Ethiopia’s stifled press

Correction: An earlier version of this editorial incorrectly reported that Ethiopia’s government closed five newspapers and one magazine within the past year. The government shut five magazines and one newspaper in 2014, according to Human Rights Watch. The following version has been updated.

By Editorial Board February 9

 

WHILE ENJOYING its status as an international development darling, Ethiopia has been chipping away at its citizens’ freedom of expression. The country now holds the shameful distinction of having the second-most journalists in exile in the world, after Iran. That combination of Western subsidies and political persecution should not be sustainable. 

According to a new report by Human Rights Watch, at least 60 journalists have fled the country since 2010, including 30 last year, and at least 19 have been imprisoned. Twenty-two faced criminal charges in 2014. The government closed five magazines and a newspaper within the past year, leaving Ethiopia with no independent private media outlets. With the country headed toward elections in May, the pressure on the media has undermined the prospect of a free and fair vote. Please read mor about from link http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/crackdown-in-ethiopia/2015/02/08/ad1e6bce-abef-11e4-ad71-7b9eba0f87d6_story.html