Journalist, educator Reeyot Alemu writes from prison cell

Ethiopian journalist and educator, Reeyot Alemu, who is serving a five year sentence on alleged terrorism charges, has sent a letter from Kaliti Prison.

In her letter, Reeyot asked the public to continue opposing the anti-terrorism laws which she said is being “unfairly used by the ruling party to prolong its stay on power”.  She said the ongoing protests and other peaceful opposition activities should continue. Reeyot urged that the protests should mainly be against the ruling EPRDF government, which she says is the “source” of the countless issues of national concern and problems of Ethiopia.

“We have witnessed that the ruling EPRDF can do anything as long as it assumes it can elongate its grip on power. And the causes of all these acts of the ruling party are racism, lust for power and corruption.” She said.

She stressed that sacrifices should be made by using all methods of modern and peaceful struggle to change the current system.  Reeyot said, when we think of changing the system, we should also deeply think about the ethnic, religious, political ideology and opportunistic divisions that the incumbent has created.

Reeyot advised that fragmented oppositions and protests should be united and all responsible citizens particularly opposition parties should also critically think and discuss about the post EPRDF Ethiopia.

Reeyot won the 2012 International Women’s Media Foundation Courage Award. She was arrested in June 2011 and was indicted of involvement in “a terrorism plot”. Her sentence has been reduced from 14-year prison sentence to five years in January of last year.