Ethiopia: Concern over journalists

ACTION ALERT - ETHIOPIA

9 November 2001

IFJ expresses concern over the fate and safety of 25 Ethiopian journalists

SOURCE: International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Brussels

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an IFJ letter to United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers:

Brussels, November 9th, 2001

High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers
UNHCR
Case Postale 2500
CH-1211 Genève 2 Dépôt
Suisse

Dear High Commissioner,

The International Federation of Journalists, the worlds largest journalists'
organisation, representing more than 500,000 journalists worldwide is deeply
concerned about the fate and safety of 25 Ethiopian journalists who are
presently seeking political asylum through the UNHCR office in Nairobi,
Kenya. We have for your convenience attached full details on the Ethiopian
journalists.

According to our information UNHCR in Kenya has recently changed its policy
of processing asylum seekers. The new policy requires all asylum seekers to
report to refugee camps in order to have their cases processed. Reports from
journalists worldwide as well as international human rights organisations
give strong evidence that journalist asylum seekers fall within a high-risk
group. They are subject to attacks, threats against their families and death
threats from those authorities they have fled from originally. It is a known
practise that regimes are infiltrating refugee camps in order to identify
and persecute political asylum seekers.

We have been informed that the IFJ regional coordinators for West and
Eastern Africa had a meeting with Mr. Sergio Calle-Norena,
Assistant-Representative-Protection, in order to raise these concerns and to
discuss specific points with regard to the asylum claims of these 25
Ethiopian journalists.

It was very difficult to obtain the meeting with Mr Sergio Calle-Norena,
however, he did appear concerned about the plight of the refugees. According
to him, the Kenyan government is forcing the UNHCR to send all refugees to
camps. The IFJ coordinators reminded him that UNHCR officials have to make
sure that the Kenyan government assists them to protect the lives of the
refugees. If sending these refugees to camps will jeopardise their lives,
UNHCR officials must seek other solutions with the support of the
government.

We call on you to investigate the fate of these journalists and urge you to
do everything in your power to guarantee their safety. We are prepared to
meet and discuss these issues with you and are available at any time for any
questions you may have.

Yours sincerely

Aidan White
General Secretary

ADDENDUM:

Twenty-Five Refugee Ethiopian Journalists in Nairobi Kenya

Twenty-Five Ethiopian journalists refugees have come to Nairobi, Kenya to
seek asylum. Some of them have been there for two years now without being
given asylum or a resettlement agreement.

Those who are recognised as refugees and granted the mandate do not receive
the care they are entitled to: monthly 50 US dollars. Some of these
journalists who after six months want to renew their mandates are rejected.
Furthermore, those who after receiving the mandate apply for resettlement
are yet to be resettled.

According to witnesses, refugees sometimes pay some money to UNHCR officials
before they are served. There is a serious case of corruption before the
Nairobi court concerning some of the UNHCR officials who racketeer refugees.

The newly appointed assistant representative in charge of refugees
protection, Mr Sergio Calle-Norena is apparently more interested in tracing
the corruption cases in his office than solving the pending cases of
journalists refugees who are looking for asylum and who are experiencing a
difficult situation.

List of Ethiopian Refugee Journalists:

Name / Case Number

1. Wondwosen Teklu / ET-19723
2. Abebe Bazezew / ET-0017816
3. Abera Wogi / ET-0018050
4. Kasahun Taddesse / ET-010499
5. Seyifu Mekonen / ET-019574
6. Samsom Seyoum / ET-013444
7. Yidnekachew Chane / ET-017958
8. Abrham Belay / ET-0017355
9. Tedla W. Selassie Abrham / ET-0011949
10. Atkelt Assefa / ET-0011157
11. Solomon G. Amlak / ET-0012959
12. Zerihum Damtew / ET-0168213
13. Azmery Daniel / ET-0017356
14. Israel Saboka / ET-
15. Garuma Bekele / ET-
16. Kedria Hussein / ET-20088
17. Kasahun Lemma / ET-20063
18. Alemayehu M. Work / ET-017636
19. Wondwosen Asfaw Sahlu / ET-019547
20. Fiseha Alemu / ET-0013444
21. Akalu Atlaw / ET-13450
22. Moges Meskelu / ET-017488
23. Solomon Namara / ET-
24. Mensur Abdulahi / ET-0013832
25. Tesfaye Deressa / ET-
26. Biruck Tesfaye Degfa / ET0013185

NOTE: The IFJ cannot guarantee the correct spelling of the names of these
journalists.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Similar appeals can be sent to:

Ruud Lubbers
High Commissioner for Refugees
UNHCR
Case Postale 2500
CH-1211 Genève 2 Dépôt
Suisse

Please copy appeals to the source if possible.

For further information, contact the IFJ, International Press Center,
Residence Palace 155, Rue de la Loi - Bloc C, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium, tel:
+322 235 2200 or +322 235 22 01, fax: +322 235 22 19, e-mail:
[email protected], Internet: http://www.ifj.org/

The information contained in this action alert is the sole responsibility of
IFJ. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit
IFJ.
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