Ethiopia law forces journalists to reveal sources
ADDIS
ABABA — Ethiopia's new anti-terror law strips journalists of the right
to protect the identity of their sources, a top official said in a
statement carried Saturday by the national news agency ENA.
"The
anti-terrorism law revoked the rights of journalists not to disclose
their information sources when they report on terrorism," the agency
quoted State Minister for Communication Shimeles Kemal as saying.
"The new law revoked this right taking into consideration the magnitude of disasters caused by terrorism," he added.
According
to the Committee to Protect Journalists, only one other African country
has jailed more journalists than Ethiopia and only last week it
imprisoned a columnist for criticising the prime minister.
The
New York-based Human Rights Watch voiced concern before the bill was
passed last year that some of its provisions were targeted at the
nation's media.
"A journalist interviewing an opposition
politician or a supporter of an armed opposition group could be deemed
to be 'encouraging' terrorism merely by publicising the views of the
interviewee," it said.
The Ethiopian government describes as
terrorism the rebellions it has been trying to stamp out for years in
the Oromo and Ogaden regions.
Source: AFP
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