Addis Neger Publishing today announced that its major publication, Addis Neger Newspaper, ceased circulation due to constant harassment and intimidation by the ruling Woyanne junta in Ethiopia. Saturday November 28, 2009 saw the final edition of the paper.
“Addis Neger, one of the few leading independent voices in Ethiopia, became the victim of yet another crackdown on free speech and the freedom of the press in Ethiopia,” said Mesfin Negash, Managing Editor of the Paper. “Our newspaper was one of the country’s best examples of what independent journalists can accomplish in being the platform of public opinion. Unfortunately, the regime had made our task impossible.”
Three of Addis Neger’s editors left the country this week after the paper learned that the regime was preparing criminal charges against its top editors, reporters and owners based on the new anti-terror law and the criminal code. The decision of the publishing company to close down the newspaper was made to protect its owners and journalists from this onslaught by the regime government.
“This is the culmination of months of persecution and harassment” by the regime in Ethiopia, said Abiye Teklemariam, the paper’s Executive Editor. “The preparation to use the new anti-terror law against our journalists and editors was just throwing the last wood in the chimney.”
Addis Neger was established in September 2007. Its twin editorial plans had been “the Idea of Public Reason” and “Integrity and Independence.” In the last two years, these pillars served as the backbones of the paper’s interaction with the public, helping it to register phenomenal growth in its circulation, influence and investment.
Addis Neger also introduced a new model of media ownership. Founded by six former journalists who were victims of the media crackdown following post election crisis in 2005, it was expanding its ownership base to other journalistic members of the paper. It was hoped that the model would bring sustainability to the press as an institution.
Addis Neger Publishing Company promised to be back to the media scene in the future. According to Mesfin Negash, the company would venture into a new multimedia format whenever is possible. “We hope that things will change and we will be back to our country. But our immediate plan is to ensure the physical security of our staff members. Let’s keep the spirit of freedom alive.”