Council arise to reform antiterrorism, media law ethiopia. In drafting our antiterrorism law, we copied wordforword the very best antiterrorism laws in the world. The impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on freedom of. The ethiopian anti t errorism law of 1954 and the penal code no 85 of arab republic of egypt developed in 1937 include anti terrorism provisions in articles 86102. Find out more about the global threat from terrorism. Ethiopia uses antiterror laws to silence critical journalists. Time to repeal antiterrorism law in ethiopia inter. The proclamation has been used by the regime to charge and imprison opposition party members, journalists and dissidents who criticise the regime or exercise their basic freedom of expression.
Chanet described the ethiopian anti terrorism legislation as an issue of particular concern because it opened the door to potential violations of rights under the international covenant. Terrorism by antiterrorism law lately, meles zenawi, the dictator in ethiopia, has been rounding up dissidents, journalists, opposition party political leaders and members under a diktat known as antiterrorism proclamation no. Council of ministers approves antiterrorism law embassy. Jan 21, 2016 this timely report, authored by lawyers from leading international law firms, provides an indepth and damning analysis of ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation. Pdf some points on the ethiopian antiterrorism law from. In january 2012, meles offered the following description video of meles statement to parliament in amharic, translation below of his flawless anti terrorism law. Pdf the ramification of the ethiopian antiterrorism law on. May 30, 2018 ethiopias ruling coalition started talks with opposition groups on wednesday on amending provisions of an anti terrorism law that critics say has criminalised dissent, stateaffiliated media said. Political reforms visavis rule of law eritreaethiopia peace deal offers hope for reform ethiopia. By ghelawdewos araia, phd idea viewpoint tigrai online september 09, 20.
Analysis of ethiopias draft antiterrorism proclamation. He urges the ethiopian government to release eskinder and other journalists charged with terrorism offences, which he says is outrageous. Mar 09, 20 09 mar 20 our feature takes us to ethiopia where the us war on terror has provided cover for laws that are being used to silence dissident journalists. It confirms that the law is designed and used by the ethiopian government as a tool of repression to silence its critics. Ethiopia loosens anti terrorism law used to subdue opposition by. Comment on ethiopian antiterrorism proclamation article 19, london, 2010. Ethiopia approves new antiterrorism law consisting of. A prominent ethiopian political opposition member sits in prison on charges of terrorism. In practice, however, ethiopian judges have leniently interpreted these requirements, giving them little or no consideration. The council is composed of a government official, academics and legal practitioners. We took from america, england and the european model antiterrorism laws. In august 2009, ethiopia enacted legislation to counter terrorism. Laws in ethiopia designed to prosecute terrorism are increasingly being used to silence political dissidents, opposition party members, journalists and others in civil society, according to amnesty international. Uk counter terrorism policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack.
The report examines how the law, enacted in 2009, is a tool of repression, designed and used by the ethiopian government to silence its critics. This article analyses the impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on the enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression and information. Lastly the paper will end up by concluding remarks. Samuel gebre, lawmakers approve bill boosting access to regional courts. The anti terrorism law was appeared under such interacting, contradicting and complicated governance and political conditions. The conclusions these critics have reached are both inescapable and correct.
Ethiopian government and opposition start talks on. Ethiopia recognized the right to freedom of expression and information by ratifying the international covenant on civil and political rights iccpr in 1993. After a detailed deliberation and with some amendments, the council. In drafting our anti terrorism law, we copied wordforword the very best anti terrorism laws in the world. In addition to the doctrinal analysis of the relevant ethiopian laws. Marshall inscr integrated network for societal conflict research cidcm center for international development and conflict management university of maryland, college park and the center for systemic peace draft. Pdf the ramification of the ethiopian antiterrorism law. Definition of a terrorist act, ethiopian antiterrorism proclamation, oau. This paper analyses ethiopias draft antiterrorism proclamation the. The impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on freedom of expression conference paper pdf available in ssrn electronic journal may 2017 with 4,203 reads how we measure reads.
The ethiopian governments use of vague anti terrorism laws to silence the press has been widely and rightly condemned. A tool to stifle dissent, by the oakland institute and the environmental defender law center, authored by lawyers including representatives from leading international law firms, unravels the 2009 proclamation. The five ethiopians convicted under the antiterrorism legislation on january 19 were found guilty of conspiracy to commit terrorist acts, which carries a sentence of. This practice raises serious concerns about the extent to which ethiopians can rely upon their constitutionally guaranteed rights to afford the protection that. The conviction of eskinder nega and other journalists, who are accused of nothing more than the peaceful exercise of rights clearly recognized under international law, is the work of a regime that fears the democratic. End use of counter terrorism law to persecute dissenters and opposition members 2 june 2016, 16. Ibrahim, director at the center for the advancement of human rights and democracy in ethiopia cahde, while facilitating a dialogue and debate forum on the ethiopian anti terrorism proclamation, policy and their application for the protection of human rights. The information has been carefully selected and compiled from unhcrs global network of field. In previous ethiopia s anti terrorism legislation, the house of peoples representatives was in charge of labeling if an offense is a. I personally believe that ethiopia must have anti terrorism law including counter terrorism national strategies.
