ESAT News
October 20, 2014
An edited discussion document prepared by the Federal Affairs Ministry of Ethiopia and tabled for the discussion of the members of the ruling EPRDF has been seen by ESAT. The document seeks the government’s technology spy agency, Information Network Security Agency (INSA) to take measures against ESAT Television and Radio, the Voices of America and German, also asks the government to found religious associations in the names of the youth and intellectuals and support the establishment of institutions that train students in religious education with a certificate and degree programs.
The 16 page document prepared for the members of the EPRDF council suggests recommendations on religious extremism, which it considers is a “threat to the government’s existence”.
Under the sub section of saving the youth from unemployment, the document states that unemployment within the youth has been a threat to the government since the 2005 election which still is within the educated and landless youth farmers. It notes that the messages that are disseminated by ‘forces of destruction’ need to be well defended and countered with efficient messages.
Urging that the transmissions of ESAT, VoA and Deutsch Welle should be controlled, the document states that the focus should be on the points that are raised by forces that conduct political businesses in the name of religion using these media. Especially successive measures need to be taken against their members at home, it adds.
The report states that each religious belief and institution does not contradict with the constitutional system and those that go out of that line are first given an advice and if they do not improve, legal actions will be taken. Preachers of all religious groups would be given identity cards.
Religious extremism has been increasing because of the absence of an educated human resource that can fill the gap of religious knowledge, therefore an institution that trains from short term courses to regular programs is necessary, the document recommends.
