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VOA ”no censorship” campaign scores victory
By Abebe Gellaw
Washington DC–Hours after hundreds of protesters demanded Monday top executives of Voice of America (VOA) and Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) to stop censoring and putting undue pressures on the Horn of Africa section, VOA Acting Director and Executive Editor, Steve Redisch, gathered the section’s staffers and told them to continue their work without any restrictions or self-censorship.
In the brief meeting, Mr. Redisch said that he felt sorry for not meeting them sooner and thanked the section’s staffers for the “marvelous” job they have been doing. He also expressed VOA’s trust on them and their professionalism, informed sources told Addis Voice.
“I have no problems with your shows,” Redisch was quoted as saying. He
told them to perform their duty as they used to before regardless of the complaints of the government of Ethiopia. He said that VOA had never asked anyone to give less priority and airtime to political coverage.
The director noted that in a country like Ethiopia, which is beset with serious political problems, VOA journalists cannot ignore political matters. According to our sources, what Redisch told staffers was contrary to orders and restrictions issued by the Africa Division Director, Gwen Dillard, who insisted on less coverage on political matters, introduced a “clearance” system and restricted some issues including critical listeners comment on recent developments within VOA. The situation had created fear and anxiety among some staffers.
Though he declined to give more details on the questionable “administrative” measures taken against former Horn of Africa Chief, David Arnold, who was suspended for his comments in a June 23rd VOA Amharic report, Redisch expressed support to his colleague. He assured them that he would fight for Arnold and confirmed the fact that he was reinstated but transferred to the English section.
One of the experienced broadcasters of VOA Amharic service, Adanech Fissehaye, thanked Redisch for putting an end to the confusion, which had made their job very difficult. She told the VOA director that she was very relieved to hear his assurances, according to our sources.
“The last few weeks have been a rollercoaster for us. I am very happy that our self-confidence has been restored.
“We were gripped with fear but Redisch uplifted our morale and spirit,” a source said. “The coordinated campaign Ethiopian activists have launched to rescue the service we render has undoubtedly made a real difference,” the source added.
Earlier in the day, Ethiopian protesters braved heat waves and demanded VOA and BBG to make sure that the Horn of Africa section operates freely without any undue pressures and censorship. “No censorship! VOA remain true to your missions…,” chanted the protesters. In a letter they submitted to VOA and BBG executives, they demanded investigation into reports of censorship and maladministration.
“We are writing today to request an investigation into reports of censorship at the Voice of America Horn of Africa section, which has been serving Ethiopians as the only powerful source of uncensored news and views. What is more worrying is the fact that the difficulties facing the VOA Horn of Africa section transpired after the Meles regime reportedly demanded VOA to banish a list of critics from appearing on its programs and coverage,” the letter stated.
“It is with high regard for BBG and VOA in particular, we humbly request you to ensure and guarantee that VOA continues to give the vital service it has been providing to the silenced people of Ethiopia consistent with its mission, the First Amendment of the United States constitution and America’s cherished values of freedom and democracy,” the letter demanded.
The letter further noted that Ethiopians do not want VOA to be hijacked by the agenda of Ethiopia’s repressive regime and added that they do not wish to see “VOA lose its vitality and service as a truly independent alternative media to the people of Ethiopia.”
In a separate letter the activists addressed to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, they urged the Obama administration to give utmost priority to the starvation stocking millions of Ethiopians especially in the Ogaden, where the Meles regime has been waging war against dissidents and NGOs providing lifelines to the starving millions.
They also appealed to Clinton to put pressure on the Meles regime to unconditionally release two young journalists, Reyot Alemu of Fitih and Wubishet Taye, Deputy Editor of Awramba Times. Both journalists are held under the anti-terrorism act only for writing sharply critical stories and articles.
One of the protesters, Dr. Shawel Betru, said that VOA should not budge to pressures from the Meles regime. “Ethiopians are already muzzled and oppressed in their own country by the tyrannical regime. Any kinds of censorship efforts at VOA will be very disappointing to the majority of Ethiopians who look up to VOA as one of the most reliable sources of news and information,” he said. Shawel also called upon the Meles regime to respect fundamenatl rights of citizens who are being terrorized and oppressed in their own country.
The rally opposite the headquarters of BBG and VOA was loud and rousing. A few protesters came from faraway places. Finland resident Yeworkwoha Asrat attended the rally with her husband Belaneh Bekele. Though they came to the US on holiday, they felt that it was very important to join the rally to add their voice in the effort to rescue VOA Amharic, which has been seriously affected by the recent crisis. “VOA has to operate freely and serve the people of Ethiopia as it used to,” Yeworkwoha said.
Tedla Asfaw drove all the way from New York. He said that the Voice of America should not be transformed into the Voice of China. “VOA should never be censored in the land of freedom,” he said.
