The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned recent press freedom violations in Ethiopia and called on the African Union, the United Nations and the international community to stop the Ethiopian government's repression of the media.

Last week the ruling party Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front led the passage in Parliament of a new law that allows the state prosecutor to censor the media to "protect national security," imposes heavy fines on media outlets that break the law and restricts access to information by the media and the public.

                               Melbourne Amharic Radio-Interview with

Ato Mersh Yosef, member of EPRP ( democratic)

Leadership Council

 A must listen VOA Interview on the secret border deal

In Ethiopia, the political happenings have more than often dictated the activities of the private press. Whether tensions flare on the borders of Eritrea or Somalia or the incumbent government is in danger of losing power the press has always felt the repercussions.

According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), following the 2005 elections, at least twenty journalists were jailed and a further 100 Ethiopian media practitioners, including 37 journalists, have fled the country in search of freedom and safety since 2001. Editor in chief Daniel Gezahegen of the Addis-Ababa based Amharic language newspaper Mogad spoke to RAP 21 about his experiences in and out of jail and eventually what pushed him to look for sanctuary in Yemen in 2005.