RIGHTS-ETHIOPIA: Press Freedom Still Under Attack(IPS)

Razak Adam, an Ethiopian development worker based in Nairobi, says that anywhere else in the world, Kassahun's trial might simply be a story of celebrity misdeeds, but in Ethiopia, it is widely viewed as politically motivated. His music and public statements are critical of government policies and his April court appearance sparked impromptu protests in Addis Ababa, involving thousands of his fans, mostly teenagers. Such protests are a rare sight in the tightly-controlled Ethiopian capital. A similar spontaneous protest took place at the Adidas Ababa Stadium on May 4, when many of the 35,000 fans at the 16th African Athletics Championships began chanting "Free Teddy" slogans after Ethiopian runner Kenenisa Bekele won the 5,000 meter race.

"In Ethiopia, the story is deeply political and complex as it reflects not only the precarious state of press freedom; it also raises some other critical but unaddressed issues which are pulling Ethiopian society apart," Adam told IPS...More..