Regime says controversial terrorism law will not be. Ethiopia s ruling coalition started talks with opposition groups on wednesday on amending provisions of an anti terrorism law that critics say. The new law which was drafted by the federal attorney general office of ethiopia to protect the peace and security of the people and the government from the threats of terrorism was developed to fill the gaps in the previous anti terrorism proclamation no. With the african union celebrating the african year of human rights at its 26th summit, at its headquarters in addis, ethiopia, the venue raises serious concerns about commitment to human rights. We took from america, england and the european model anti. A tool to stifle dissent, authored by lawyers from leading international law firms, provides an indepth and damning analysis of ethiopia s anti terrorism proclamation. Jan 01, 2012 mclure, who is the coordinator of free eskinder nega global committee, says that the ethiopian government has been abusing the word terrorism and twisting the antiterrorism law to silence dissent. Whereas, the right of the people to live in peace, freedom and security has to be protected, at all times, from the threat of terrorism. Now, bloggers and political activists worry freedom of. Sep 15, 2015 this article analyses the impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on the enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression and information. Ethiopia reportedly considered adopting antiterror legislation in.
But first it will tell the stories of just a small number of those unjustly targeted by the law. The anti terrorism law states that the federal police can search, chase and apprehend criminals of terrorist acts in any corner of the country sometimes without the knowledge of the regional security forces. Globally, the country took a less important role for terrorism so far. Pdf the impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on freedom. The draft law is due for consideration in the council of ministers, and may be tabled in the ethiopian.
Jun 30, 2011 ethiopian authorities have held a newspaper columnist incommunicado for at least eight days under what appears to be ethiopias anti terrorist law, report the committee to protect journalists cpj, reporters without borders rsf and the writers in prison committee wipc of pen international. Building on the substantial number of earlier legal analyses prepared by a wide range of critics of the law, the report examines how the law, enacted in 2009, is a tool of. This paper analyses ethiopia s draft anti terrorism proclamation the draft proclamation and assesses to what extent the proposed law on its face conforms to international human rights standards. The ethiopian peoples revolutionary democratic front and other political parties will meet wednesday after agreeing to alter unspecified articles of the law, fana broadcasting corp. The new law notes that the old version had loopholes which produced a negative effect on the rights and freedoms of citizens and needed to be revised. Jul 01, 2012 the ethiopian governments use of vague antiterrorism laws to silence the press has been widely and rightly condemned. Sep 29, 2011 in the last two weeks ethiopian security forces detained two ethiopian journalists, eskinder nega and sileshi hagos. Addis ababa han january 29, 2016 public diplomacy and regional stability initiatives news. Sep 03, 2012 in justifying his antiterrorism law in february 2012, zenawi offered the following mindboggling explanation to his rubberstamp parliament.
May 31, 2016 for years, the ethiopian government has been accused of using its anti terrorism law to crack down on internal political dissent. Journalism under ethiopias antiterrorism law listening. Jun 25, 2019 ethiopias ruling party says changes would not be made to the draconian antiterrorism proclamation atp, let alone scrapping the law altogether. Ethiopias highly controversial antiterrorism law, proclamation no. However, ethiopia remains beset by political factionalism and intercommunal violence, abuses by. The draft law is due for consideration in the council of ministers, and may be tabled in the ethiopian parliament in march 2009. The ethiopian government has used the anti terrorism proclamation to jail journalists and opposition party members for peacefully exercising their freedoms of expression and association. The proclamation was adopted on 7 july 2009 and came into force upon its publication in the federal negarit gazeta of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia official gazette 15th year no. An advisory council, composed of members, has landed to reform antiterrorism, mass media and civil society. Amnesty international, human rights watch, committee to protect journalists cpj, all have openly criticized ethiopia for adopting the anti terrorism proclamation. In justifying his anti terrorism law in february 2012, zenawi offered the following mindboggling explanation to his rubberstamp parliament. The identity of those suspected for terrorism and arrested based on the law also gave this institutions a reason to take ethiopia a regular destination for their condemnations. Some points on the ethiopian antiterrorism law from human rights perspective. After five highranking political and military leaders were assassinated in june 2019, hundreds of people were held under the antiterrorism law, fisseha said.
Assessing controversial issues of the ethiopian anti. The new law was drafted by the federal attorney general office of ethiopia to protect the peace and security of the people and the government from the threats of terrorism. Ethiopian legal information portal find laws, cases, legal. Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in ethiopia. Refworld is the leading source of information necessary for taking quality decisions on refugee status. The right to privacy in the age of surveillance to counter terrorism in. In principle, the anti terrorism proclamation and the existing criminal code have high requirements for government prosecutors to prove intent in charges against the press, according to legal experts and cpj analysis. A tool to stifle dissent, authored by lawyers from leading international law firms, provides an indepth and damning analysis of ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation. Despite surging forward, ethiopia not free freedom house. An analysis of ethiopias draft antiterrorism law human rights. Ethiopian antiterrorism law archives ethiopian legal brief. For years, the ethiopian government has been accused of using its anti terrorism law to crack down on internal political dissent. Reflections on the ethiopian antiterrorism law debate.
