Now, bloggers and political activists worry freedom of expression. Jun 30, 2009 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. This diktat approved on a 28691 vote of the rubberstamp parliament is so arbitrary and capricious that. This timely report, authored by lawyers from leading international law firms, provides an indepth and damning analysis of ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation. Further, while the draft cso law does not include sanctions for noncompliance with the registration requirement, sanctions can potentially be applied when this law is read together with article 791 of ethiopias criminal code. Sep 03, 2012 a practical lesson in the application of the rule of law principle could be learned by examining antiterrorism laws in the u. 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. Rule of law, political space and human rights in ethiopia. Ipi and partners also call for immediate release of five imprisoned journalists ipi jan. Jun 21, 2014 hrw ethiopianantiterrorlaw pdf summary. Jan 21, 2016 this timely report, authored by lawyers from leading international law firms, provides an indepth and damning analysis of ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation. Ethiopia recognized the right to freedom of expression and information by ratifying the international covenant on civil and political rights iccpr in 1993. The secret to ethiopias counterterrorism success ethiopia. Ethiopia to amend antiterror laws in political thaw.
Jul 14, 20 opposition parties in ethiopia are stepping up their push to scrap a controversial anti terrorism law. May 30, 2018 ethiopias government plans to amend parts of the nations antiterror law as the high court dropped terrorism charges against the heads of two u. Ethiopia must stop use of antiterror law to curtail. Refworld is the leading source of information necessary for taking quality decisions on refugee status. Ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation and the right to. End use of counter terrorism law to persecute dissenters and opposition members 2 june 2016, 16. Ethiopias antiterrorism law is premised on an extremely broad and vague definition of terrorist activity. A prominent ethiopian political opposition member sits in prison on charges of terrorism. For years, the ethiopian government has been accused of using its antiterrorism law to crack down on internal political dissent. Obama has expressed keen interest in learning from ethiopia s counterterrorism and counterinsurgency strategies. Ethiopia to amend antiterror laws in political thaw bloomberg. Comment on ethiopian antiterrorism proclamation article 19, london, 2010. Jan 21, 2016 ethiopias antiterrorism law is premised on an extremely broad and vague definition of terrorist activity, the report said. It is a definition that permits the government to repress internationally protected freedoms and to crack down on political dissent, including peaceful political demonstrations and public criticisms of.
The information has been carefully selected and compiled from. Ethiopias highly controversial antiterrorism law, proclamation no. Ethiopian government and opposition start talks on amending. Comment on ethiopian antiterrorism proclamation article 19, london, 2010 law201003ethiopia 1 about the article 19 law programme the article 19 law programme advocates for the development of progressive standards on freedom of expression and access to information at the international level, and their. Ethiopian authorities have held a newspaper columnist incommunicado for at least eight days under what appears to be ethiopias antiterrorist law, report the committee to protect journalists cpj, reporters without borders rsf and the writers in prison committee wipc of pen international. The impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on freedom of. In the course of deliberations over the law, some members of the ethiopian parliament, as well as human rights organizations, journalists, and others, expressed grave concerns that the law contained an overly broad and vague definition of. Ethiopian antiterrorism law faces opposition youtube. Tura, husen ahmed, the impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on freedom of expression july 25, 2017. The enactment results from an acknowledgment that terrorism is a threat to human rights, peace and security of not only the people in ethiopia, but to the rest of the world preamble of ethiopia anti terrorism proclamation, 2009. 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. Obama has expressed keen interest in learning from ethiopias counterterrorism and counterinsurgency strategies.
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. In august 2009, ethiopia enacted legislation to counter terrorism antiterrorism proclamation no. By blain biset, ips addis ababa, dec 6 2012 ips ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation is once again stirring debate in this horn of africa nation as lawyer temam ababulga challenges the 2009 law in the highlypublicised muslim terrorism case. Some points on the ethiopian antiterrorism law from human rights perspective. The impact of the ethiopian antiterrorism law on fundamental. Ethiopian legal information portal find laws, cases. Time to repeal antiterrorism law in ethiopia inter. End use of counterterrorism law to persecute dissenters and opposition members 2 june 2016, 16. 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. 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. The criminal code of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia 2004, art. Legality, political significance of parties removal from terrorists list.
An examination of ethiopias anti terrorism proclamation. Aug 30, 20 ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation and the right to freedom of expression. Opposition parties in ethiopia are stepping up their push to scrap a controversial antiterrorism law. Proceeding of 5th international conference of phd students and young researchers, 2017 p. May 30, 2018 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. In 2001, president bush signed an executive order authorizing the creation of military tribunals for the detention, treatment and trial of certain noncitizens enemy combatants in the war. Opride ethiopia must revise its controversial and flawed antiterrorism proclamation and stop its routine application to stifle free expression and political dissent, t he oakland institute and the environmental defender law center said in a new legal brief. They say it is flawed and aimed at silencing the governments critics. Also, 7 journalists and 7 bloggers are also accused for act of terrorism. Definition of terrorist acts in proclamation law school. Time to repeal antiterrorism law in ethiopia inter press. The information has been carefully selected and compiled from unhcrs global network of field.
