The new leadership of the beleaguered Ethiopia Free Press Journalists’ Association (EFJA) on Wednesday vowed to boost freedom of expression and to fight repression and harassment.
Its vice-president, Getachew Simie, also insisted that the newly elected leadership was free from government interference.
“We remain committed to press freedom and to safeguard the free flow of information, [and to] advocate democratic governance and respect for human rights,” he said.
Getachew’s election followed a call by the Justice Ministry on EFJA members to oust the then existing leadership after banning it and the organisation itself.
The move sparked consternation among international media watchdogs, who expressed “growing alarm” over the government’s attempts to “silence” the EFJA. The International Federation of Journalists and Article 19 were among 14 international organisations to condemn the move.
“We believe that the Ethiopian government is seeking to change the composition of one of the only bodies that can rightfully claim to represent the independent media in Ethiopia,” they said in a letter sent to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
They argued that the move to establish a new EFJA leadership had been inspired by growing criticism of a new draft press law being introduced in the country.
“Moreover, we believe that these acts are being carried out to ensure not only that the independent media no longer has a distinctive voice in Ethiopia but also to prevent internal criticism of the new repressive press law that is being prepared for passage through the Ethiopian legislature,” the letter said.
“Throughout this period, the Ethiopian government’s behaviour has been characterised by an unwarranted hostility towards [the] EFJA that belies its alleged support for press freedom in the country,” it added.
The letter urged the government to help restore the EFJA’s original leadership and allow the organisation to remain independent and free to determine its own future.
Government officials said the drafting and revisions of the planned press law had been completed, but that it was still unclear when it would go before Parliament.
The former leadership of the EFJA also threw doubt over the government’s motive in forcing them out of the eight-member executive committee. One of the committee members said that forming a new or separate leadership of an organisation critical of the government was a traditional way in Ethiopia of silencing critics.
“The Ethiopian Teachers’ Association was critical, so a new association was set up that is more favourable to the government,” the former EFJA official said. He even went so far as to suggest that the new EFJA leadership would have won more support among journalists if it had not bowed to government pressure.
Getachew, however, vowed that the EFJA would remain critical of the government, noting in this context that the organisation’s members had been left with little choice other than to vote out the then existing leadership.
“We must all work together and put this behind us,” he said. “We must strengthen the EFJA and reform the structure for the benefit of journalists. We are not an opposition party, we are an association. We are not frightened to criticise the government, because we are an independent organisation,” he added.
The former EFJA president for six years, Kifle Mulat, who was ordered under the EFJA suspension not to speak publicly on EFJA affairs, said he would fight on.
The former EFJA leaders were collecting signatures to a petition to oppose the government’s move.
“We are not accepting this new leadership,” Kifle said. “We do not recognise this leadership and we will continue as the EFJA.” — Irin