Prime Minister-Designate, Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali
Cc: Abadula Gemeda, Speaker of the House of Peoples’
Representative
29 March 2018
Your Excellencies,
The undersigned international, regional and national human
rights and development organisations write to express our grave concern over
the recent arrest of 11 Ethiopian journalists, bloggers and political
opposition leaders amid a new crackdown on fundamental freedoms. Such measures
undermine the Ethiopian government’s international human rights obligations as
well as recent political commitments to initiate an era of widespread
democratic political reform. As you assume your position as Prime Minister, we
urge the Ethiopian Government to immediately and unconditionally release all
human rights defenders, political activists and journalists, including the 11
individuals detained this week.
On 25 March 2018, Ethiopian police and security forces
arrested journalists Eskinder Nega and Temesgen Desalegn, Zone9 bloggers Mahlet
Fantahun, Befekadu Hailu, blogger Zelalem Workaggnhu and political activists
Andualem Arage, Addisu Getinet, Yidnekachewu Addis, Sintayehu Chekol, Tefera
Tesfaye and Woynshet Molla.
The arrests were carried out while the defenders were
attending a private meeting in Addis Ababa at the home of journalist Temesgen
Desalegn. The private gathering was held in recognition of the recent release
of thousands of political prisoners amidst ongoing and widespread protests
against political marginalisation and land grabbing in the Oromia and Amhara
regions which began in late 2015. The eleven are currently being held at
Gotera-Pepsi Police Station in Addis Ababa.
Days earlier on 8 March, authorities arrested Seyoum
Teshome, a prominent blogger and university lecturer. Teshome, who is a
frequent contributor to Ethiothinkthank.com and was detained for three months
under the previous State of Emergency, is currently being held in the notorious
Maekelawi Prison in Addis Ababa.
While the authorities have not publicly indicated if charges
will be brought against the defenders, under the February reinstatement of the
national State of Emergency, groups and individuals must seek permission from
the Command Post to host public gatherings.
Prior to their release in February, several of the defenders
had previously been imprisoned for periods ranging from two to seven years in
relation to their legitimate work as journalists, bloggers and political
activists. Eskinder Nega and the Zone9 Bloggers are recipients of international
awards celebrating their contribution to independent journalism and human
rights.
The arrests follow the declaration of a national State of
Emergency on 16 February by the Cabinet for a period of six months. The State
of Emergency includes a number of draconian and overbroad provisions. Among
other worrying violations of fundamental democratic freedoms, the State of
Emergency imposes a blanket ban on all protests, the dissemination of any publication
deemed to “incite and sow discord” including those who criticise the State of
Emergency and allows for warrantless arrest.
Such measures are contrary to international human rights law
and the Ethiopian Constitution and are counter-productive to peace and
security. The invocation of the State of Emergency criminalises dissent and
persecutes human rights defenders, protesters and journalists.
We urge the government of Ethiopia to: (i) immediately
release all human rights defenders, political opponents and journalists
detained for exercising their legitimate rights to freedom of expression,
association and assembly; (ii) end all forms of harassment against journalists
and all citizens with critical views on national matters and; (iii) review and amend
the State of Emergency to ensure that any limitations on fundamental rights are
in line with international human rights obligations.
Sincerely,
Access Now
African Law Foundation (Nigeria)
ARTICLE 19
Asia Democracy Network (ADN)
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
Asian Legal Resource Center (ALRC)
Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE)
Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
The Article 20 Network
Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN)
Bytes4All Pakistan
Caucasus Civil Initiatives Center
Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
Commonwealth Human Right Initiative (CHRI)
DefendDefenders (East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders
Project)
End Impunity
Endorois Welfare Council (Kenya)
Ethiopia Human Rights Project (EHRP)
Freedom House
Front Line Defenders
Karapatan (Philippines)
Global Participe (Republic of the Congo)
Greenpeace Africa
International Civil Society Centre
International Service for Human Rights
JOINT – Ligas de ONGs em Mocambique (Mozambique)
Odhikar (Bangladesh)
OutRight Action International
Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum
PEN International
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
Sengwer Indigenous Peoples Programme
Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF)
West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI)
West African Human Rights Defenders’ Network (WAHRDN)
World Movement for Democracy
World Organization Against Torture
Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA)
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