Ethiopia s political reform process continued in 2019 under prime minister abiy ahmed, facilitating even greater counterterrorism cooperation with the united states. International treaties to which ethiopia is a party and accepted in particular treaties and resolutions adopted by the united nations and african union. Ethiopia s anti terrorism proclamation became law in 2009 and has been strongly criticized by local activists and global human rights groups. Article 19 free word centre 60 farringdon road london ec1r 3ga united. Since the enactment of ethiopias proclamation on anti terrorism in. Dissent under the state of emergency conclusion 32. Lawmakers start discussing revised antiterrorism bill. Show his dream anti terrorism ethiopia, called maekelawi or is not responsible for assistance in the ethiopian authorities.
Article 19 has extensive experience of working on freedom of expression and information issues in ethiopia. Whereas, terrorism is a danger to the peace, security and development of the country and a serious threat to the peace and security of the world at. Some points on the ethiopian anti terrorism law from human rights perspective. By framing the ethiopian antiterrorism proclamation of 2009 as an.
Pdf some points on the ethiopian antiterrorism law from. The proclamation was adopted on 7 july 2009 and came into force upon its publication in the federal negarit gazeta of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia official gazette 15th year no. This is the conclusion reached by the united nations, the worlds leading democracies, international. During this 10month period of state of emergency, amnesty international documented widespread human rights violations, including. The continuing threat of alshabaab as and isis emanating from somalia is the government of ethiopia s goes core terrorism concern and the focal point of its security apparatus and the ethiopia. Ethiopias highly controversial anti terrorism law, proclamation no. Ethiopia against the african charter on human and peoples rights.
Supreme court overrules decision by high court and. Pdf the status and descent of press freedom in ethiopia. Ethiopia s anti terrorism proclamation and the right to. Access to information proclamation3, the 2009 proclamation to provide for the registration and regulation of charities and societies4 and the 2009 anti terrorism proclamation5, was particularly responsible for the rapid shrinking of the civic space in the country, leaving scars still visible in the current process of reform. The 2009 ethiopian anti terrorism proclamation provides the government legal cover to impair the protection and promotion of human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression, association, demonstration, petition, and assembly, by empowering police with unlimited powers of arrest, search and seizure. The law was developed to fill the gaps in the previous anti terrorism proclamation no. This regulation is issued by the council of ministers pursuant to article 34 of the definition of powers and duties of the executive organs of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia proclamation no. Ethiopia puts 37 people before court over high level. The accused under the file name of the first defendant kedir moahmmed yusuf were charged with several articles of ethiopia s 2009 infamous anti terrorism proclamation and the 2004 penal code.
This paper analyses ethiopias draft antiterrorism proclamation the draft. Since 2019, ethiopia has made no official statement suggesting it intends to formally abolish. Proclamation on anti terrorism, no 652 of 2009, article 5e 11. Definitions in this proclamation, unless the context otherwise requires. States are free to adopt a definition that captures conduct beyond what.
Mar 17, 2021 they were initially charged with various articles of ethiopia s infamous anti terrorism proclamation atp including but not limited to, alleged membership of the banned oromo liberation front olf, public incitement, encouraging violence, as well as causing the death of innocent civilians and property destruction in cities such as ambo and. Ethiopian lawmakers have replaced anti terrorism legislation that had drawn criticism from rights activists, although amnesty international said the new version still had the potential to be used. Ethiopia adopts new version of muchcriticized terrorism law. The bill, which has been a subject of several debates since abiy ahmed took power over a year ago, will repeal the infamous the 2009 anti terrorism proclamation when ratified. The provisions of this law that impact freedom of expression are discussed in this article. Ethiopia approves new antiterrorism law consisting of. The proclamation also extends aspects of the anti terrorism proclamation and the criminal code to electronic communications.
