ethiopia: call for investigation into attack on journalist
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says it is deeply concerned by the recent violent attack on Araya Tesfa Mariam, a journalist working for the Amharic-language weekly Ethiop. On October 1, unidentified assailants attacked and brutally beat Mariam near his home in the capital, Addis Ababa. According to local journalists, Mariam is still receiving medical attention for severe injuries to his skull, hands, and legs sustained during the assault.
IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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ACTION ALERT UPDATE - ETHIOPIA
9 October 2003
CPJ calls for investigation into attack on journalist
SOURCE: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), New York
**Updates IFEX alert of 7 October 2003**
(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a CPJ letter to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi:
October 9, 2003
His Excellency Prime Minister Meles Zenawi
Office of the Prime Minister
P.O. Box 1031
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Via facsimile: 251-155-2020
Your Excellency:
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply concerned by the recent
violent attack on Araya Tesfa Mariam, a journalist working for the
Amharic-language weekly Ethiop. On October 1, unidentified assailants attacked
and brutally beat Mariam near his home in the capital, Addis Ababa. According to
local journalists, Mariam is still receiving medical attention for severe
injuries to his skull, hands, and legs sustained during the assault.
It is unclear who is behind this vicious attack. However, some local journalists
expressed concern that it may have come in reprisal for his work for Ethiop,
which publishes a regular column discussing internal struggles in Your
Excellency's Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), one of four parties in
Ethiopia's ruling coalition.
As an independent organization of journalists dedicated to the defense of our
colleagues worldwide, CPJ urges Your Excellency to ensure that a thorough,
independent investigation into this attack is conducted to determine who is
responsible and the reasons for the assault. We also ask that you make public
all findings from the investigation. Such action would send a reassuring signal
to Ethiopia's badly shaken press. Meanwhile, we will continue monitoring this
case.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We await your response.
Sincerely,
Ann K. Cooper
Executive Director
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Similar appeals can be sent to:
His Excellency Prime Minister Meles Zenawi
Office of the Prime Minister
P.O. Box 1031
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: +251 155 2020
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
For further information, contact Adam Posluns (ext. 107) or Alexis Arieff (ext.
117) at CPJ, 330 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10001, U.S.A., tel: +1 212 465 1004,
fax: +1 212 465 9568, e-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
Internet: http://www.cpj.org/
The information contained in this action alert update is the sole responsibility
of CPJ. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit CPJ.
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