One of Ethiopia’s independent weekly newspapers claimed that the government has requested it to reveal its information sources for its news.

According to the information posted on the newspaper’s website, the request was made on a letter sent to Awramba Times on August 26, 2010 by the Ethiopian Broadcasting Authority. Signed by the authority’s director general, Desta Tesfaw, the letter requested the newspaper to unveil its news sources until September 3, 2010.

“The Ethiopian constitution stipulates that a journalist does not have an obligation to reveal his/her source even for the courts,” the website stated. “The request of the Broadcast Authority violates the constitution under the guise of a ‘regulatory’ mandate. This action surprises the employees of the newspaper,” the website stated.

The Ethiopian Broadcasting Authority has taken over the licensing, follow up and regulatory works from the former Ministry of Information.

Awramba Times disclosed that the Authority also requested a financial report from the sale and advertisements of the newspaper. “This is beyond the mandate of the Authority,” the statement in the website said. “This should be asked by the Revenue and Customs Authority, not by the Broadcast Authority.”

ADDIS NEGER