SEPTEMBER 9, 2005
Posted: September 22, 2005
Habdissa Abera, Dagim Wenchif
Abera Tezera, Dagim Wenchif
Eshetu FetaTadesse Kabede, Lisane Hezeb
Tigist Abraham, Lisane Hezeb
HARASSED
Police in the capital, Addis Ababa, arrested editor-in-chief Abera and deputy editor Tezera of the private, Amharic-language weekly Dagim Wenchif; former Dagim Wenchif editor Feta; and editor-in-chief Kebede and deputy editor Abraham of the private, Amharic-language weekly Lisane Hezeb. According to local sources, the editors were detained for several hours and questioned about reports in their newspapers alleging that opposition parties had won Ethiopia’s May 15 parliamentary elections.
Official results released in September pronounced the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) the winner in the elections, which were marred by allegations of fraud and a violent crackdown on pro-opposition protesters following the vote. The main opposition CUD party claimed the elections had been stolen.
Authorities accused the five editors of publishing false information, according to local sources, although it was unclear whether they had been formally charged.