Comments on: A hunger strike for free speech and free press in Ethiopia

By: dad

dad — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 18:29:13 +0000

Ethio-channel newspaper, which is widely considered as a private, Pro-EPRDF outlet has ceased publication for operating without a business license for 2 years. Bereket Simon personally got the owners of the newspaper freed from jail because he belives working without business permit as a newspaper publisher is not a serious crime as long as they write good things about the Woyane Junta. The husband and wife posted 200,000 birrs bail and got out of jail by direct order given from Bereket Simon. With almost all newspapers in Ethiopia being closed down Ethio-channel did not have problem of raising the money to pay bail.The tax evasion issue is not considered yet. For now they are only charged for operating for two years with an expired business permit. Protestors please shade light on the issue and condemn how much support they get from the Woyane Junta some newspaper agencies get just for being pro-Woyane junta while others suffer a lot.I would have joined the strike but I am far away.Thanks!

By: Fezaza

Fezaza — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 14:08:03 +0000

Hello brothers and sisters. I agree with free speech. One of the things i really like for myself is to talk without people telling me what and how to say things. I just came back from Ethiopia, and when I asked my friends about Ethiopian Review and ESAT they are afraid to talk about them.
People don’t invite you to their homes now since everything is too expensive.
I like the idea of hunger strike too. Are we allowed to eat a small snack ?
I think I will participate but my only problem is that once i see food I have to eat.
Also newspapers should be free in Ethiopia. why not? There are only few people who can read.
By the way I am a little concerned that the Prime Minister is not around any more and I am still planning to send him a letter asking him to resign. May be he will be back and read my letter.
Thank you for reading my comment

By: mom

mom — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 13:46:41 +0000

Bravo ! it is about time somebody/some group speaks up and stands for the rights of those of us wallowing in misery under the dictatorship of the tigrean junta. A dangerous situation is evolving and none of us can afford to continue standing as spectators while the junta members are silencing, killing our people and breaking the enduring fabric of our society. My congratulations to the free media group in Washington D.C.