26/01/2024
I discussed with the BBC Amharic about "access to information suppression, citizens' right to information, and sources of information due to conflicts." የመረጃ ማፈን መገናኛ ብዙኃን እንዳይግባቡና ውይይትና ማሰላሰል እንዳይፈጥሩ እንቅፋት ሆነዋል። Suppression of information by the public and government officials has hindered the media from communicating and creating dialogue, discussion, and meditation.
Especially as stated in the discussion, Journalists have difficulty getting information due to the conflicts in Ethiopia; even the reports that come out are based on anonymous sources. This calls into question the credibility of the media. Regarding the situation in the Amhara region, the efforts of journalists to go to the place to get information and report are challenging, given the threat. Apart from the fact that the government does not provide formal details, there is absolutely no willingness to confirm or deny the events related to the war.
In Ethiopia, freedom of information and the right to access information are separated on paper and in practice. Government institutions established to provide information are blamed for neglecting their duties and responsibilities.
As I told the BBC, there is a general culture of "information apathy." Information will be suppressed from the government structure to society for "fear of the government."
This prevents the distribution of timely, accurate, and balanced information, especially the spread of false, disinformation, misinformation, and distorted information, which has a high impact.
The denial of access to information violates the constitution, which is the supreme law of the country, international human rights, and the declaration of freedom of the media and the right to access information.
In the age when information is said to be power, the mass media did not get information, which means that the people were denied the right to obtain information and to know.
Journalists censor themselves. According to the journalists, the lack of proper media coverage of the ongoing conflicts and injuries "may account for the violations and abuses that are not being committed" and thereby lose accountability.
Failure to report abuses and rights violations can result in stories that need to be told being suppressed. The effect is that "human rights abuses" will spread.
When information sources withhold information and withhold information, the door is opened for oppression and abuses to spread. But I understand the concerns that forced them to do this; there is no question about mobile recording. Sound recording is a challenging hour.
The "cover-up stifles the voices of the victims, and the failure of the war and its impact to be appropriately documented by the media deprives an opportunity for research and history to avoid evidence.
In addition, Suppression of information by the public and government officials has hindered the media from communicating and creating dialogue, discussion, and meditation.
በአገሪቱ ውስጥ ሚካሄዱ ግጭቶች ምክንያት በሰላማዊ ሰዎች እና በንብረት ላይ ጉዳት እየደረሰ ነው። በተለይ የመብት ጥሰቶች እና እንግልቶች በስፋት እንደሚፈጸሙ ይነገራል። እነዚህን ክ.....