Then they came for me

ኢትዮጵያውያንን ማፈናቀል ይቁም!

ዛሬ በአማራው ሕዝብ ላይ እየተፈፀመ ያለው ግፍ ነገ በሌሎች ብሔረሰቦች ላይ መደረጉ አይቀርም። በዜጎቻችን ላይ ግፍ እየተፈፀመ ዝም ብሎ መመልከት ተገቢ አይደለም።

 በቅድሚያ ኮሚኒስቶች ላይ አነጣጠሩ፤

የዚያን ጊዜ ኮሚኒስት ስላልነበርኩ ዝም አልኩ፤
ቀጥለው በሶሻሊስቶች ላይ አነጣጠሩ፤
የዚያን ጊዜ ሶሻሊስት ስላለነበርኩ ዝም አልኩ፤
ለጥቀው ወደ ሠራተኝው ማሕበር አነጣጠሩ፤
የዚያን ጊዜ የሠራተኛው ማሕበር አበል ስላለነበርኩ ዝም አልኩ፤
መጨረሻ ላይ ወደኔ መጡ፤
በዚያን ጊዜ ለኔ የሚጮህልኝ አንድም አልተረፈም ነበር፡፡

The Silent Genocide

a timeless speech

World Report 2013

World Report 2013

Attacks on the Press in 2012

 

CPJ's Robert Mahoney identifies the 10 countries where press freedom suffered the most in 2012. They include Syria, the world's deadliest country for the press; Russia, where repressive laws took effect; Brazil, where journalist murders soared; and Ethiopia, where terror laws are used to silence the press. (3:26)

 

 

Free Eskinder Nega!

Standing with Ethiopia's tenacious blogger, Eskinder Nega

a 'dark day' for freedom of expression

More Ethiopian government opponents have been convicted on trumped up terrorism and treason charges in what Amnesty International called "a dark day" for freedom of expression.

Iconic dissident journalist Eskinder Nega and leading members of the political opposition, Andualem Arage and Nathnael Mekonnen, along with five other men, were found guilty on charges of "terrorist acts, "encouragement of terrorism", "high treason" and several other charges.

a 'dark day' for freedom of expression

Full coverage

PEN Salutes Eskinder Nega

That Bravest and Most Admirable of Writers:
PEN Salutes Eskinder Nega

April 13, 2012 | Sarah Hoffman

To call this year’s winner of the PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award a hero would be an understatement. Eskinder Nega, one of Ethiopia’s leading advocates for freedom of expression, has consistently defended the right of his colleagues and fellow citizens to criticize the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, and, like many others, is now paying the price.

Nega is standing trial under Ethiopia’s sweeping anti-terror legislation, which criminalizes any reporting deemed to “encourage” or “provide moral support” to groups and causes which the government considers to be “terrorist.” He could face the death penalty if convicted.

His arrest last September followed his publication of a column questioning the government’s claim that a number of journalists it had detained were suspected terrorists, and for criticizing the arrest of well-known Ethiopian actor and government critic Debebe Eshetu on terror charges earlier that week. Nega, in his written words and in town hall meetings, and even in court this week, speaking with a reporter, has emphasized his desire for change, yes, but only change through non-violence.

We salute Eskinder Nega as he continues to fight for his rights and the rights of his fellow citizens in Ethiopia.

The 2012 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award will be conferred on May 1, 2012, at the PEN Literary Gala at the Museum of Natural History in New York City.

Add your voice to the chorus calling for Eskinder’s release. Send a letter to the Ethiopian government today.