want to get back.

Two decades in power, the government of Meles Zenawi has incarcerated more journalists than any other country in the world.

Below is government journalists victimized after the May 2005 elections:

Members of the free press journalists who are in exile: