May 2, 2013
H.E. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma
Chairperson of the African Union
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Via fax and email
Dear Chairperson Zuma:
We ask that you mark World Press Freedom Day, May 3, 2013, by calling
for the release of all journalists imprisoned in Africa and appealing
for justice in the murders of journalists killed in the line of duty.
At least 41
African journalists will spend World Press Freedom Day imprisoned in direct
reprisal for their work, according to CPJ research. It is particularly disturbing
that Ethiopia and the Gambia, which host offices of the African Union, are
among the nations holding journalists in jail. These imprisonments have
silenced important voices, often in contravention of regional and international
rulings.
Among the
seven journalists imprisoned in Ethiopia is Reeyot Alemu, who is serving
a
five-year term at Kality Prison on baseless terrorism charges lodged
after she
wrote columns critical of the government. Reeyot was honored in 2013
with the UNESCO
World Press Freedom Prize, and in 2012 with the Courage in Journalism
Award from
the International Women's Media Foundation. The African Commission on
Human and
Peoples' Rights and the U.N. High Commissioner
for Human Rights, among other international institutions, have censured
Ethiopia for the imprisonment
of Reeyot and other journalists under the country's overly broad
anti-terrorism
law. Eskinder Nega, a 2012 laureate of PEN American Center's Freedom to
Write
Award, has been imprisoned since September 2011 on fabricated terrorism
charges
after writing columns discussing the domestic implications of the Arab
Spring. The
U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled that Ethiopia has
violated international
law by imprisoning Eskinder for the "peaceful exercise of the right to
freedom
of expression." He is serving an 18-year term in prison. The Gambia,
home to
the African Commission on
Human and Peoples' Rights, is in violation of rulings by the Court of
Justice of the Economic Community of West African States and the U.N.
Working Group
on Arbitrary Detention in connection with the 2007 arrest of journalist
Ebrima
"Chief" Manneh. These entities found Manneh's detention to be unlawful,
and
they called for his immediate release. Alarmingly, Gambian authorities
cannot
account for Manneh's whereabouts, and over the years have given evasive
and
inconsistent responses to regional and international inquiries.
More than
80 journalist murders have gone unsolved in Africa since 1992, according to CPJ
research. Nigeria and Somalia are among the worst nations in the world in
combating deadly, anti-press violence, our 2013 Impunity Index has found. Five
journalists have been killed with impunity in Nigeria since 2009. In Somalia,
more than 20 murders have gone unsolved over the past decade. These killings are
often politically motivated.
Madame
chair, critical journalists are not criminals, traitors, or terrorists. Beyond
supporting African journalists with training, the African Union should create an
open political space that allows news media to report on issues of public
interest. Vibrant, independent media that hold government leaders
to account are a valuable ally in the pursuit of development and good
governance. We urge you to use your office to persuade member states to comply
with the letter and spirit of conventions they have signed that uphold press
freedom.
Yours sincerely,
Joel Simon
Executive Director
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