Addis Neger (newspaper): Difference between revisions
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'''''Addis Neger''''' ([[Amharic]] "New Thing") was an Ethiopian weekly newspaper founded in 2005 and built to a circulation of 30,000, that ceased to exist in December 2009. It was one of the few independent voices in Ethiopia. In 2009 its editor-in-chief [[Tamerat Negera]] and other contributors quietly slipped out of the country, fleeing from intimidation towards the United States, half a year before the May 2010 elections in Ethiopia. |
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{{Short description|Ethiopian weekly newspaper founded in 2007}} |
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'''''Addis Neger''''' ([[Amharic]] "New Thing") was an Ethiopian weekly [[newspaper]] founded in 2007 by six journalists. It rapidly rose to prominence due to its presentations of credible and researched viewpoints before its sudden closure in December 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ethiomedia.com/course/4663.html/ |title="Addis Neger: Addis" |access-date=2009-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091231135630/http://ethiomedia.com/course/4663.html |archive-date=2009-12-31 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was one of the few independent voices in Ethiopia. In 2009 all of Addis Neger's editors, including managing editor [[Mesfin Negash]], executive editor, [[Abiye|Abiye Teklemariam]], editor-in-chief [[Tamerat Negera]] and other contributors and writers quietly slipped out of the country, fleeing from intimidation.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alemayehu-g-mariam/the-art-of-war-on-ethiopi_b_390911.html/ "The Art of War on Ethiopia's Independent Press"]</ref> |
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==Overview== |
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Allegedly, criminal charges were being prepared and staff were threatened. |
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Allegedly, criminal charges were being prepared and staff were threatened.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2009/dec/07/press-freedom-ethiopia/ "Ethiopian editors close paper and flee"]</ref> |
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Early |
Early December 2009, when all six of its founding editors were safely outside of the country, they announced the closing down of their newspaper. They claimed that they had learned that the government was preparing to bring charges against them.<ref>[http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/2286/ "Ethiopia:closure of newspaper"]</ref> It was the culmination of "months of persecution and harassment", they said in a final statement. They feared that the Ethiopian government was planning a repeat of the crackdown that imprisoned thousands of people after the disputed [[Ethiopian general election, 2005|2005 election]]. Military and police officers then killed about 200 opposition protesters, and many journalists and politicians were jailed for the next two years. According to [[Reporters Without Borders]], websites that criticized the government were blocked, and even text messaging on cellphones was restricted. |
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| ⚫ | The closure of the paper caused donor countries to issue statements of concern. The European Union called for investigation of the allegation and those responsible to be held accountable.<ref>[http://www.se2009.eu/en/meetings_news/2009/12/18/declaration_by_the_presidency_on_behalf_of_the_european_union_on_freedom_of_expression_in_ethiopia/ "EU on Addis Neger"]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The U.S. Embassy issued a statement on December 10 expressing concern that such moves "contribute to a perception that space for independent media in Ethiopia is constrained.".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ethiopia.usembassy.gov/pr5509.html |title="U.S. URGES FURTHER ETHIOPIAN ACTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS" |access-date=2009-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527095440/http://ethiopia.usembassy.gov/pr5509.html |archive-date=2010-05-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=a12uZ3xXc36Q "Ethiopia’s Meles Says Aid Allegations ‘Outrageous and Stupid’"]</ref> |
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Tamerat Negera had been an opposition candidate in the 2005 election. The other co-founders of his newspaper were independent journalists who had been victims of the crackdown in the 2005 election <ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/in-ethiopia-an-independent-voice-is-silenced/article1390793/ "In Ethiopia, an independent voice is silenced"]</ref>. |
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The Ethiopian authorities dismissed the allegations and claimed that ''Addis Neger'''s decision had ulterior political and personal intentions. In an official statement released by the country's foreign ministry, the government said that the closure of the newspaper was intended to feed false accusations that independent media space in Ethiopia was constrained <ref>[http://www.waltainfo.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17819&Itemid=63 "Ensuring the Integrity of Elections in 2010: Is Addis Neger’s self-closure part of an anti-government campaign?"]</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist|2}} |
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<references/> |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.addisnegeronline.com/ ''Addis Neger'' official website] |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Addis Neger (Newspaper)}} |
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[[Category:Mass media in Addis Ababa]] |
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[[Category:Publications disestablished in 2009]] |
[[Category:Publications disestablished in 2009]] |
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[[Category:2007 establishments in Ethiopia]] |
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[[Category:2009 disestablishments in Ethiopia]] |
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[[Category:Defunct newspapers published in Ethiopia]] |
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[[Category:Defunct weekly newspapers]] |
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Latest revision as of 11:51, 19 April 2023
Addis Neger (Amharic "New Thing") was an Ethiopian weekly newspaper founded in 2007 by six journalists. It rapidly rose to prominence due to its presentations of credible and researched viewpoints before its sudden closure in December 2009.[1] It was one of the few independent voices in Ethiopia. In 2009 all of Addis Neger's editors, including managing editor Mesfin Negash, executive editor, Abiye Teklemariam, editor-in-chief Tamerat Negera and other contributors and writers quietly slipped out of the country, fleeing from intimidation.[2]
Overview
[edit]Allegedly, criminal charges were being prepared and staff were threatened.[3]
Early December 2009, when all six of its founding editors were safely outside of the country, they announced the closing down of their newspaper. They claimed that they had learned that the government was preparing to bring charges against them.[4] It was the culmination of "months of persecution and harassment", they said in a final statement. They feared that the Ethiopian government was planning a repeat of the crackdown that imprisoned thousands of people after the disputed 2005 election. Military and police officers then killed about 200 opposition protesters, and many journalists and politicians were jailed for the next two years. According to Reporters Without Borders, websites that criticized the government were blocked, and even text messaging on cellphones was restricted.
The closure of the paper caused donor countries to issue statements of concern. The European Union called for investigation of the allegation and those responsible to be held accountable.[5] The U.S. Embassy issued a statement on December 10 expressing concern that such moves "contribute to a perception that space for independent media in Ethiopia is constrained.".[6][7]
The Ethiopian authorities dismissed the allegations and claimed that Addis Neger's decision had ulterior political and personal intentions. In an official statement released by the country's foreign ministry, the government said that the closure of the newspaper was intended to feed false accusations that independent media space in Ethiopia was constrained [8]
References
[edit]- ^ ""Addis Neger: Addis"". Archived from the original on 2009-12-31. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
- ^ "The Art of War on Ethiopia's Independent Press"
- ^ "Ethiopian editors close paper and flee"
- ^ "Ethiopia:closure of newspaper"
- ^ "EU on Addis Neger"[permanent dead link]
- ^ ""U.S. URGES FURTHER ETHIOPIAN ACTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS"". Archived from the original on 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2009-12-13.
- ^ "Ethiopia’s Meles Says Aid Allegations ‘Outrageous and Stupid’"
- ^ "Ensuring the Integrity of Elections in 2010: Is Addis Neger’s self-closure part of an anti-government campaign?"