The anti terrorism proclamation, 2009 of ethiopia defines terrorism very broadly in its article 3 and in article 6 defines encouragement to terrorism as. This proclamation may be cited as the anti terrorism proclamation no. Definition of terrorist act under eth law african journals online. Omct ethiopia briefing print dd international federation. A third example is the antiterrorism proclamation 652200982. Whosoever publishes or causes the publication of a statement that is likely to be understood by some or all of the members of the public to whom it is published as a. From march 2011 to december 2011 at least 108 opposition party members and six journalists were arrested in ethiopia for alleged involvement with various proscribed terrorist groups. Pdf the right to crossexamination and witness protection. Ethiopian parliament ethiopia pdf consulted on 20101104 abstractcitation.
Whosoever publishes or causes the publication of a statement that is likely to be understood by some or all of the. Addis abeba the revised anti terrorism draft law has finally reached the lower house of ethiopian parliament on thursday. Download ethiopian anti terrorism proclamation doc. The anti terrorism proclamation of ethiopia has a farreaching effect on human rights, such as freedom of expression. In the ethiopian legal system, th e anti terrorism proclamation atp and the proclamation on protection of witnesses and whistleblowers pww contain limitations on the exercise of crossexamination. It is thus that made ethiopia labeled not free in a press index. Ethiopian journalists languish in prison egypt news. Download ethiopian anti terrorism proclamation pdf. Fraud offenses law and anti terrorism proclamation, can entail a. While initial first steps have been taken towards improving the human rights environment in the country, a. This diktat approved on a 28691 vote of the rubberstamp parliament is so arbitrary and. Ethiopia aligns itself with the statements delivered by the. Ethiopian state of emergency executive summary six months after the end of the state of emergency proclamation 2016 that had been in force for 10 months, the council of ministers of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia declared another. Proclamation on anti terrorism, published in the federal negarit gazeta of the federal republic of ethiopia on 28 august 2009 proclamation against international standards on freedom of expression.
Violence against free media and knowledge dissemination in. The government of ethiopia routinely uses its vague and overly broad anti terrorism law to stifle freedom of expression and political opposition. Ethiopia opposition groups recent developments march. Part one general part two terrorism and related crimes part three preventive and investigative measures part four. This paper analyses ethiopia s draft anti terrorism proclamation the draft proclamation and assesses to what extent the proposed law on its face conforms to international human rights standards. Ethiopias compliance with the international covenant on. Definition of a terrorist act, ethiopian anti terrorism proclamation, oau. In the ethiopian legal system, th e anti terrorism proclamation atp and the proclamation on protection of witnesses and whistleblowers pww contain limitations on the exercise of.
Opposition groups recent developments 7 in 2011, onlf was designated as a terrorist organisation by the government under the anti terrorism proclamation atp. Dec 17, 2014 ethiopia 20 2014 internet freedom status not free not free obstacles to access 025 22 23. Short title this proclamation may be cited as the revised anti corruption special procedure and rules of evidence proclamation no. Refworld is the leading source of information necessary for taking quality decisions on refugee status. Whereas, money laundering and financing of terrorism not only threaten security but also compromise the stability, transparency soundness and efficiency of the financial system. The anti terrorism proclamation came in to table in 2009 is a law that is criticized. The government of ethiopia retains the death penalty for nonviolent crimes, including, inter alia, terrorism causing serious to historical or cultural heritages and acting as an accessory to an offense that causes severe bodily injury. Pdf the impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on freedom. Afford the full of terrorism proclamation by legal advisory council of the eprdf came. This practice raises serious concerns about the extent to which ethiopians can rely upon their constitutionally guaranteed rights to afford the protection that. Ethiopian government procurement proclamation amharic. Refworld contains a vast collection of reports relating to situations in countries of origin, policy documents and positions, and documents relating to international and national legal frameworks. Republic of ethiopia, it is hereby proclaimed as follows. It threatens jail sentences of up to 20 years for anyone who publishes or causes the publication of a statement that could be understood as an inducement to the commission or preparation or.