The VOA director promised to explain current developments in relation to the Horn of Africa section. He is expected to give an interview with VOA Amharic section, according to our sources.
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Letter to VOA and BBG Executives
Mr. Walter Isaacson, BBG Chairman
Mr. Richard M. Lobo, IBB Director
Mr. Steve Redisch, VOA Acting Director/ Executive Editor,
Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG)
330 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20237
July 25, 2011
Dear Sirs,
First of all, we, members of the Ethiopian American community, would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the People and Government of the United States for being the leading defender of freedom, justice and democracy throughout the world. We greatly appreciate and admire the crucial works of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, whose mission is “to promote freedom and democracy and to enhance understanding through multi-media communication of accurate, objective, and balanced news, information, and other programming about America and the world audience overseas.”
We are writing today to request an investigation into reports of censorship at the Voice of America Horn of Africa section, which has been serving Ethiopians as the only powerful source of uncensored news and views. What is more worrying is the fact that the difficulties facing the VOA Horn of Africa section transpired after the Meles regime reportedly demanded VOA to banish a list of critics from appearing on its programs and coverage.
We find it appropriate and timely to quote from a speech H.E. Secretary of State Hillary R. Clinton, who happens to be one of the esteemed members of BBG, delivered last month at the African Union, Addis Ababa. Secretary Clinton rightly told African leaders: “The status quo is broken; the old ways of governing are no longer acceptable; it is time for leaders to lead with accountability, treat their people with dignity, respect their rights, and deliver economic opportunity. And if they will not, then it is time for them to go.”
As you very well know, it is impossible to hold leaders accountable and guarantee dignity and human rights without freedom of expression and free press. The struggle of the Ethiopian people to create a nation founded on freedom, democracy, dignity, rule of law, transparency and accountability has been severely hampered by the relentless efforts by the ruling TPLF/EPRDF in Ethiopia to silence every little voice of dissent and critical view. Only within the last five years, scores of newspapers have been closed down, many journalists have been jailed and nearly one hundred of them have been forced into exile. In addition, the regime blocks news websites and blogs and intensively jams international broadcasts.
Full text in PDF (Letter to VOA BBG)
Good News! Ms Gwen Dillard should be ashamed of what she did. An African American should have been very conscious and more tenacious about portecting freedom. It is a shame that she has become a symbol of suppression in this particular incidence.
For Ethiopians, please do not lay much trust and hope on either the services of VOA or the support from USA. Stop this naïvity. Eventhough it is a matter of priniciple, VOA should never be considered as a strategicaly important instrument in the struggle for democracy and freedom. Rely more on Ethiopian resources. Focus on strengthening our own capacity. I lost every hope in USA, all the West for that matter, since GWB rebuffed the call of Ethiopians in the aftermath of the 2005 election. The West appears to be convinced that the majority of Ethiopians are losers (it has some truth) and thus decided that we should cower and put up with the repression and the humiliation. The regime seems to have also understood this mentality of the West and is exploiting it to the fullest.
it is a great job !
thanks abbie
thanks to protesters!
Wow! This is a victory for the silenced people of Ethiopia. It would have been a shame if VOA has continued the fear and censorship it had imposed.
A job well done. We are proud of all involved in this. Keep hope alive.
great work all ethiopians who showed on demonstration , we thank you specially journalist Abebe Gelaw for your hard work .Thank you so much.
People power! Congrats
Wonderful my fellow countrymen. This is a rare success. What a turn around!
It great news that they assure the VOA staff to do business as usual. I suspect that Woyane probably bribed Mrs. Dillard to say what she said. Woyane is very silky and will do anything to undermine the free speech.
I thank you Abebe Gelaw for the investigative report. You did super job and thank you.
Ye_mekelle Lij
First, thank you Abeb Gelaw for excellent investigative work & reporting. Also, thank you for the demonistrators for coming out & protesting inbehalf of us who are frustrated by VOA but live faraway to be part of the demostration.
But, as some said above, we can’t dependent on others good will to be free. We have to strngthen our own ESAT & local radio stations. We should put our money where our wish is. If our wish is to make Ethiopia a free & democratic country, let’s be part of the action which leads us to this end. Let’s donate money to ESAT. Let’s participate in our local political or civic organization and make a difference. Make a difference by pulling Ethiopians together to work together & contribute to our goal. With out action & participation nothing will result!
Let’ Go!
I believe the damage is already done. In such circumstances what matters is instilling fear and steailng the confidence of the journalists. That has already been done effectively. When Zenawi made the absurd accusation on VOA, he has succeeded in intimidating the journalists. But the journalists were rest assured that nothing will happen to them as long as they stick to their professional codes and ethics. Therefore, practically the quality of the broadcast had remained unaffected. The recent incidence has shattered all that confidence. Gwen Dillard and the disciplinary action taken on Mr Arnold were instrumental in causing this. To bring the situation back to where it was before (to normalcy) series of action must be taken.
