Food without freedom

Anti-government activists in Ethiopia call on foreign governments to question their country's human rights record.

Ethiopia receives one of the highest amounts of foreign aid in the world. Much of that aid is food, but some human rights activists ask: what good is food, if you don't have freedom?

Zenawi has been criticised for abusing anti-terrorism laws to prosecute members of political opposition and the media. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 11 journalists have been charged with terrorism and criminal suits since last year.

Now the government is discussing whether VOIP - or Voice over Internet Protocol - communications, like Skype, should be criminalised.

Many Ethiopian activists are calling on the international community to question the rights record of their country before sending aid. In this episode of The Stream, we speak to journalist Abebe Gellaw and Berhanu Nega, former mayor of Addis Ababa.

What do you think? What role should human rights play in supporting development aid? How much control should the government have over its telecommunications? Send us your thoughts and comments on Facebook or Twitter using hashtag #AJStream.

View the story "In Ethiopia, food without freedom" on StorifyIn Ethiopia, food without freedomAnti-government activists in Ethiopia call on foreign governments to question their country's human rights record.Storified by The Stream · Tue, Jun 26 2012 18:11:03Abebe Gellaw - Oslo Freedom Forum 2012oslofreedomforumAbebe Gellaw is an exiled Ethiopian journalist who has been critical of Zenawi's government. In 2011, the Ethiopian High Court charged him in absentia of terrorism. During last month's G8 meeting, Gellaw staged a protest by interrupting Zenawi. Gellaw called him a dictator and shouted, "We need freedom more than food!"
Awramba Times: PM Meles Zenawi humilated in G8 meeting.mp4awrambatubeMeles Zenawi looks surprised after an Ethiopian journalist called him a dictator at the G8 summit. http://twitpic.com/9nn4p2 http://twitpic.com/9nn4qtMartin MureithiLast week, The Stream looked at a draft law that limits Voice over Internet Protocol services, such as Skype. Under the legislation, violators could face up to 15 years in prison. It's a work in progress, and the Ethiopian government says it only applies to businesses that try to evade using state-run telecommunications services.

Zenawi, who has ruled the country since 1991, oversaw an anti-terrorism proclamation in 2009 that rights groups say has been used to crack down on journalists and political opposition. Journalists, activists and the United Nations criticised the vagueness of the law as a backdoor for committing human rights abuses. Combined with the state's control of the media, this legislation could lead to more censorship of websites and arrests of reporters.

#Economist, #IMF websites blocked in #Ethiopia. #CPJ, #HRW, #VOA and more than 150 Ethiopian websites are blocked for long. Democratization Ethiopian style; Revolutionary Democracy at work!Mesfin Negash@egrasshopper Locking up the Nation from the external world is the way of Dictators throughout history of Ethiopia.ibsa boruEthiopia has a telco monopoly, so it's hard to tell if the law is designed to restrict free speech or just stifle competition.ahumanright.org@AmbassadorRice "challenging leaders whose actions threaten credibility of democratic processes" in #Africa" says @whitehouse. Meles Zenawi?africamedia_cpjundefinedPhotobucketOne journalist on trial is Eskinder Nega. He was arrested under the anti-terrorism legislation for defending other journalists.
#Journalist Eskinder Nega's trial postponed till Jun 27. He's accused of "terrorism" in #Ethiopia http://bit.ly/Nmo76k - v @africamedia_CPJGuillerminaJournalist Reeyot Alemu was also detained under the anti-terrorism law, and is reportedly being held incommunicado. The prosecution was recently granted a few more weeks to investigate her case.
undefinedEcadforumHere are two quotes from a statement released by the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs:undefinedStaticflickrundefinedStaticflickrInternet users are critical of both Zenawi and his policies. @AfricanHornET tweeted out this photo, putting Zenawi's face on Sasha Baron Cohen's character from the film The Dictator.
MELES ZENAWI IS A DICTATOR http://twitpic.com/9v051zAfrican HornETAt the same time, Zenawi is very popular with the international community. Ethiopia has a strong economic growth rate, and is popular with foreign investors. He has also joined Western powers in fighting al-Shabab in Somalia, and is seen as an ally in eastern Africa for international efforts to assist the country.
BRITAIN SOMALIA CONFERENCEAJstreamEthiopia also receives billions of dollars in aid, but rights groups say that the aid money has been used by Zenawi as a political tool to impose greater oppression. There are also reports that the government withholds that aid to punish political dissenters.

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Food without freedom

Food without freedom

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