Ethiopia's new anti-terror law strips journalists of the right to protect the identity of their sources, a top official said in a statement carried Saturday by the national news agency ENA.

"The anti-terrorism law revoked the rights of journalists not to disclose their information sources when they report on terrorism," the agency quoted State Minister for Communication Shimeles Kemal as saying.

"The new law revoked this right taking into consideration the magnitude of disasters caused by terrorism," he added.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, only one other African country has jailed more journalists than Ethiopia and only last week it imprisoned a columnist for criticising the prime minister.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch voiced concern before the bill was passed last year that some of its provisions were targeted at the nation's media.

"A journalist interviewing an opposition politician or a supporter of an armed opposition group could be deemed to be 'encouraging' terrorism merely by publicising the views of the interviewee," it said.

The Ethiopian government describes as terrorism the rebellions it has been trying to stamp out for years in the Oromo and Ogaden regions.

AFP

Teddy Afro should be released on 15th of August, after an appeal court upheld a decision to reduce his six year sentence to two years.
The final verdict on the hit and run charge against the popular singer, whose real name is Tewodros Kassahun, came from the Cassation Bench at Federal Supreme Court.
Last Thursday morning, the court upheld the two year sentence handed down by the Federal Supreme Court in mid February, but the court accepted the 18,000 birr fine that the Eighth Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court gave in December 5, 2008. On appeal, the Supreme Court had previously reduced the fine to 11,000 birr.
Following the decision, the public expressed their happiness at the imminent release of the popular singer. One of Teddy's lawyers, Ameha Bedlu, told Capital the singer was also happy at the decision of the court.
"I am really glad that the court decided to accept the reduction of Teddy's time in prison, because he will be free after four weeks; but I still do not accept he is guilty," one of Teddy's fan told Capital after he heard of the verdict.
Most people from all ages and walks of society that Capital interviewed were delighted with the court's verdict, though many still believe Teddy is innocent. They think he was the victim of a political vendetta, because his music was identified with the opposition's cause at the time of the controversial 2005 General Election.
The Cassation Bench of the Federal Supreme Court is the final court of appeal, so neither side has any opportunity to make further appeals.
Teddy Afro was jailed on April 16, 2008, for killing a homeless boy in a hit and run incident. The initial guilty verdict was reached almost nine months later and he was sentenced to six years in jail and fined 18,000 birr at the Eighth Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court in December 2008.
Subsequently, Teddy's lawyers, Million Assefa and Ameha Bedlu, appealed to the Supreme Court. The first appeal hearing was adjourned until February 18 for a final verdict.
The appeal judge, Justice Dagne Melaku, sustained the guilty verdict, but reduced the sentence, deciding the deceased had some culpability for the incident that cost him his life.
The Federal Supreme Court cut the original sentence to two years and the 18,000 birr fine to 11,000. The decision was based on the finding that the deceased was unconscious due to alcohol consumption and sleeping in the middle of the road when the accident happened.
Due to a lack of lighting, the court reasoned it would be almost impossible for a driver to spot a person, or anything else, at night.
When the sentence reduction was heard, fans inside the compound went out singing one of the pop icon's famous songs, and were joined by a crowd outside to create an impromptu celebration. The same thing happened last week at the cassation court around Arat Kilo, until city police broke up the celebrations within minutes.
Teddy Afro has already served almost 16 months behind bars at Kaliti Prison, some 25km out of Addis Ababa. With probable parole for good behaviour he will be free in less than 26 days on Friday, August, 14.
The parole given is four months per every year in jail, so the singer is set to receive an eight month reduction.

Teddy Afro Factfile

The 31-year-old performer entered the Ethiopian music scene in 2001 and has made three albums since and a number of singles.
He is well-liked by fans for his varied style and his powerful lyrics that he writes himself.
He was first detained briefly in November 2006, a day after the incident occurred and released on 50,000 birr bail. On the day of the accident, Teddy had returned home from a year long tour outside Ethiopia.
Addis Ababa police arrested Teddy, suspecting him of killing an 18 year old street boy named Degu Yibeltal, who was killed after he was hit by a car.
Teddy pleaded not guilty to all charges.
A taxi driver at the time allegedly tipped off the police of the plate number of Teddy's BMW, which was later found in a ditch on the road towards the CMC residential area where the singer resides.

By Muluken Yewondwossen
Capital Ethiopia

Despite opposition outcry, the controversial Anti-Terrorism Bill was endorsed with 286 votes in approval.
The new legislation introduces powers for police such as being allowed to make unwarranted searches and even arrests; hold suspects up to four months without charge; and prosecute them on the basis of hearsay evidence.
Many aspects of the bill have drawn strong criticism from human rights organisations and the opposition.

The Legal and Administrative Affairs and Foreign, Defense, and Security Affairs Standing Committees of the parliament, said the bill was prepared in line with the binding principles of the constitution and would prevent and control terrorist acts to safeguard the nation from threats it has endured in the past.
"The Government of Ethiopia has a history of stifling dissent and it is worrying that this law now risks further violating Ethiopia's obligations under international human rights law," Amnesty International's Africa programme director, Erwin van der Borght said.
One aspect that raised the concern of Lidetu Ayalew, the leader of the Ethiopian Democratic Party, was the definition of terrorism.