– further investigation must be made if there was any illegal action taken by the bosses
– the proper measure must be taken on offenders (wrong doers)
– BBC or the pertinent body must give an open response to the demands of the Ethiopian government
Well done all those who took part. Well done, Abebe for the investigative journalist. This alone should should win an award as a journalist of the year! Brother Tedla should also be thanked for his courageous campaign. Well done everyone. However, remember that Woyyane never sleeps. They will try again. They were almost near to victory but lost on the last lap. They would try again. Watch out.
Thank you
TPLF must feel the better taste of defeat. This is a victory for all Ethiopians. Wonderful!
I’ve been asked to react to the accuracy of the reporting about the situation involving VOA’s Horn of Africa service, so I decided now is a good time to clear up some misconceptions that have evolved over the past few weeks.
Voice of America’s Horn of Africa service will not be shying away from reporting on Ethiopian politics. Freedom House rates the Ethiopian media as “not free,” and our audiences there can rely on VOA to provide accurate, objective and comprehensive news and information about their government. VOA will provide an array of voices and opinions to allow Ethiopians to make their own decisions about what to believe and who to trust. That is our job and the job of a free media.
As well, our audiences expect VOA to provide news and information that helps them make everyday decisions about their lives. Right now, 4.5 million Ethiopians are impacted by severe drought and famine. VOA has a responsibility to its audience to provide health news and information so people can learn ways to survive under such conditions; technology news that might mitigate the situation, opening new channels of communication; business and economics information to know how much bread costs and what people can do to earn enough to buy it; education reporting that can help people find opportunities to better their lives. These are core reporting topics from a full-service international broadcaster that audiences all across VOA’s language services request most and have come to expect.
The Government of Ethiopia has presented VOA with complaints about our Horn of Africa broadcasting. We are investigating those complaints as we would any complaints from any individual or government, including the US government. When the independent review of those complaints is completed, we will present them to the Ethiopian government, and then make them public. We take seriously the responsibilities outlined in the VOA charter to serve as a reliable source of news; to be accurate, objective and comprehensive; present significant American thoughts and institutions in a balanced and comprehensive way; and present U.S. policies clearly and effectively, including responsible discussion and opinion on these policies. VOA makes decisions about news coverage based on what we believe our audiences need, not based on what any government or special interest group wants. We also make those decisions based on resources available. Budget constraints are an economic and editorial reality. But that should not be confused with self-censorship. We will not censor ourselves nor allow ourselves to be censored. We’re not the voice of the opposition or the Diaspora or the government. We are the Voice of America and will continue to provide news and information that meet our highest standards.
Steve Redisch
VOA Acting Director/Executive Editor
We are still waiting why VOA doesn’t publish the names of persons that Ethiopia Gov doesn’t want to be heard on VOA.Steave if you want us to trust VOA you have to do your part by publishing the names.
Good job, Abebe Gellaw and all freedom loving protestors. VOA must do the right thing. VOA should side with the voiceless people of Ethiopia not with tyranny. Now let all call for an end to the genocide in Ogadenia and other parts of Ethiopia and also do all we can to help our people affected by famine.
I am very happy of the efforts put up by fellow Ethiopians and Ethiopian Americans. But, please do not be giddy victory,. The enemy is still around, and will not go away with this defeat.
Moreover, I don’t think the topic for this article is a well thought out one. Why try to humiliate others who work at VOA. They may have been mislead by Woyane in coming to the understanding they had. Please lets make them and all who are at VOA our friends.
“We’re not the voice of the opposition or the Diaspora or the government” Steve Redisch
This is what we expect VOA to do and in my view this was what VOA has been doing all the years. On any political issue VOA has always invited different views to be aired and that always included the view of the government. But the government officials declined to be interviewed or to participate in discussions and present their cases. Government officials are not used to be scrutinized by questions that come from free press journalists or to defend their arguments in a discussion. That is why they are so much afraid to present their case via VOA. So VOA had no option but to have discussion panels without the government Representatives. Nevertheless, VOA journalist always aired the official views of the government and even always included the arguments of the government in their questions that are targeted to their guests.
So if the Ethiopian government officials have the gut to stand to the truth then they should accept the invitations of VOA and present their case to the wider public. Otherwise simply blaming VOA for their own failure is simply absurd. VOA is not ETV a tool for an absolute one sided propaganda. It is a media in which many different views of the public are entertained. And the dictatorial regime in Addis is not getting it.
