Ethiopia
Ethiopian editor released after almost four years

afrol News, 15 June - Ethiopian editor Solomon Nemera this month finally was released from prison. The editor-in-chief of the now defunct magazine "Urji" had spent three years and eight months in detention.

The organisation Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of International PEN today welcomed Nemera's release. According to information received by PEN, Nemera was released on 1 June 2001. 

In February 2000, he had been handed a one-year sentence for "inventing and publishing false information." 

Upon serving this, he and fellow journalists Garoma Bekele and Tesfaye Deressa were charged with "promoting terrorism by publishing OLF [Oromo Liberation Front] material." This charge was dropped on 10 May.

However, whilst his former colleagues were freed the same day, Nemera remained in prison unable to raise the bail required as further undisclosed charges were brought against him. However, on 1 June all legal proceedings against the editor were dropped and he was released immediately. 

Whilst relieved at learning of Solomon Nemera's release, International PEN states it "remains deeply concerned at the continuing detention of academics Professor Mesfin Woldemariam and Dr Berhanu Nega, and the charges being brought against a growing number of editors in the country solely on account of articles they have published in their respective newspapers and magazines."

Source: Based on Writers in Prison Committee

© afrol.com    You can contact us at mail@afrol.com