Addis Neger
Ethiopian Government uses selective jamming to tire out opposition broadcasters. This tactic is part of the strategy designed by the Bereket Simeon-led Communications Office to counter opposition propaganda offensive. It is intended to force broadcasters off air in a cost effective way, according to information obtained from ruling party insiders by Addis Neger. Ethiopia spends millions of dollars a year to jam broadcasters that the government deems are “anti-EPRDF”.
After the launch of ESAT, ruling party officials have been concerned that the opposition might step up its propaganda warfare in the next few years with the help of “foreign governments and institutions”. “The issue of foreign institutions helping Ethiopian opposition groups to launch media organizations is becoming a major concern within EPRDF,” one of our sources said. “Many officials of the party think that the analysis by western governments and institutions that the result of the May elections was partly a function of lack of independent media in Ethiopia would make them support opposition groups to start radio and TV stations as well as websites that reach Ethiopia. The party is bracing to counter what may be intense media warfare.”
EPRDF leaders think that selective, irregular jamming can “wear-out” both the opposition and their financial backers, bankrupt their media organizations and force them off air. This is the least costly of jamming efforts. Based on this tactic, the government will let some broadcasters on air sometimes but jams them unexpectedly and irregularly.
According to our sources, the government considers some Scandinavian countries, Qatar and American institutions such as George Soros’ Open Society Initiative (OSI) as the likeliest to fund opposition media organizations.
