Stop Intimidating Journalists!

The unwarranted detention and subsequent release of our own Editor-in-Chief early this week is yet another reminder of the perilous state of journalism in Ethiopia. He was detained by the police without an arrest warrant for several hours and interrogated about what the arresting officers said was the alleged compromising of national security through articles The Reporter published into allegations of corruption and illicit activity in the mining sector implicating senior government officials and military officers. Despite proffering no corroborating evince, they accused the newspaper of committing libel against the named individuals and harming the nation’s interest in furtherance of a hidden political agenda and warned him to cease from “writing, editing, and publishing articles on mining corruption issues” if he “didn’t want his life to become difficult”.  While arresting our colleague in the absence of probable cause and intimidating him is in itself unjustifiable, the fact that the police disregarded the recourses he pointed out to them were available to any stakeholder who feels aggrieved on account of the content of a newspaper, namely exercising the right to reply in the case of errors and inaccuracies, is troubling as well.

We are not arguing here that journalists should not be held to account for the crimes they may commit. However, there are legally established rules law enforcement agencies and the courts must follow when doing so. In the first place no criminal liability lies from an act of defamation committed through media; it only entails civil liability. For other crimes the police or public prosecutor can summon and ask journalists to give a statement where they have reason to believe that they have broken the law. Once they do so they ought to be immediately released upon executing a bond with or without surety depending on the gravity of the suspected act. But they should not be placed in custody until they appear before court. If they are found guilty after undergoing a trial they, like anybody else, will be subject to a sentence the court hands down. Therefore, however much journalists may have strayed off course, they should solely be judged in accordance with the law. Intimidating them is manifestly unlawful and ultimately counterproductive.

For decades Ethiopia has been at the forefront of countries infamous for repressing the private media. Admittedly the administration of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) made strides in shedding the country’s ill repute soon after it came to power in April 2018, releasing several journalists who had been languishing in jails and enacting a progressive media law. Unfortunately, it did not take long for it to revert to type. Since then the Ethiopian media landscape has faced severe challenges, including harassment, arrests, and violence against journalists, particularly in the context of political unrest and ethnic tensions. Moreover, the anti-terrorism and hate speech laws promulgated under the premiere’s watch can potentially be used to silence dissent and intimidate journalists. As we have said time and again journalism is not a license to commit crime with impunity. Nevertheless, resorting to harassment instead of legally prescribed procedures to uphold accountability is not only a disservice to Ethiopians, but also tarnishes its international standing.

The difficult backdrop under which journalists operate make it imperative to facilitate conditions that allow the profession to be practiced consistent with the highest international norms and values. Given that it entails greater interaction with the general public more than most other professions and is in a constant state of flux, it should be borne in mind that the practitioners are prone to make mistakes from time to time. That is why it’s of the essence to support journalists to provide a balanced, factual and reliable coverage of all sides of a story as well as to serve as the voice of the voiceless. Before saying blithely, “Why can’t journalists be held to account?” it’s vital to put in place an enabling working environment. In a country teeming with public officials who are not forthcoming with information, hassling journalists must be roundly condemned. The government and the general public alike hence ought to empower the media to play its watchdog role properly.

The intimidation of journalists in Ethiopia poses a significant threat to freedom of expression, press freedom, and democratic governance. Ensuring a safe and supportive environment for journalists is crucial for fostering a vibrant democracy and an informed citizenry. Stopping such a vile practice requires a multifaceted approach involving legal reforms, institutional strengthening, public awareness, and international cooperation is necessary. Though this grave responsibility lies on the shoulders of all stakeholders, it primarily rests with the government. By affording protection to journalists, it will be possible to foster a more open society, enhance government accountability, and empower citizens with the information they need to engage meaningfully in public affairs. The path to a free and vibrant media landscape may be challenging, but with the concerted efforts of all actors, it is achievable.