Contrary to Kebede and Gebrekidan, who waived defense and pleaded guilty in anticipation of a pardon, the three journalists were acquitted of all anti-state charges against them. Award-winning publisher Serkalem Fasil, her husband, columnist Eskinder Nega, and publisher Sisay Agena were informed last month that their applications had been denied without explanation, according to local journalists. Kebede and Gebrekidan, who had applied for press licenses on December 15, told CPJ they would publish messages of solidarity for the three of their former cellmates and fellow publishers who remained blocked from launching their own newspapers. The accreditation documents are required to obtain a mandatory commercial license from the Ethiopian Ministry of Trade and Industry, the final step to launch a newspaper, he explained. Publishers Dawit Kebede and Wosonseged Gebrekidan received official letters of accreditation for two Amharic-language current affairs weeklies, Awramba Times and Harambe, this afternoon, Kebede told CPJ. Three other journalists who were acquitted and set free last year remained blocked from launching their own publications. Two of the 13 journalists still in prison are suspected of being agents of the separatist Oromo Liberation Front (OLF).New York, February 6, 2007-The Ethiopian government today reversed its decision last month to deny two journalists released from prison last year on pardon from launching new newspapers, according to local journalists. “Genocide” and “high treason” charges have been dropped against them and they will be tried for “plotting to overthrow the government” and “incitement to rebellion.” The court asked editors Dawit Kebede (Hadar), Mesfin Tesfaye (Abay), Andualem Ayele (Ethiop) and Wonakseged Zeleke (Asqual), as well as two others, Zelalem Guebre (Menilik) and Abey Gizaw (Netsanet), who were tried in their absence, to present their defence. The court said the government had not proved its case against them. They included managing editors Zekarias Tesfaye (Netsanet), Sisay Agena (Ethiop), Eskinder Nega and his wife Serkalem Fasil (who gave birth to their child in prison last June) (Asqual, Menelik and Satenaw) and Fasil Yenealem (Addis Zena), along with Dereje Habtewold (assistant editor of Menilik and Netsanet), Nardos Meaza (editor of Satenaw) and Feleke Tibebu (assistant editor of Hadar). The court today acquitted 25 people who have been on trial for the past year on charges of “genocide,” “high treason” and “plotting to overthrow the government.” They were arrested in November 2005 after a police crackdown on demonstrations by the main opposition group, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD, or Kinijit in Amharic).Įight of the 25 were journalists. When these others have been freed, Ethiopia can return to the path of dialogue and democracy.” Also that the most serious charges against those still being held have been dropped. “We are especially glad that Serkalem Fasil and Eskinder Nega have been freed and will now be able to look after their child, who was born in prison last year. “The Ethiopian judiciary has begun to realise the extravagant and dangerous side to this drawn-out episode,” it said. The organisation called for 13 others held since November 2005 to be freed at once. Reporters Without Borders welcomed the release from prison of eight journalists after the federal high court cleared them today of subversion.
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