Eskinder Remembered in Washington DC

The prominent Ethiopian journalist—Eskinder Nega- and others who have been in Prison accused of terrorism related offences under the controversial anti-terrorism proclamation were remembered at an event organized on September 15 in Washington DC.

The event was attended by immediate families of Eskinder Nega and human right activists living in the metropolitan Washington area. The event was jointly organized by Amnesty International North DC Branch and the Free Eskinder Nega movement. One of the lead organizers –Miss Azeb –told our reporter that the event is geared towards drawing attention to the plight of journalists and political leaders who are languishing in Ethiopian prisons on vague or false charges. This event organized coinciding with the one year anniversary of Eskinder’s incarceration is one of the multitudes of similar events under way to put pressure on the US government to ask for the immediate release of prisoners of conscious in Ethiopia.

The organizers have planned a similar event for next month to deplore the illegal land grab going on in Ethiopia.

Eskinder is the winner of PEN USA’s prestigious ‘Freedom to Write’ award for 2012. His wife – Serkalem Fasil—who is a famous journalist on her own right has received the prize in person at an event organized in New York on Eskendir’s behalf earlier this year

Eskinder is currently serving an 18 year sentence he was dealt under a highly controversial charge of inciting the public for overthrow of the government.