INSA asked to take measures against ESAT, other media
ESAT News
October 22, 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.