URGENT
ACTION
Reeyot Alemu has been imprisoned in Ethiopia
for more than a year, branded as a terrorist. She is one of many journalists
who have been arrested, interrogated and threatened in her country. What makes
Alemu exceptional are her commitment to work for independent media when the
prospect of doing so became increasingly dangerous, her refusal to self-censor
in a place where that practice is standard, and her unwillingness to apologize
for truth-telling, even though contrition could win her freedom. In jail, Alemu
was offered clemency if she agreed to testify against journalist colleagues.
She refused and was sent to solitary confinement for 13 days as punishment for
her failure to cooperate. She is currently being kept at Kality prison, which
is known for its filthy conditions. Recently, she has fallen ill; in April of this
year she underwent surgery at nearby hospital to remove a tumor from her
breast, after which she was returned to jail with no recovery time.
“I believe that I must contribute something to
bring a better future,” Alemu said in an earlier interview with the IWMF.
“Since there are a lot of injustices and oppressions in Ethiopia, I must reveal
and oppose them in my articles.” Alemu said one of her “principles” is “to
stand for the truth, whether it is risky or not.”
To work for free media in Ethiopia is indeed a
risk. The country has the second-highest number of imprisoned journalists in
Africa, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, after notoriously
oppressive Eritrea. Late Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi publicly
attacked non-state members of the press, calling them “messengers” of terrorist
groups. Increasingly, “terrorist” is a label attached to any entity with an
opinion on politics, social issues or human rights that does conform to
government rhetoric. In the capital city of Addis Ababa, Alemu worked for
numerous, often short-lived independent publications. At least four news
outlets to which she contributed were forced out of business by the Ethiopian
government. Her reporting explored the root causes of poverty, lack of balance
in national politics and gender equality. In 2010, she founded her own
publishing house and a monthly magazine called Change, both of which were
shuttered.
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Petition
LETTER
Object: Immediate release Journalist Reeyot Alemu
Your Excellency,
I am writing to you at this time to seek your assistance
in the situation of Journalist Reeyot Alemu.
Reeyot Alemu was arrested on June 21, 2011. Alemu worked
for numerous, often short-lived independent publications. At least four news
outlets to which she contributed were forced out of business by the Ethiopian
government. In 2010, she founded her own publishing house and a monthly
magazine called Change, both of which were shuttered.
Alemu taught English classes at an Addis high school.
She gave part of her salary to her students from poor families. Alemu is one in
a number of journalists who have been prosecuted under the vaguely worded and
broad-reaching anti-terrorism laws passed by the Ethiopian legislature in 2009.
Under this law, Alemu was sentenced to 14 years in prison and fined 33,000
birrs. In August 2012, an appeals court subsequently reduced the 14-year prison
sentence to 5 years and dropped most of the terrorism charges against her.
A free journalist allows the change and growth of a
nation. I call on the Ethiopian
government of protect the job of journalists.
I ask the immediate release of Journalist Reeyot Alemu.
Thanking you in advance for your time on this important
and urgent matter.
Sincerely.
(your
name)
Address:
Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn
Salutation:
Your Excellency,
P.O. Box
1031
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Minister of Justice, Getachew Ambaye
Salutation:
Your Excellency,
P.O. Box
1370
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Salutation:
Your Excellency,
PO Box 393
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
LETTER
TO THE EMBASSIES
Object: Ethiopia - Immediate release Journalist Reeyot
Alemu
Dear Ambassador,
I am writing to you at this time to seek your assistance
in the situation of Journalist Reeyot Alemu.
Reeyot Alemu was arrested on June 21, 2011.
Alemu worked for numerous, often short-lived independent
publications. At least four news outlets to which she contributed were forced
out of business by the Ethiopian government. Her reporting explored the root
causes of poverty, lack of balance in national politics and gender equality. In
2010, she founded her own publishing house and a monthly magazine called Change,
both of which were shuttered.
Alemu taught English classes at an Addis high school.
She gave part of her salary to her students from poor families. Her home was
raided by police and a number of her personal documents were seized.
Alemu is one in a number of journalists who have been
prosecuted under the vaguely worded and broad-reaching anti-terrorism laws
passed by the Ethiopian legislature in 2009. Under this law, Alemu was
sentenced to 14 years in prison and fined 33,000 birrs. In August 2012, an
appeals court subsequently reduced the 14-year prison sentence to 5 years and
dropped most of the terrorism charges against her.
I demand of exert the utmost diplomatic pressure for
immediately release of Journalist Reeyot Alemu.
I hope in the name of all the people around the world
who are concerned with human rights for all people, that I will hear from you
about this matter at the earliest possible opportunity.
Yours respectfully,
(your name)
Address:
Embassy of Ethiopia in Rome
Salutation:
Dear Ambassador,
Via Andrea Vesalio 16-18
00161 Roma - Italy
Email: embethrm@rdn.it
Italian Embassy in
Addis Abeba
Salutation: Dear
Ambassador,
Villa Italia – Kebena’ – P. O. Box 1105
Addis Abeba
E-mail: ambasciata.addisabeba@esteri.it
Embassy of Ethiopia in London
Salutation:
Dear Ambassador,
17 Princes
Gate
London SW7
1PZ - United Kingdom
Embassy of Ethiopia in Paris
Salutation: Dear Ambassador,
35 Avenue Charles
Floquet
75007 Paris - France
Embassy of Ethiopia in Brussels
Salutation: Dear Ambassador,
Tervurenlaan 231
1150 Bruxelles - Belgium
Embassy of Ethiopia in Berlin
Salutation: Dear Ambassador,
Boothstrasse 20a
12207 Berlin - Germany
Email: emb.ethiopia@t-online.de
Embassy of Ethiopia in Washington, D.C.
Salutation:
Dear Ambassador,
3506
International Drive NW
Washington,
D.C. 20008 - United States
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