Theodros Arega
Stockholm, Sweden
Yesterday, on May 3 at the United Nations World Day for Press Freedom, parts of speech organization RSF (Reporters Without Borders) Swedish chapter granted its Press Freedom Award 2013 to Mesfin Negash, Ethiopian exiled journalist and to the duo Swedish journalists Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson.
According to RSF’s press release the annual press freedom award is intended in honor of people who are fighting for free speech around the world. The award is focusing this year on Ethiopia, a country that systematically silences anti-regime voices. They get the award because they dared to challenge the limits of press freedom in a country where free journalism branded as terrorism.
Following the award, Mesfin Negash says “First and foremost, I see Press Freedom award in recognition of my Ethiopian journalist colleagues who either imprisoned or working in difficult conditions. Personally, being awarded is an encouragement to continue my work in exile.”
Swedish freelance journalist Martin Schibbye who was imprisoned for 14 months and released last September on his part says that “We are honored, above all, it feels great to be physically able to receive the prize. We could stop counting after 438 days, a number of our colleagues in Ethiopia still counting. Colleague Reeyot Alemu has today been jailed for 685 days for having done her job”.
The photographer Johan Persson underscored that The threats to freedom of the press must be challenged with more journalism. There needs to be continued effort to monitor what is happening in the country which remains the world leader when it comes to predator of free speech and forcing journalists to flee their country.
Mesfin Negash who went via Uganda to Sweden, where he received asylum in February 2012 continues working as a journalist and he writes for Ethiopian and several foreign newspapers and participates regularly in the Daily News.
The three journalists reiterated that efforts should be done to support Ethiopian local and exiled media outlets as well as dissidents to bring the desired democratic changes in Ethiopia. The three awarded journalists called up on donors and others allies of the regime in Ethiopia to put concerted and meaningful pressure on the government to release all prisoners of conscience immediately and unconditionally. They said the fact that the May 2nd Ethiopian supreme court’s decision to deny appeals filed by blogger Eskinder Nega and Ethiopian opposition party leader Andualem Arage, shows a system installed by the late prime minister is still striving to muffle dissenting views under the guise of the dubious anti- terrorism law in that country.
Stockholm, Sweden
Yesterday, on May 3 at the United Nations World Day for Press Freedom, parts of speech organization RSF (Reporters Without Borders) Swedish chapter granted its Press Freedom Award 2013 to Mesfin Negash, Ethiopian exiled journalist and to the duo Swedish journalists Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson.
Following the award, Mesfin Negash says “First and foremost, I see Press Freedom award in recognition of my Ethiopian journalist colleagues who either imprisoned or working in difficult conditions. Personally, being awarded is an encouragement to continue my work in exile.”
Swedish freelance journalist Martin Schibbye who was imprisoned for 14 months and released last September on his part says that “We are honored, above all, it feels great to be physically able to receive the prize. We could stop counting after 438 days, a number of our colleagues in Ethiopia still counting. Colleague Reeyot Alemu has today been jailed for 685 days for having done her job”.
The photographer Johan Persson underscored that The threats to freedom of the press must be challenged with more journalism. There needs to be continued effort to monitor what is happening in the country which remains the world leader when it comes to predator of free speech and forcing journalists to flee their country.
Mesfin Negash who went via Uganda to Sweden, where he received asylum in February 2012 continues working as a journalist and he writes for Ethiopian and several foreign newspapers and participates regularly in the Daily News.
The three journalists reiterated that efforts should be done to support Ethiopian local and exiled media outlets as well as dissidents to bring the desired democratic changes in Ethiopia. The three awarded journalists called up on donors and others allies of the regime in Ethiopia to put concerted and meaningful pressure on the government to release all prisoners of conscience immediately and unconditionally. They said the fact that the May 2nd Ethiopian supreme court’s decision to deny appeals filed by blogger Eskinder Nega and Ethiopian opposition party leader Andualem Arage, shows a system installed by the late prime minister is still striving to muffle dissenting views under the guise of the dubious anti- terrorism law in that country.
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