As Ethiopia’s ‘Zone 9′ bloggers get popular, they get charged with terror

The Christian Science Monitor By William Davison, Correspondent ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA-Ethiopia has charged 10 reform-minded bloggers and journalists with terrorism offenses – marking the latest in a long line of repressive acts against civil society by a key US partner in the Horn of Africa. Seven of the 10 bloggers are part of a social media group called Zone

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Ethiopia in the Twilight Zone (9) of Fear

By Alemayehu G Mariam  (Author’s note: In this commentary, I take a literary approach to reflect on the counter-productive and self-defeating actions the regime in Ethiopia has taken recently to punish its perceived opponents and critics. I am both amused and perplexed by the regime’s comedy of errors (bungling and incompetence) and tragedy of commons

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U.S. Department of State press statement: Zone 9 Bloggers Charged by Ethiopian Court for Terrorism

Press Statement Jen Psaki Department Spokesperson Washington, DC The United States is deeply concerned by the Ethiopian Federal High Court’s July 18 decision to press charges against six bloggers and three independent journalists under the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation. We urge the Ethiopian government to ensure that the trial is fair, transparent, and in compliance with Ethiopia’s

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Why the arrest of one of Addis Ababa’s most vocal critics is a huge embarrassment for the West.

Foreignpolicy.com How Do You Solve a Problem Like Ethiopia? BY MARTIN PLAUT, ForeignPolicy Tall metal gates guard a courtyard just off a busy street north of London’s financial district. The area, once down and out, is today much sought after, but scattered between the newly refurbished warehouses and loft apartments are some blocks of municipal

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EprdF authorities finally charge nine journalists with terrorism

CPJ Nairobi, July 17, 2014–An Ethiopian court charged nine Ethiopian journalists arrested in April with inciting violence and terrorism, according to local journalists and news reports. The nine arrested include six bloggers from an independent collective called Zone 9, which publishes critical news and commentary. “Expressing critical views is not a terrorist act. Once again, the Ethiopian government is

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Ethiopian bloggers challenge detention

AFP Addis Ababa – The lawyer for a group of detained Ethiopian bloggers and reporters said on Thursday he was filing a civil suit against the country’s police for holding them without charge for nearly three months. The six members of the blogging collective Zone Nine and three journalists were arrested in April and accused

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CPJ condemns closed court hearings for nine Ethiopian journalists

CPJ Nairobi, July 14, 2014–The Ethiopian government should end its politicized prosecution of nine Ethiopian journalists arrested in April. The journalists and their lawyers were shut out of court room hearings in recent days. In hearings at the Arada First Instance Court in the capital Addis Ababa on Saturday and Monday, police said that they

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EprdF: The Crime of Extraordinary Rendition

By Alemayehu G. Mariam Last week, the regime in Ethiopia announced its abduction of Andaragatchew Tsgie, General Secretary of the Ethiopian opposition group known as Ginbot 7 Movement for Justice, Freedom and Democracy, with smug delight. According to the regime, the “Ethiopian national security service coordinating with its Yemeni counterpart had detained and transferred to Ethiopia

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Zone9 bloggers are expected to be brought before judge in the early hours of Saturday

Trialtrackerblog.org Six of the detained bloggers among which three are freelance journalists are expected to be brought at Arada first instance court on which they have appeared five times without meaningful ‘charge’. All of the detainees were allowed to have a limited access to visitors earlier this week. The detainees reported to their visitors that

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