(April 21st, 2012, by Graham Peebles)--Democracy sits firmly upon principles of freedom, justice, social
inclusion and participation in civil society. Where these qualities of
fairness are absent, so too is democracy. It is easy enough to speak of
democratic values; to dismantle repressive methods and State practices
that deny their expression is quite another.
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi Asres of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) rules Ethiopia with a heavy hand of control, restricting free assembly — a right written into the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) — inhibiting the freedom of the media and denying the people freedom of expression in manifold ways.
Media freedom is a basic pillar of any democratic society. Freedom of political expression, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press are essential elements of a democracy. Whilst media independence throughout the world is contentious at best, autonomy from direct State ownership and influence is a crucial element in establishing an independent media.
In Ethiopia not only are television and radio owned and controlled by the state but also access to information, as is made clear by Human Rights Watch (HRW) in its report “One Hundred Ways of Putting Pressure: Violations of Freedom of Expression and Association in Ethiopia,” which states:
"The independent media has struggled to establish itself in the face of constant government hostility and an inability to access information from government officials.
The report continues:
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi Asres of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) rules Ethiopia with a heavy hand of control, restricting free assembly — a right written into the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) — inhibiting the freedom of the media and denying the people freedom of expression in manifold ways.
Media freedom is a basic pillar of any democratic society. Freedom of political expression, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press are essential elements of a democracy. Whilst media independence throughout the world is contentious at best, autonomy from direct State ownership and influence is a crucial element in establishing an independent media.
In Ethiopia not only are television and radio owned and controlled by the state but also access to information, as is made clear by Human Rights Watch (HRW) in its report “One Hundred Ways of Putting Pressure: Violations of Freedom of Expression and Association in Ethiopia,” which states:
"The independent media has struggled to establish itself in the face of constant government hostility and an inability to access information from government officials.
The report continues:
"Since the 2005 elections in Ethiopia the government has systematically introduced tighter and tighter methods of control. Over the past five years the Ethiopian government has restricted political space for the opposition, stifled independent civil society, and intensified control of the media. Read more from Dissident Voice »
No comments:
Post a Comment