In august 2009, ethiopia enacted legislation to counter terrorism anti terrorism proclamation no. Corruption offences means corruption offences provided in the fdre penal code. An examination of ethiopias anti terrorism proclamation on. Government and laws actively hinder free media development, professionalism is low, and mediaindustry activity is. Threats to civil society and human rights defenders worldwide. Contingency plan of prohibited places and locations of the involvement with eritrea, pass a government. Whereas, the right of the people to live in peace, freedom and security has to be protected, at all times, from the threat of terrorism. The ethiopian house of peoples representatives has voted into law a new amnesty law that grants amnesty to persons convicted of a number of political crimes including those found guilty of committing crimes punishable under the infamous anti terrorism proclamation as well as crimes punishable on the basis of various provisions of the criminal code of ethiopia. In this sense the limits on free expression could lead to even greater expansion of government powers. The ethiopian federal high court has passed rulings reinforcing an adhoc and arbitrary implementation of the cso law and the anti terrorism proclamation. Pdf this article analyses the impact of ethiopias anti terrorism law on the. We recently condemned the application of the anti terrorism proclamation. Societies proclamation act cso law which in effect criminalize.
Comment on ethiopian anti terrorism proclamation article 19, london. The information has been carefully selected and compiled from unhcrs global network of field. Oct 28, 2014 of the anti terrorism proclamation of ethiopia llm thesis, university of pretoria, 29 october 2010. The enactment results from an acknowledgment that terrorism is a threat to human rights, peace and security of not only the people in ethiopia, but to the rest of the world preamble of ethiopia anti terrorism proclamation, 2009. Ethiopias compliance with the international covenant on civil and. A tool to stifle dissent, authored by lawyers from leading international law firms, provides an indepth and damning analysis of ethiopia s anti terrorism proclamation. An examination of ethiopias anti terrorism proclamation. Comment on ethiopian antiterrorism proclamation article 19, london. This subsection examines a slew of draconian laws that the ethiopian government passed in order to restrict the free flow of information. The detainees had been charged with crimes under the anti terrorism proclamation and the criminal code. Pdf the impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on freedom of. This submission addresses ethiopias compliance with its human rights obligations.
Anti terrorism proclamation 6522009 under article 20 declared that the court before which an arrested person is presented in accordance with article 19 of the proclamation, may give an order to remand the suspect for investigation or trial. Ethiopia adopts new version of muchcriticized terrorism. Ethiopia s antiterrorism law the oakland institute. Country does not meet or only minimally meets objectives. Duration of crime investigation quandary under ethiopian. Although the government generally respected the free exercise of religion, local. The report examines how the law, enacted in 2009, is a tool of repression, designed and used by the ethiopian government to silence its critics.
On december 21 the ethiopian federal high court convicted two swedish journalists on charges of support to. Ethiopia s anti terrorism proclamation and the right to freedom of expression. This text may be used free of charge for the purposes of advocacy, campaigning, education, and research, provided. Silencing dissent and dismantling civil society anti terrorism proclamation. Gripped the terrorism proclamation, and arrested on the united states and gives the ethiopian government. The impact of antiterrorism law on human rights justice. Ethiopia s highly controversial anti terrorism law, proclamation no.
Ethiopia to take legislative action to ensure that its anti terrorism legislation defines the nature. Jan 02, 2020 according to the government, the new law was drafted by the federal attorneygeneral office of ethiopia to protect the peace and security of the people and the government from the threats of terrorism. Oct 03, 2011 terrorism by anti terrorism law lately, meles zenawi, the dictator in ethiopia, has been rounding up dissidents, journalists, opposition party political leaders and members under a diktat known as anti terrorism proclamation no. Department of states human rights report for 2004 and similar sources. Pdf amnesty international, death sentences and executions 2018, act. Eskinder nega, woubshet taye and many other journalists in ethiopia, such as reeyot alemu, have been charged and convicted under ethiopia s 2009 anti terrorism proclamation, a. Unsustainable anti free press free speech professional journalism plurality of news sources business management supporting institutions unsustainable, anti free press 01. Ethiopia corruption on the rise survey ethiopia news. Part one general part two terrorism and related crimes part three preventive and investigative measures part four evidentiary and procedural rules part five measures to control terrorist organizations and property. The visit is an important reminder that despite widely hailed progress on poverty reduction, the ethiopian government continues to punish free expression in violation of international law. In 2009, the ethiopian parliament passed the antiterrorism proclamation, which. The ethiopian government has used the anti terrorism proclamation to jail journalists and opposition party members for peacefully exercising their freedoms of expression and association.
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