FREEDOM IN THE ETHIOPIA

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370	USDGNI (PPP)

INTERNET: 

Not Free

PRESS: 

Not Free

Not Free

                                                                      

OVERVIEW:   Ethiopia’s authoritarian government showed no sign of loosening its grip on power in 2011, using an anti terrorism law to target opponents of the ruling party. More than 100 political activists and journalists were detained, often for several months, before being charged with vaguely defined terrorism offenses. Also during the year, tensions with neighboring Eritrea increased after it was accused by a UN panel of plotting a terrorist attack in Ethiopia. 

".......The presence of the EPRDF at all levels of society inhibits free private discussion. Many people are wary of speaking against the government for fear of being overheard by party officials. The EPRDF maintains a network of paid informants, and opposition politicians have accused the government of tapping their telephones.

Freedoms of assembly and association are guaranteed by the constitution but limited in practice. Organizers of large public meetings must request permission from the authorities 48 hours in advance. Applications by opposition groups are routinely denied. During the 2010 election campaign, police routinely broke up political rallies and meetings organized by the opposition......." .http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2012/ethiopia