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Feleke Tibebu, deputy editor of private Ethiopian newspaper Hadar,
was arrested in a 2005 government-led crackdown on dissidents and the private
media. Tibebu (right) and 13 other journalists were charged with "outrages against
the constitution or constitutional order," "impairment of the
defensive power of the state," and "attempted genocide," after
the publication of editorials
critical of the government's conduct surrounding the May 2005 parliamentary
elections. According to international news reports at the time, more than 190
people were killed when the government crushed post-election protests after the
opposition contested the victory of the ruling party.After
nearly 17 months in prison, Tibebu and seven other journalists
were acquitted and released in April 2007. Facing more harassment, he fled
to
He is one of more than 340 journalists forced into in exile whose cases CPJ has documented since 2001.
Tibebu was interviewed in Amharic last week by Voice of America
Amharic service reporter Henok Fente, who is based in
Henok Fente: What
are your feelings, observations, and impressions upon arriving in the
Feleke Tibebu: I
have mixed feelings about coming to
HF: When is the
last time you were in
FT: I was in
HF: What were some of the conditions you faced in prison?
FT: I was in jail for 17 months. The conditions were terrible. I was in the Meakelawi interrogation center for two months. A colleague and myself were locked in a dark room. Then we were transferred to a Kaliti correction facility. There were 430 inmates in one room. The cell had four latrines, two showers. It was hot and dirty.
CPJ gave me hope and support. I knew organizations like CPJ
were fighting for our rights when they visited us. When the authorities heard
that CPJ and others were coming, they built a new cell and they moved us there.
That cut the suffering by half. CPJ also helped my family--giving cash--and
helped me in
HF: What would
have to change in
FT: Ethiopians
should have the right to fully and freely express their thoughts and opinions.
People should be free to write, say, or use whatever means they want to express
themselves. Such rights have to be exercised fully--there is no middle ground
here--it has to be fully free. Electoral processes and other institutions have
to function independently. Unfortunately that is not the case in
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Dear CPJ
Feleke's interview highlights some of the atrocities the government of Ethiopia has been committing,but it is only a tip of the iceberg.There are unspeakable crimes exercised in Ethiopian prisons on innocent citizens.
CPJ has continued to be the parent,interms of finance,and the guardian, interms of protection for Ethiopian journalists, and Feleke's testimony about the contribution of CPJ to Ethiopian journalists is reliable and shared by all who have beneffited from the org.
Fasil
Indeed it is sad to see such a wonderful Ethiopian being forced to leave his country by anti Ethiopian government a robot machine of George W.Bush with no felling!!!! then again we will celebrate Feleke's life that he got a chance to tell his story AN ETHIOPIAN STORY.
Feleke belonged to the silenced free press of Ethiopia, whose ongoing predicament is epitomized by the total absence of all political newspapers that had existed before the 2005 elections.
These were the voices of the rundown majority of Ethiopians, they were the ones who for long stubbornly stuck with the silent oppressed majority, and they are the ones that are now patiently bidding for the triumph of rule of law and democracy. And then, many of the journalists driven out will hopefully return back home. For we have reached that crucial historical juncture where Ethiopia desperately needs a vibrant free media no less than she needs a government.
Congratulation, Feleke.
And much thanks to CPJ for standing by us in our times of need.
Serkalem and Eskinder.
Addis Ababa.
Dear CPJ i read Feleke interview.It experss the real situation of Ethiopian free press journalists.I appereceat CPJ dedication and committemnt to support all Ethiopian Free press journalists.I hope you will continue your support all exiled journalist resetel and freedom of speach realaize our country.
It is not for the first time such kinds of discrimination in Ethiopa.