Pdf some points on the ethiopian antiterrorism law from. Political reforms visavis rule of law eritreaethiopia peace deal offers hope for reform ethiopia. Pdf the impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on freedom of. This article analyses the impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on the. Some points on the ethiopian anti terrorism law from human rights perspective. The draft law is due for consideration in the council of ministers, and may be tabled in the ethiopian parliament in march 2009. Around 11 people who are in the front raw of among those who pursued a peaceful political struggle but were persecuted by the antiterrorism law. Analysis of ethiopias draft antiterrorism proclamation. 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. 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.
Pdf the impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on freedom. Jan 20, 2011 a proclamation on anti terrorism proclamation no. Analysis of ethiopias draft antiterrorism law human. Whereas, terrorism is a danger to the peace, security and development of the country and a serious threat to the peace and security of the world at large. Request pdf the impact of the ethiopian antiterrorism law on fundamental rights the main aim of this study is to identify and assess the impact of the atp. Journalism under ethiopias antiterrorism law listening. A tool to stifle dissent, authored by lawyers from leading international law firms, provides an indepth and damning analysis of ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation. In august 2009, ethiopia enacted legislation to counter terrorism anti terrorism proclamation no. Ethiopia may well need a fair and effective law to combat terrorism, but this is not it, said joanne mariner, terrorism and counterterrorism program director at human rights watch. 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.
Reeyot alemu, a regular contributor to the independent weekly feteh. A practical lesson in the application of the rule of law principle could be learned by examining antiterrorism laws in the u. This is the conclusion reached by the united nations, the worlds leading democracies, international. Analysis of ethiopias draft antiterrorism law ethiopian. Ecadf ethiopian news ethiopian news, video and opinions. 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. The ethiopian governments use of vague antiterrorism laws to silence the press has been widely and rightly condemned. 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. The government of ethiopia routinely uses its vague and overly broad antiterrorism law to stifle freedom of expression and political opposition.
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. Ethiopias ruling coalition started talks with opposition groups on wednesday on amending provisions of an antiterrorism law that critics say has criminalized dissent, stateaffiliated media said. Ethiopias ruling eprdf defends controversial antiterrorism law saturday december 23, 2017 the ruling ethiopian people revolutionary democratic front eprdf, has defended the countrys antiterrorism law during a discussion with some opposition parties on friday december 22, 2017. Violation of provisions regarding organization, exercise and control of trades and professions. Ethiopia end use of counterterrorism law to persecute. The antiterrorism law seems to be at odds with the state of democracy in ethiopia.
May 30, 2018 ethiopia s 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. New report calls on ethiopia to reform repressive anti. Whereas, terrorism is a danger to the peace, security and development of the country and a serious threat to the peace and security of the world at. Ethiopian government and opposition start talks on. End use of counterterrorism law to persecute dissenters and opposition members. Sep 15, 2015 this article analyses the impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on the enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression and information. Ethiopian legal information portal find laws, cases, legal. Jun 30, 2009 ethiopia may well need a fair and effective law to combat terrorism, but this is not it, said joanne mariner, terrorism and counterterrorism program director at human rights watch.
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. This paper analyses ethiopia s draft antiterrorism proclamation the draft proclamation and assesses to what extent the proposed law on its face conforms to international human rights standards. Ethiopias government plans to amend parts of the nations antiterror law as the high court dropped terrorism charges against the heads of two u. Senior police officers enhance knowledge on humanitarian principles ethiopia. Yonatans case is not unique in ethiopia or across africa where, according to amnesty international, laws designed to prosecute terrorism are increasingly being used to silence political dissidents, opposition party members, journalists and others in civil society. An examination of ethiopias anti terrorism proclamation on. Ethiopian antiterrorism law archives ethiopian legal brief.
By blain biset, ips addis ababa, dec 6 2012 ips ethiopia s anti terrorism proclamation is once again stirring debate in this horn of africa nation as lawyer temam ababulga challenges the 2009 law in the highlypublicised muslim terrorism case. The enactment results from an acknowledgment that terrorism is a threat to human rights, peace and security of not only the people in ethiopia, but to the rest of the world preamble of ethiopia antiterrorism proclamation, 2009. 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. Ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation and the right to freedom of expression. But first it will tell the stories of just a small number of those unjustly targeted by the law. 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. May 31, 2016 for years, the ethiopian government has been accused of using its anti terrorism law to crack down on internal political dissent. Mar 15, 2020 a proclamation on antiterrorism proclamation no. On wednesday 17 july 20, members of the european parliaments subcommittee on human rights visited ethiopia and urged the government to release journalists and opposition activists imprisoned under the countrys anti. It confirms that the law is designed and used by the ethiopian government as a tool of. Ethiopian government, opposition start talks on anti.
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