Working with various media outlets and
NGOs has led to Betre Yacob being labelled a terrorist, and like many other
journalists in Ethiopia, he fears for his safety as a result of his work.
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Betre
Yacob fears for his safety after receiving unwanted attention from the Ethiopian
authorities
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“It
has been more than a year and a half since I began to receive warnings from
National Intelligence and Security Service agents,” explains Betre Yacob.
Yacob
is an Ethiopian journalist, currently living in fear for his life because of
his work in the East African country, which is generally regarded as one of the
most restrictive nations in the world in terms of press freedom.
“However,
in recent months, the situation has worsened and become worse than ever,” he
tells Doha Centre for Media Freedom (DCMF), adding “I have begun to receive
death threats and witness further developments.”
Working
as a journalist in Ethiopia is a particularly difficult proposition, and Yacob
is the latest in a string of media workers who have faced and continue to face
serious obstacles from the authorities.
Yacob
currently works for an Italian website http://www.assaman.info/,
and writes a political column in the Ethiopian magazine, Ebony. He
also contributes to http://thedailyjournalist.com/
and http://ecadforum.com, and blogs
at https://ethiopiahot.wordpress.com
(his blog has been blocked by the Ethiopian authorities since the beginning of
2012).
He
works as an Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) Coordinator for an
international NGO focused on HIV/AIDs, and the rights of women, children, and
marginalised groups.
Yacob
has also co-authored a book entitled Nipo,
nipo tu, a collection of short stories illustrating socio-economic
problems in Ethiopia and is currently working with fellow journalists on
launching a website focusing on issues in the East African region.
As
a result of his work in these various fields, he has been identified by the
Ethiopian authorities as a proverbial ‘thorn in the side’ and is now feeling
the pressure of unwanted attention.
Sleepless
nights
“On
June 15, 2013, I realised that two people who I had never seen before had been
following me,” he explains, “likewise, they followed my fiancé to the
compound where we live.”
“She
was crying when she arrived and we were unable to sleep that night,” he adds.
“The
previous day I had received a phone call from an unknown number. The
caller said that he was calling from the ‘Criminal Investigation’ and told me
that they would kill me unless I stopped my journalistic activities,” noted
Yacob.
“He
said: ‘What you are doing is an act of terrorism against the public.’”
“Now
I am worried that they might detain and torture me, as they have with many
journalists,” he says, adding “I am also afraid that I might even face
something worse.”
The
journalist believes that his telephone calls and online activity have been
monitored by the authorities for some time. “Different callers have
frequently told me that they are looking into my daily communications,” he
notes, “one of the callers told me they have enough evidence ‘to throw me into
jail,’ but he said ‘we have found out that it is better to kill you than
throwing you in jail.’”
Yacob
explained that his persecution has not come about because of a single article
he has written addressing a specific topic, but because of his journalistic
work in general. “The regime considers me an enemy because I usually
write on the poor human rights record of the country and its deteriorating
political situation,” he notes.
He
has been accused of contacting foreign, “terrorist” groups and of cooperating
with them to undermine the government. “They mention my articles which
are posted on websites belonging to these groups, as evidence, but I have never
written a piece for such a group – they are already posted online and then
shared by these groups,” he explains.
Life
and death struggle
“Media
freedom and freedom of expression are in great trouble in Ethiopia – they are
struggling between life and death,” argues Yacob.
As
other journalists in Ethiopia have repeatedly argued, he believes that the
government’s continued use of the archaic and easily manipulated Anti-Terrorism
bill has resulted in media freedom “severely deteriorating.”
“It
is obvious that every independent journalist in Ethiopia now lives in fear of
jail and violence,” he says, adding “the Anti-Terrorism law is intentionally
vague and broad-reaching.”
Numerous
outlets have been closed down, while prominent journalists have been handed hefty
prison sentences under the terror law. Those who have turned to the
internet to produce their work are finding similar obstacles and a wide range
of websites and blogs are blocked by the authorities.
“Now
working for an independent newspaper, magazine, or webpage is more risky than
ever - reporting on politics, social issues or human rights in a way that does
not conform to government rhetoric is enough to label you a ‘terrorist’ and get
you thrown into jail,” explained Yacob.
“Questioning
the policies and strategies of the regime can result in harassment,
intimidation, threat, torture, jail, and other violence,” he adds.
“Struggle
with courage”
Yacob
suggested that the people of Ethiopia need to do more to demand that their
right to free media is respected in the future: “They should ask the regime for
their rights; they should struggle with courage.”
He
also called on the international community to apply pressure on the government
to learn from past mistakes and take measures to redeem itself.
“Particularly,
major donor countries like US and UK, which are the backbone of the regime,
should feel responsible and take appropriate measure against the regime. They
should stand for the demand of the people -not of the regime,” he argues.
Yacob
is firm in his belief that democracy and good governance will only be able to
flourish in Ethiopia when media freedom is effectively protected.
“Free
media encourages stable democracy and healthy social, political and economic
development – it is a ‘concrete pole’ for the rights, liberty, dignity and
wellbeing of citizens,” he argues.
And
the hardships he is facing are not enough to deter the journalist, who dreamt
of working within the media from an early age, believing that it would enable
him to fight falsehood and brutality in an effective manner.
“I
am working for the truth and for the benefit of my community – every truth I
share with others brings me pleasure, hope and strength,” he explains.
“I
know my government does not want me to do so, and I may end up in prison as
many brave journalists have. I know I may be beaten or tortured and I
know something terrible may happen to me. But I am sure I will never give
up; noone will stop me from practicing journalism.”
Interview
compiled by Peter Townson
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