But the irony of the whole matter is that a repressive government, which allows not even a slightest dissent on its own government media and which uses its media as 100% one sided propaganda tool of the party and which jails and persecutes journalists cries out for foul when VOA lets dissent and divergent views be aired. The Ethiopian government should have been ashamed to request what it itself has failed miserably namely a fair and balanced reporting. What a shameless government is it?
I do not trust the Voice of America because the US is an ally to a tyrannical regime in Ethiopia. US support for the dictator has played a significant role in keeping us under dictatorship. Ethiopians need build a Voice of Ethiopia that will be our true Voice.
Good job to all who contributed to this victory. This is an exemplary effort of united Ethiopians. I also would like to take this opportunity toe express my appreciation to Ato Abebe Gelaw and his informants for providing us convincing reports on the mater.
Congratulations to All!
Thank you Abebe Gelaw, Ethiopian American Counsel, and all.
Yes we have done this and we all know TPLF is not going to stop here. The effort should focus on taking a step forward and use this issue to bring the Ethiopian forces together. Let us not be content in individual or separate work to achieve the same thing. Let us be united and act fast and with full force from now on.
As far as the real work is concerned, Wondimu Mekonnen, Belay and others have noted above to what follows.
Thank you all
Eskemeche
Now I understand why the Ethiopian government officials were declining to be interviewed by VOA journalists since they can be misquoted easily like what the big boss has done. VOA needs some more houses cleaning if it is determined to get a trust from it audiences. Does VOA think that the problem stops at the big boss? I don’t think so. Most of the journalists have been doing the same stuff but unfortunately they were not able to draw the attention of the Board of Governors to take such majors.
My humble suggestion to the Board of Governors of VOA is that they need to fire some of the existing journalists and hire fresh and neutral journalists. This will help to develop a trust from its audiences. Otherwise, as the saying goes; you can’t teach an old dog new trick.
In your dreams pal! That demand was being made by you for a long time. You are trying to intimidate the journalists that they are always at risk. This is America. You may bully the poor journalists in Ethiopia but not VOA journalists.
Mr Yonas, I have been reading your ignoble comments in other blogs too. Anyway, firing people from their job is not as easy as you do it in Ethiopia. In fact, in Ethiopia you can even pick anyone from the street and put in jail. This is a different world my friend.
Thank you Mr Molla for expressing your disagreements with my comments in a civilized way.
Having said that I wonder why you intend to ignore the possibility of discipline measures against anyone working or living anywhere in the event of violation of governing principles. That is what happened to Mr. Arnold. I hope you know that VOA is also investigating the complaints from the Ethiopian government and hence if VOA comes to the conclusion that the broadcasting was not in line with its principles, which I think is obvious, somebody will be accountable and that may include discipline measures. This is a natural process and I am not sure why you regarded may comment as an attempt to bully the journalists.
Recent developments in the VOA broadcasting justifies that the Board of Governors is convinced that VOA was not working in line with its principles and hence its senior leaders have underlined that the focus is to Ethiopians living in Ethiopia, and its coverage should also give attention to agriculture, women, education etc. I think this is a major breakthrough for VOA and it didn’t come without reason.
I have read the broadcasts translated and submitted by the Ethiopian government. In fact, it is a solid proof of the professional standard of the journalists. I am sure the BBG will soon witness its high standard and quality. The problem is the regime in Ethiopia is getting very paranoid and has lost a touch with the reality outside the country. They want the same dictatorial repression in all parts of the world. To remind you once more, in an objective and balanced journalism you give a chance to every side of the story. That is what the journalists did. The regime in Ethiopia could have participated in those discusssions rather than arrogantly declining the invitation.
As to the accusation, I would like to remind you that the same journalists were absurdly charged with genocide five years ago. I don’t think the BBG will give much weight to whatever Zenawi says though looking into the complaint should be done as a matter of principle.
VOA may be the radio station but do not make a mistake U.S gov gives millions of dollars to TPLF gov in the name of aid.TPLF buys tanks bullets to kill our people.Do not be fooled by U.S gov.We voted for Obama hoping he will change the policy of U.S they had for Ethiopia.Obama still gives millions to TPLF gov TPLF still kills our people everyday.
Mr. Yonas, you got it right. It is time for VOA officials to review their programs. It is so shame to hear a Horn of Africa chief lying. Firing him is not enough, He has to apologies.
DEAR ABEBE GELAW
THANK YOU VERY MUCH OUR SON, OUR BROTHER OUR SAVER OF VOA VOICE FOR The VOICELESS.
YOU FOUGHT AND AT LAST YOU WON THE WAR
WOYANNE IS DEFEATED.
THE WAR AGANIST TPLF GOES ON
ETHIOPIA WILL BE THE WINNER
GOD BLESS YOU ABE
BERTA
BERTA