Minister defends new press law

Ethiopian Information Minister Bereket Simon on Tuesday launched an impassioned defence of his country's controversial new press law. He argued that the new law upheld constitutionally enshrined rights of free expression, denying at the same time that it was too harsh. His statement followed widespread criticism of the new law by international journalists' organisations and the Ethiopian Free Press Journalists' Association (EFJA). The minister's comments came at the launch of a three-day international round table on media law reform in the Horn of Africa being held at the UN conference centre in the capital, Addis Ababa. He also launched a strong attack on the EFJA, which he accused of undermining "responsible" journalism in the country. Bereket went on to accuse the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) of engaging in "unwarranted criticism" of the new law, asserting that the CPJ and IFJ had attacked the law without first reading the relevant bills. "The existence and continuation of the press in general and the private press in particular is an indicator that the nascent media as an institution of democracy is indeed being nurtured," the minister stressed. Although Ethiopia currently has some 82 weekly and 32 monthly newspapers, critics argue that journalists working in the country face oppressive laws and imprisonment. UK-based Article 19, which campaigns for greater freedom of expression, said that the revised law still included a number of restrictive measures. Sections of the law that have come in for criticism include provisions which, the critics say, require newspapers to pay tax on press releases and give government officials 30 days to respond to questions. They also caution against a proposed Press Council overseeing the media in the country that, they argue, would be in the hands of the government. Under the new law, the government also would have power over who can practise journalism in Ethiopia and control access to foreign publications, they add. Bereket pointed out that human rights and freedom of speech had been denied during the 17-year rule of the former Marxist regime headed by Mengistu Haile Mariam, whereas following its overthrow in 1991, his government, which had then come to power, had committed itself to upholding democratic rights. "The creation and development of a vibrant and socially responsible media is a noble task that we Ethiopians primarily and decisively should shoulder," he said. "Yet also this noble task also needs to be supported by all who genuinely believe that they have a stake in the democratisation of Ethiopia. This is a firm conviction of the Ethiopian people and government. We expect no less [than] a constructive role from our international partners."