In Ethiopia, Protecting Yourself Online is a Crime

July 29, 2014

Six Ethiopian bloggers were formally charged with terrorism in Ethiopia’s Lideta High Court on July 17th, a move provoking deep concern for hackers and human rights activists in Ethiopia and around the world. Three journalists were also charged, and a seventh blogger, Soleyana Gebremicheal, was charged in absentia.

The seven members of the Zone 9 blogger collective, who sprung to international attention upon their arrest last April, stand accused of associating with outlawed political groups and of attending a digital security training, among other charges. The criminalization of digital security training generates particular alarm among human rights activists, including PEN, who often promote these trainings for bloggers in repressive societies as a preventative measure against exactly the kind government spying and twisting of information that can lead to bogus charges like associating with outlawed groups. The bloggers maintain that they were openly critical of the outlawed groups and not, in fact, allied with them in any way.

“It is terrible that all of the articles we have written for two consecutive years have been brought to court as ‘evidence’ to support the terrorism charges. It is insane,” said Endalkachew Michael, a Zone 9 blogger currently living in exile. “Thinking and reflecting on the realities of the country is literally impossible in Ethiopia today. I have seen the charge sheet and they brought the laptops of the bloggers as evidence against them, including attending a training on encryption tools. The government has also accused us of associating with two ideologically hostile opposition groups which are outlawed. The paradox is that we have been very critical of these outlawed political parties.”

The Young and the brave of Ethiopia, freedom is on your hand

July 27, 2014

“I was called a terrorist yesterday, but when I came out of jail, many people embraced me, including my enemies, and that is what I normally tell other people who say those who are struggling for liberation in their country are terrorists”. Nelson Mandela

by Teshome Debalke

The youth of Ethiopia must come to the realization of the REALITY: your freedom is under siege by a brazen ethnic Apartheid tyranny ruling Ethiopia. Unfortunately most Medias are detachment from the reality and left Ethiopians vulnerable to the brutality of the regime.

Tyranny in general is failed brand. But, when you add ethnicity and organized corruption; you not only find a rotten brand of Apartheid but a stagnant system that make a mockery of liberty, justice, economic freedom and development.

Alex Haley, the American writer known for his bestselling book Roots once wrote;

‘Either you deal with what is the reality, or you can be sure that the reality is going to deal with you’.

The REALITY is the ethnic Apartheid regime in Ethiopia survives by institutionalizing segregation, violence, injustice, exploitation, and propaganda. Thus, it is not a political entity but an organized mob. That is precisely why it controls public and private institutions to deceit, purloin and torment Ethiopians. Make no mistake, only the beneficiaries nurture it from dying a natural death.

Human Rights Watch says Ethiopian government should drop charges against bloggers

July 19, 2014

Human Rights Watch

The Ethiopian government should immediately drop politically motivated charges brought against 10 bloggers and journalists on July 17, 2014, under the country’s deeply flawed anti-terrorism law, Human Rights Watch said today.

The Ethiopian authorities arrested six of the bloggers and three journalists on April 25 and 26. They have been detained in Maekelawi, the Federal Police Crime Investigation Sector in Addis Ababa. The court charged the nine with having links to banned opposition groups and trying to violently overthrow the government, local media reported. A tenth blogger, who was not in Ethiopia at the time of the arrests, was charged in absentia.

“Ethiopia’s courts are making a mockery of their own judicial system,” said Leslie Lefkow, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “Hiding behind an abusive anti-terrorism law to prosecute bloggers and journalists doing their job is an affront to the constitution and international protection for free expression.”

Ethiopian Government Accused Zone 9 Bloggers Working with Ginbot 7

July 19, 2014

by William Davison

Bloomberg

Six Ethiopian bloggers and three journalists were charged with planning attacks in the East African country in partnership with a banned U.S.-based opposition group, a judge said.

The members of the Zone 9 blogging group and reporters are accused under Ethiopia’s anti-terrorism law of working with Ginbot 7, which is classified as a terrorist group by the government, Judge Tarekegn Amare told the Federal High Court today in the capital, Addis Ababa. The defendants, who were arrested in April, received funding and training in explosives from abroad, he said.

“The prosecutors didn’t actually mention any specific act which it claimed that they planned to do,” defense lawyer Ameha Mekonnen told reporters after the hearing. “They simply said that they planned, organized themselves and conspired, things like that.”

Donors such as the U.S. and the United Nations have said that Ethiopia’s 2009 anti-terrorism law is used to criminalize legitimate dissent from journalists and opposition politicians.

Human Rights Watch: Fears for Safety of Returned Opposition Leader

July 7, 2014

(London) – An exiled Ethiopian opposition leader unlawfully deported by Yemen back toEthiopia is at risk of mistreatment including torture. Andargachew Tsige is secretary-general of Ginbot 7, a banned Ethiopian opposition organization, and was convicted and sentenced to death in absentia in separate trials in Ethiopia in 2009 and 2012.

The current whereabouts of Andargachew, a British national, is unknown, raising concerns for his safety. The Ethiopian government should take all necessary steps to ensure Andargachew’s safety and his right to a fair trial. Many individuals arrested in politically related cases in Ethiopia are detained in Addis Ababa’s Maekelawi prison. In an October 2013 report, Human Rights Watch documented the use of torture by authorities against detainees in Maekelawi, including members of opposition political parties and organizations, as well as journalists.

“We are deeply concerned for Andargachew Tsige’s safety,” said Leslie Lefkow, deputy Africa director. “Ethiopia needs to demonstrate that it is holding Andargachew in accordance with its international obligations, and he should be allowed immediate access to a lawyer, his family, and to British consular officials.”

A tale of two British citizenships

July 7, 2014

by Samson B

Being British, by birth or naturalised has a profound meaning for the citizenry in times of adversity, particularly when the incidence happens in foreign lands. The British political system, media and the general public comes to one whenever a citizen is distress abroad whether in adventurous trip or caught by political turmoil and situations like kidnappings and violence. One can sight hundreds of public outrages and diplomatic wrangling on mistreatments of British nationals abroad. You can be a ‘drugs mule’ but the British system would do its best so as you get a dignified treatment and possibly prison swap to the UK after sentencing.

Though the above seems to be a common practice things can be deceiving if taken on face value. A British protection is not a thing to be accorded for every passport holder. There are some ‘British citizens’ who are to be ignored whatever the gravity of their situation is.

Andargachew Tsige, a British national of Ethiopian decent is one of them. In Mid June 2014, Andargachew, secretary general of Ginbot 7 for Freedom and Democracy, a pro democracy opposition party in Ethiopia, has been abducted at a Yemen airport by Yemeni security forces and handed over to Ethiopian secret services illegally. As Adnargachew has previously been sentenced to death in absentia, what members of the Ethiopian community in the UK and worldwide expected was a public outcry of the situation and an assertive diplomatic campaign from the Commonwealth and Foreign Office. No single UK based media outlet covered Andargachew’s case. No single parliamentarian raised the issue at any level. The Foreign Office has chosen to keep quiet regardless of repeated calls from the Ethiopian community and his family members before the two rouge states make a deal on Andargachew’s life.