In the new law, this is: Whosever "intending to influence the Government, to immediate the public or section of the public, or to destabilizes or destroys the fundamental political, constitutional, economic or social institutions of the country, for the purpose of advancing a political, religious or ideological," and causes crime is punishable with imprisonment from 15 years to life.
The opposition leader, who voted against the bill, claims this is a very broad definition by international standards.
He said: "Terrorism has unique characteristics and accordingly it needs a unique law and approach, yes we support that and the legislation to address the concern.

"The characterisation of terrorism set by the legislation is far from internationally accepted meanings: armed struggle in Ethiopia, for instance, becomes terrorism under this legislation.
"Yes, armed struggle or protest is a crime and punishable by law, but it is not terrorism, it is simply challenging the Government by force. An action is only terrorism when it doesn't distinguish between groups and wages attack against all and legislations are put in place to protect the mass that could not defend itself, not the Government, as this bill targets to do."
Lidetu added that international designations didn't include the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), and Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) on terrorist lists.
Supporters of the bill insisted that the definition of terrorism was based on European classifications and that it was not significantly broader.

The legislation awards the power to decide a group as a terrorist faction to parliament though international practice shows executives exercising the right. In Great Britain it is the prime minister, while in the United States the State Department classifies groups as terrorist factions.
"Now parliament can not say no when it is asked to regard every armed faction as a terrorist group," Lidetu said.

According to observers OLF, ONLF and the Ginbot-7 Movement for Justice, Freedom and Democracy, which is based in the US, are likely to be the first casualties from the categorisation.
The Government already refers to Ginbot-7 a terrorist group, but from now it will have to seek parliament's permission to do so. Government Communication Affairs Office Minister Bereket Simon hinted a few months ago that Ethiopia may seek the handover of Ginbot-7 leaders, such as Dr. Berhanu Negam who is facing charges in abstina.
"The State Department doesn't see Ginbot-7 as a terrorist group so it is unlikely to give up Berhanu or others," one US diplomat comments, "However, I won't be surprised if a number of people in the current administration supported the idea. But this on the other hand may ignite opposition lobbying in protest, probably resulting in a rethinking of the entire US polices towards Ethiopia and I think the Ethiopian Government knows that and doesn't want to see it happening."

By Kirubel Tadesse
Capital

Despite opposition outcry, the controversial Anti-Terrorism Bill was endorsed with 286 votes in approval.
The new legislation introduces powers for police such as being allowed to make unwarranted searches and even arrests; hold suspects up to four months without charge; and prosecute them on the basis of hearsay evidence.
Many aspects of the bill have drawn strong criticism from human rights organisations and the opposition.

The Legal and Administrative Affairs and Foreign, Defense, and Security Affairs Standing Committees of the parliament, said the bill was prepared in line with the binding principles of the constitution and would prevent and control terrorist acts to safeguard the nation from threats it has endured in the past.
"The Government of Ethiopia has a history of stifling dissent and it is worrying that this law now risks further violating Ethiopia's obligations under international human rights law," Amnesty International's Africa programme director, Erwin van der Borght said.
One aspect that raised the concern of Lidetu Ayalew, the leader of the Ethiopian Democratic Party, was the definition of terrorism.

In the new law, this is: Whosever "intending to influence the Government, to immediate the public or section of the public, or to destabilizes or destroys the fundamental political, constitutional, economic or social institutions of the country, for the purpose of advancing a political, religious or ideological," and causes crime is punishable with imprisonment from 15 years to life.
The opposition leader, who voted against the bill, claims this is a very broad definition by international standards.
He said: "Terrorism has unique characteristics and accordingly it needs a unique law and approach, yes we support that and the legislation to address the concern.

"The characterisation of terrorism set by the legislation is far from internationally accepted meanings: armed struggle in Ethiopia, for instance, becomes terrorism under this legislation.
"Yes, armed struggle or protest is a crime and punishable by law, but it is not terrorism, it is simply challenging the Government by force. An action is only terrorism when it doesn't distinguish between groups and wages attack against all and legislations are put in place to protect the mass that could not defend itself, not the Government, as this bill targets to do."
Lidetu added that international designations didn't include the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), and Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) on terrorist lists.
Supporters of the bill insisted that the definition of terrorism was based on European classifications and that it was not significantly broader.

The legislation awards the power to decide a group as a terrorist faction to parliament though international practice shows executives exercising the right. In Great Britain it is the prime minister, while in the United States the State Department classifies groups as terrorist factions.
"Now parliament can not say no when it is asked to regard every armed faction as a terrorist group," Lidetu said.

According to observers OLF, ONLF and the Ginbot-7 Movement for Justice, Freedom and Democracy, which is based in the US, are likely to be the first casualties from the categorisation.
The Government already refers to Ginbot-7 a terrorist group, but from now it will have to seek parliament's permission to do so. Government Communication Affairs Office Minister Bereket Simon hinted a few months ago that Ethiopia may seek the handover of Ginbot-7 leaders, such as Dr. Berhanu Negam who is facing charges in abstina.
"The State Department doesn't see Ginbot-7 as a terrorist group so it is unlikely to give up Berhanu or others," one US diplomat comments, "However, I won't be surprised if a number of people in the current administration supported the idea. But this on the other hand may ignite opposition lobbying in protest, probably resulting in a rethinking of the entire US polices towards Ethiopia and I think the Ethiopian Government knows that and doesn't want to see it happening."

By Kirubel Tadesse
Capital