Free Journalists and Government Critics Jailed in Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s ruler Meles Zenawi recently sentenced foreign and domestic journalists to harsh and long-term prison with tramped up charges and tailor-made ‘anti-terrorism’ laws meant to stifle opposition. Such repressive measures are not new under Meles Zenawi.

He has jailed or exiled journalists under a draconian press law. He has stolen elections, jailed and tortured elected officials and political leaders. The west has chosen to look the other way simply under a misplaced and faulty assumption that Meles Zenawi is an ally in the Horn in the fight against global terrorism. If we could only learn from Egypt’s Mubark and Yemen’s Saleh these dictators spell trouble. Their strong arm may assure a transient “seemingly stable reign” but their eventual bloody demise and aftermath brings disaster and destabilization to the country and people they abused for decades, a fertile ground for the type of terrorism the world dread. The international community can help avoid similar carnage and destabilization from repeating in Ethiopia.

The warning signs are there: Meles Zenawi sentenced a very young and aspiring journalist, ReeYot Alemu, to 14 years of harsh prison time and her crime was that she opened and read an e-mail sent to her account from a government critic residing in the US.

Meles Znewai is a recipient of the largesse of the international donor community. Aimed to relieve food shortage, care for HIV-AIDS victims, and spur growth, billions of USD inflows have been misappropriated to bolster his cronies and security apparatchik. Hence the international community has a responsibility and tremendous leeway and leverage to put pressure on Meles Zenawi. Meles Zenawi must release immediately all journalists, government critics, and other prisoners of conscience and without any preconditions.