Last jailed journalist freed

Ethiopia has released the last remaining journalist from prison, the media watchdog Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) announced on Thursday. It said Tamrat Zuma, managing editor of the private weekly 'Atkurot' newspaper, was freed on 4 March after being detained for nearly 10 months in Addis Ababa's Kerchiele prison. "It is the first time since 1993 that a journalist is not in prison in Ethiopia," RSF general-secretary Robert Menard said. "It is very good news but one must not forget that over 30 professionals working in the press are currently being taken to court and risk being imprisoned at any moment." The organisation urged the Ethiopian authorities to modify the press law of 1992 "which is particularly strict" and to do everything in their power to enable Ethiopian journalists to work in complete freedom and security. "The government should also quickly take measures to allow the creation of private radio stations and television channels," Menard said. "The state monopoly over radio and television broadcasting prevents the institution of a real pluralism of news items." Tamrat was freed upon payment of bail worth 16,000 birr (about US $1,913). "The conditions under which he was held in detention were particularly trying and the journalist has lost over 10 kilos. He also suffers from diabetes," RSF said. It recalled that he was first taken in for questioning by the Criminal Investigation Department in Addis Ababa on 15 January 2001. He was released three days later, but was re-arrested on 20 May. The authorities accused him of "slander" and "inciting violence". Since 1991 when the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) took power), almost 180 journalists have been jailed at one time or another, RSF reported. Many others fled the country for fear of reprisals.