Time to repeal antiterrorism law in ethiopia inter. A new discourse hailing security and stability as fundamental ingredients. Comment on ethiopian antiterrorism proclamation article 19, london. Part one general part two terrorism and related crimes part three preventive and investigative measures part four evidentiary and procedural rules part five measures to control terrorist organizations and property part six institutions that. 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. Freedom of expression and the ethiopian antiterrorism. 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. Wazema radio, mapping the ethiopian media, may 2018. This diktat approved on a 28691 vote of the rubberstamp parliament is so arbitrary and. The use of ethiopia s anti terrorism proclamation to arbitrarily arrest journalists is completely out of step with reforms witnessed in the country, said seif magango, amnesty internationals deputy director for east africa, the horn and the great lakes. From march 2011 to december 2011 at least 108 opposition party members and six journalists were arrested in ethiopia for alleged involvement with various proscribed terrorist groups. The proclamation was adopted on 7 july 2009 and came into force upon its publication in the federal negarit gazeta of the federal. The anti terrorism proclamation of ethiopia has a farreaching effect on human rights, such as freedom of expression. Mahlet fasil addis abeba, march 62017 as fresh terrorism charges against several individuals surge following the yearlong public protests that led to the current state of emergency, prosecutors in ethiopia have today charged a group of 76 individuals with various articles of ethiopia s infamous anti terrorism proclamation atp.
The most recent basis for punishment of journalists and media are the anti terrorism proclamation, the freedom of the mass media and access to information proclamation no. While legitimate anti terrorism laws have been enacted in a number of countries, these critics of. The law drew international condemnation for granting the government. 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. Pdf the purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of the oau convention in preventing and combating terrorism africa. The government then made a bleak situation worse through the enactment of a draconian anti terrorism proclamation despite. Unhcr is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Article 19 comments on anti terrorism proclamation article 19 today issues its analysis of the ethiopian anti terrorism proclamation 2009 and calls for the government to fully recognise the right to freedom of expression under international and regional human rights law. The 2009 antiterrorism proclamation gave new powers to the. The law gives leeway to criminalize innocent acts of individuals who are critical of government policies. This proclamation may be cited as the anti terrorism proclamation no.
As a living victim of misuse of the anti terrorism proclamation atp in ethiopia, i face a heartbreaking judgement oftentimes from ordinary citizens who knew that i was once charged of the atp. 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. Turning back to the major legal issue regarding the contracts of loan, proclamation 83 1994. Call on the ethiopian government to immediately free all journalists convicted under. Definitions in this proclamation, unless the context otherwise requires.
How much do you know about misuse of ethiopias anti. Proclamation on anti terrorism, published in the federal negarit gazeta of the federal republic of ethiopia on 28 august 2009 proclamation against international standards on freedom of expression. Antiterrorism proclamation, federal negarit gazeta, proclamation no. The conformity of ethiopian anti terrorism proclamation with. This regulation is issued by the council of ministers pursuant to article 34 of the definition of powers and duties of the executive organs of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia proclamation no. What influence has ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation got on the right to. The provisions of this law that impact freedom of expression are discussed in this article. The information has been carefully selected and compiled from unhcrs global network of field. This practice raises serious concerns about the extent to which ethiopians can rely upon their constitutionally guaranteed rights to afford the protection that is a fundamental element of a democratic society. The full text of the anti terrorism proclamation no. Terrorism investigations and prosecutions in comparative law. Ethiopia introduced competition laws in 2003, but its first laws, and particularly its merger regulations, were inadequate and obsolete. Proclamation on anti terrorism, no 652 of 2009, article 5e bw. Request pdf unchecked powers of the ethiopian national intelligence.
On december 21 the ethiopian federal high court convicted two swedish journalists on charges of support to. This violence in the name of delivering economic growth is built on the 2009 anti terrorism proclamation, which has allowed the ethiopian government secure complete hegemonic authority by suppressing any form of dissent. 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. On wednesday 17 july 20, members of the european parliament s subcommittee on human rights visited ethiopia and urged the government to release journalists and opposition activists imprisoned under the countrys antiterrorism proclamation no. Since 2008, the government of ethiopia has implemented a proselytization project aimed at establishing ahbash as the one statesanctioned sect of islam. Ethiopian anti terrorism law, financing of terrorism, money laundering, terrorism. Terrorism by anti terrorism 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. However, the 2009 anti terrorism proclamation, and the proclamation that established the ethiopian broadcast authority, the authority that regulates the media in general. Pdf this article examines the current internet content regulatory regime in ethiopia from the. Whereas, money laundering and the financing of terrorism as it not only threaten security, but also compromise the stability, transparency, soundness and efficiency of the financial system. The australian anti terrorism law, one of the legislation said to have been used as a basis for the ethiopian anti terrorism proclamation. Ethiopian legal information portal find laws, cases. Wazema radio is an online radio founded by exiled ethiopian journalists in 2014. Pdf examining approaches to internet regulation in ethiopia.
Ethiopias highly controversial antiterrorism law, proclamation no. Old ethiopian newspapers berhanena selam proclamation no. Some points on the ethiopian antiterrorism law from human rights. Analysis of ethiopias draft antiterrorism law human. Anti corruption special procedure nnd rules of evidence amendment proclamation no. In the course of deliberations over the law, some members of the ethiopian parliament, as well as human rights organizations, journalists. Amepdments the revised anti corruption special procedure and rules of evidence proclamation no. An examination of ethiopias anti terrorism proclamation.
Instead, the regulatory pattern that has emerged in the last decade, and recently. Council of ministers approves antiterrorism law embassy. To correct these problems, and respond to its liberalizing economy, the ethiopian government enacted the trade practice and consumer protection proclamation in 2010. The provisions of ethiopias draft antiterrorism proclamation can be broadly grouped under the following categories. Unchecked powers of the ethiopian national intelligence and. It criminalizes indirect encouragement to the preparation, instigation and. Ethiopia s current government, led by prime minister meles zenawi, continues on a course of oppressing. Ethiopian government in regulating internet content. The council of ministers in its 68th regular session held on may 18, 2019, approved the anti terrorism draft law developed to prevent and control terrorism. A tool to stifle dissent, authored by lawyers from leading international law firms, provides an indepth and damning analysis of ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation.
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. Analysis of ethiopias draft antiterrorism proclamation. This article is the right of thought, opinion and expression. Refworld is the leading source of information necessary for taking quality decisions on refugee status. The detainees had been charged with crimes under the anti terrorism proclamation and the criminal code. See article 19, comment on antiterrorism proclamation, 2009, of ethiopia. Draft investment proclamation ethiopia draft excise proclamation ethiopia draft state enterprises proclamation ethiopia volume 23 cassation decisions prosperity party program. These proclamations have been criticized for contravening the constitution and the international human rights conventions that ethiopia had ratified. By framing the adoption and execution of the eatp as an outcome of eprdfs longterm hegemonic project coalesced in.
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. Pdf some points on the ethiopian antiterrorism law from human. Instead, yonatan tesfaye, a former spokesman of the semayawi blue party, was detained in december 2015 on charges under article 4 of ethiopia s anti terrorism proclamation. The draft law has been submitted to parliament by the council of ministers and may be passed into law before. Ethiopia s highly controversial anti terrorism law, proclamation no. The new law was drafted by the federal attorney general office of ethiopia to protect the peace and security of the people and the government from the threats of terrorism. Ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation and the right to. The ethiopian government has used the antiterrorism proclamation to jail journalists and opposition party members for peacefully exercising their freedoms of expression and association.
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