7/21/03 - ERITREAN REPRESSION OF THE PRESS - 2003-07-22
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Editorials Reflecting the Views of the United States Government Text Only Search VOICE OF AMERICA VOA Home Editorials Home On the Line Home Subscribe to Editorials Select Language About VOA Region Africa left_spacer Americas left_spacer Asia left_spacer Europe left_spacer Mideast left_spacer International left_spacer Topic Crime left_spacer Health left_spacer Environment left_spacer Human Rights left_spacer Democracy left_spacer Ideals left_spacer Terrorism left_spacer Trade left_spacer 7/21/03 - ERITREAN REPRESSION OF THE PRESS 22 July 2003 The Eritrean government has detained Voice of America correspondent Aklilu Solomon. The Eritrean government claims this was because he did not perform obligatory military service or its civilian equivalent. In fact, documents show that Mr. Aklilu did perform eighteen months of national service and had a medical deferment for military service. The real reason for his arrest appears to be a news story he filed for the Voice of America on June 23rd. He reported that families of Eritrean soldiers killed in the 1998 to 2000 war with Ethiopia wept in sorrow when the names of their dead relatives were announced. This contradicted Eritrea's state-run media, which claimed that the families cheered with pride at the news. After the V-O-A broadcast, Eritrean authorities stripped Mr. Aklilu of his press credentials. Ten days later, they detained him. He is now being held in an Eritrean military camp. David Jackson, Director of the Voice of America, issued a strong protest against Eritrea's treatment of Aklilu Solomon. “He has distinguished himself as a journalist by telling the world of the urgent needs of the Eritrean people during the drought which has afflicted his country,” said Mr. Jackson. “All of us at [V-O-A] are proud of his contributions. . . . We demand that Eritrean authorities free him immediately.” Adam Posluns [pose-luhns] of the Committee to Protect Journalists says the detention of Aklilu Solomon is part of a pattern of repression and harassment: "It is further evidence of the Eritrean government's determination to silence all reporting that differs from the official version of events. And it’s not the first time the government has used the pretext of mandatory national service to arrest journalists who have written reports that are not to the authorities’ liking. With Aklilu's arrest, there are almost no more independent sources of information in the country." Aklilu Solomon’s only offense appears to be doing what good reporters do -- accurately reporting the news. That's the kind of national service the people of Eritrea need more of. emailme.gif E-mail This Article printerfriendly.gif Print Version Featured Editorial Rumsfeld In China Other Recent Editorials [External image reference] Human Rights In Turkmenistan Audio Clip Available [External image reference] Syria's Bad Neighbor Policy Audio Clip Available [External image reference] Renewing The Palestinian Economy Audio Clip Available [External image reference] Lebanese Assassination Report Audio Clip Available [External image reference] Rice In Russia On Iran Nukes Audio Clip Available [External image reference] More Violence In Darfur Audio Clip Available [External image reference] Saddam Hussein On Trial Audio Clip Available [External image reference] Bush And Abbas Meet Audio Clip Available [External image reference] Rice On Iraq Audio Clip Available [External image reference] Burns In The Balkans Audio Clip Available [External image reference] The U.S. And The Middle East Audio Clip Available [External image reference] Terrorist Letter Audio Clip Available [External image reference] Rice In Central Asia Audio Clip Available [External image reference] Afghanistan's March To Democracy Audio Clip Available [External image reference] U.S. Aids Earthquake Victims Audio Clip Available [External image reference] U.N. Population Fund Report Audio Clip Available [External image reference] Al-Qaida Plots Foiled Audio Clip Available [External image reference] Iran's Troubling Behavior Audio Clip Available [External image reference] Avian Flu Audio Clip Available [External image reference] Bush On Iraqi Progress Audio Clip Available [External image reference] Editor Arrested In Afghanistan Audio Clip Available [External image reference] Earthquake Relief Efforts Audio Clip Available [External image reference] Pakistan Arrests Taleban Spokesman Audio Clip Available [External image reference] Bush On Ramadan Audio Clip Available FAQs | Terms of Use & Privacy Notice | Broadcasting Board of Governors | Site Map | Archive | Link To Us | Contact Us

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