ethiopia: Journalist assaulted by unidentified men in military uniform
Araya Tesfa Mariam, a journalist with the Amharic-language weekly newspaper "Itiop", was beaten up by unidentified individuals on 1 October 2003, while on his way home. He sustained very serious physical injuries and is receiving medical treatment at Addis Ababa's Menelik Hospital.
IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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PRESS RELEASE/ALERT - ETHIOPIA
7 October 2003
Journalist assaulted by unidentified men in military uniform
SOURCE: Ethiopian Free Press Journalists' Association (EFJA), Addis Ababa
(EFJA/IFEX) - The following is a 6 October 2003 EFJA statement:
Journalist beaten up
Araya Tesfa Mariam, a journalist with the Amharic-language weekly newspaper
"Itiop", was beaten up by unidentified individuals at about 9.00 p.m. (local
time) on 1 October 2003, while on his way home. He sustained very serious
physical injuries and is receiving medical treatment at Addis Ababa's Menelik
Hospital.
The journalist, who sustained injuries to his head, arms and legs and has broken
teeth, said three unidentified men in military uniform jumped out of a police
vehicle and beat him up.
He added that the individuals brutally beat him, dumped him under a bridge and
left. Police patrolling the area picked him up and informed his family of the
attack. Family members then reported the incident to Police Station No. 12.
Efforts are currently being deployed to move Araya to another hospital, where he
can receive better treatment, as Menelik Hospital's emergency unit is crowded
with patients suffering from injuries sustained in car accidents. No details are
available concerning a possible motive for the beating or the identity of the
journalist's attackers.
The EFJA will continue to monitor the case and provide information as it becomes
available. Police Station No. 12 has launched an investigation into the case.
The EFJA calls on the government and the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO)
to follow up on the case and make their findings public.
The Ethiopian Free Press Journalists' Association - EFJA
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
6 October 2003
Kifle Mulat
President, EFJA
For further information, contact Kifle Mulat, President, EFJA, P.O. Box 31317 /
33232, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, tel/fax: +251 1 55 50 21, mobile: +251 1 (09) 222
939, e-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
The information contained in this press release/alert is the sole responsibility
of EFJA. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit
EFJA.
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