May 30, 2018 ethiopias ruling coalition started talks with opposition groups on wednesday on amending provisions of an anti terrorism law that critics say has criminalized dissent, stateaffiliated media said. It seems the definition of terrorism is too vague, which allows the criminalization of acts that are not really acts of terrorism. Council arise to reform anti terrorism, media law ethiopia. Ethiopian lawmakers have replaced anti terrorism legislation that had drawn criticism from rights activists, although amnesty international said the new version still had the potential to be used. Ecadf ethiopian news ethiopian news, video and opinions. Since the enactment of ethiopias proclamation on antiterrorism in. Terrorism in ethiopia the risk of terrorist attacks in ethiopia over the past years can be classified as below average. Moreover, it was developed to fill the gaps in the previous anti terrorism proclamation no. Lecturer of criminal justice and human rights law in school of law of arba minch university abstract the ethiopian government enacted anti terrorism proclamation no, 6522009 with a view to escalate anti terrorism measures in the country. We took from america, england and the european model anti terrorism laws. This paper analyses ethiopias draft antiterrorism proclamation the draft proclamation and assesses to what extent the proposed law on its face conforms to international human rights standards. Reflections on the ethiopian anti terrorism law debate between the eprdf and the ethiopian opposition parties. Time to repeal antiterrorism law in ethiopia zehabesha.
Jun 30, 2009 this paper analyses ethiopias draft anti terrorism proclamation the draft proclamation and assesses to what extent the proposed law on its face conforms to international human rights standards. Analysis of ethiopias draft antiterrorism law human. File pedestrians walk past the federal high court building in addis ababa, ethiopia, nov. The impact of antiterrorism law on human rights justice. Truth, reconciliation and justice charged with terrorism in ethiopia. This diktat approved on a 28691 vote of the rubberstamp parliament is so arbitrary and capricious that human rights watch. In addition, over,000 prisoners were freed as part of an amnesty campaign and the parliament legalized two opposition groups with secessionist aspirations, the oromo liberation front olf and the exiled movement ginbot 7. Ethiopian government and opposition start talks on amending. The purpose of this essay is to critically appraise the issues surrounding terrorism in general and the ethiopian anti terrorism law in particular. Senior police officers enhance knowledge on humanitarian principles ethiopia. Part one general part two terrorism and related crimes part three preventive and investigative measures part four evidentiary and procedural rules part five measures to. Cite as, national legislative bodies national authorities, ethiopia. Cited as anti government and posing a dangerous threat to the tplf eprdf now we all know truth, reconciliation and justice are not really people.
The impact of ethiopia s antiterrorism law on freedom of expression conference paper pdf available in ssrn electronic journal may 2017 with 4,203 reads how we measure reads. The new version has more concise language as opposed to the old one whose. Journalism under antiterrorism law how the us war on terror has provided cover for laws that are being used to silence dissident journalists. The ethiopian parliament late last week approved amendments to the countrys controversial anti terrorist legislation. Unhchr grills ethiopia on antiterror law committee to. Ethiopian political parties position on the anti terrorism. Over the past 5 years a total number of 46 terrorist incidents has been recorded, in which 361 people have been killed and 160 injured. Terrorism by anti terrorism law lately, meles zenawi, the dictator in ethiopia, has been rounding up dissidents, journalists, opposition party political leaders and members under a diktat known as anti terrorism proclamation no. Ethiopia amends controversial antiterrorism law that. Ethiopia s ruling coalition started talks with opposition groups on wednesday on amending provisions of an anti terrorism law that critics say has criminalized dissent, stateaffiliated media said. Open request on ethiopia antiterrorism law, proclamation 652. Refworld contains a vast collection of reports relating to situations in countries of origin, policy documents and positions, and documents relating to international and national legal frameworks.
Ethiopia end use of counterterrorism law to persecute. Ethiopian government and opposition start talks on amending antiterrorism law ethiopias ruling coalition started talks with opposition groups on wednesday on amending provisions of an antiterrorism law that critics say has criminalised dissent, stateaffiliated media said. Analysis of ethiopias draft antiterrorism law ethiopian. Legality, political significance of parties removal from terrorists list national council formed to amend legislation that tamper with political rights. Obama has expressed keen interest in learning from ethiopia s counterterrorism and counterinsurgency strategies. Ethiopia adopts new version of muchcriticized terrorism law. It confirms that the law is designed and used by the ethiopian government as a tool of. Ethiopia to amend antiterror laws in political thaw.
Ethiopian government, opposition start talks on anti. Definition of terrorist act under eth law african journals online. An examination of ethiopias anti terrorism proclamation on. The ethiopian government should mark world press freedom day, on may 3, 20, by immediately releasing all journalists jailed under the countrys deeply flawed anti terrorism law. Time to repeal antiterrorism law in ethiopia inter press.
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