Human Right Watch 2018 report: “…..The 10-month state of emergency, first declared in October 2016, brought mass arrests, mistreatment in detention, and unreasonable limitations on freedom of assembly, expression, and association.
While abusive and overly broad, the state of emergency gave the government a period of relative calm that it could have used to address grievances raised repeatedly by protesters. However, the government did not address the human rights concerns that protesters raised, including the closing of political space, brutality of security forces, and forced displacement…”
Human Right Watch 2019 report: “….After years of widespread protests against government policies, and brutal security force repression, the human rights landscape transformed in 2018 after Abiy Ahmed became prime minister in April. The government lifted the state of emergency in June and released thousands of political prisoners from detention, including journalists and key opposition leaders such as Eskinder Nega and Merera Gudina. The government lifted restrictions on access to the internet, admitted that security forces relied on torture, committed to legal reforms of repressive laws and introduced numerous other reforms, paving the way for improved respect for human rights…”
Following the coming of Dr. Abiy as a Prime minister of Ethiopia and his swift measure on human rights the report of Human Right Watch is also shifted with 12 months.
According to the report, the political reform of the nation has brought changes in area of freedom of expression and association and human right issues.
Many of Ethiopia’s repressive laws used to silence dissent and restrict citizens’ meaningful engagement-including the Charities and Societies Proclamation, the Media Law, and the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation-were being revised at time of writing. Using this as a ground The Ethiopian Herald had approached legal experts to reflect their view about the existing freedom of expression and human right issues.
Muleye Wellelaw, is legal expert and human right professional. According to him, in relation to the previous years there is a shift in the area of freedom of expression, association and human right issues. Currently, there is better condition for right of expression and association.
Muluye said that, though the last 12 months has witnessed freedom of expression and association it has also experienced abused of right.
According to him, people have gave more attention to their right at the expense of their responsibility.
It is a good start to practice freedom of expression but it has to be balanced. The local economic and social issues has to be considered.
“We can not directly implement the standard of the West in Ethiopia. Well, it does not mean the country violet Universal human rights. Any person who knew how to practice his right of expression, has to know his obligation too. While adhering international human rights we should also consider local situations. ”
Concerning torture, Mulye said, there is change in the country. Closing Maekelawi detention center is a good indication how the government has gave proper attention to human right.
Mulye said, his visit to Maekelwi detention center has showed him how harsh the place was to human kind.
He said, some activists who had been imprisoned in Maekelawi are now released and they are now actively engaging in political life of the nation. This is a great achievement for the country. Though Mulye is satisfied with the reform, he has also his own fear.
According to him, all the reforms are encouraging steps towards democratization. However, if it is not sustainable and well balanced there will be another challenge to the political atmosphere of the country. In this respect, the government has to take the leading role.
Wondemu Ebsa, is a legal expert. For him, the current political reform in the country has brought change to the country. This is specially true in areas of human right protection and freed of speech.
He said, with all its gaps, the last 12 months have saw transformation in the area of human protection and freedom of speech.
Seconding Mulye`s view, Wondesen said, freedom of speech is something good to build democracy but, when people practice their right they should not forget their responsibility.
The Ethiopian Herald April 7/2019
BY LEULSEGED WORKU
