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prison sentences for journalists and legal restrictions on the activities of civil society groups, Ethiopia does not seem to be checking the boxes of good governance requires that donors

UN expert human rights organizations expressed their dismay at what they see as the continuing abuse of terrorism legislation to stifle freedom of expression in Ethiopia.

blunt criticism of the UN can not be so easy to ignore a general system impervious to foreign criticism. Recently licensed rights sudden Rights Watch accused the government force the relocation of thousands of people in the Gambella region.

The UN, however, is not only a non-governmental organization. Despite his criticism, on Thursday may be water on a duck's back to Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia and the strong man for nearly two decades, raises uncomfortable questions for donors to help Ethiopia. The Development Commissioner Andris Andries, last year unveiled the agenda of the EU for change, to put human rights at the center of its development policy.

one of the largest in the Department for International Development (DFID) of international development programs of bilateral aid to Ethiopia - £ 331m per year on average until 2015. The United Kingdom also attaches importance to human rights and DFID recently suspended budget support in Malawi, in part because the government after the Malawi government cracked down on protests and passed legislation to make it more easier for the government to impose restrictions on opponents without legal challenge.

A DFID spokesman said: "The Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and Secretary of State for International Development have expressed concerns with Prime Minister Meles on the recent arrests of leaders the opposition and journalists. "

In the case of Ethiopia, human rights experts spoke after three journalists and two opposition politicians were sentenced last week from 14 years to life in anti-terror laws Ethiopia. This follows the conviction of two Swedish journalists to 11 years in prison last December, but is expected to receive a pardon and freedom. Even Meles realizes that throwing foreign journalists in prison is not good for the country's image.

Ethiopian journalists can not be so lucky. UN experts are particularly concerned about the case of Eskinder Nega, a lawyer and human rights blogger who may face the death penalty if convicted. Nega called for reform on the question of the right to assemble peacefully in public. Another 24 accused will appear in court in March, on various charges under the Terrorism Act, several of them could face the death penalty if convicted.

"Journalists play a vital role in promoting the accountability of officials to investigate and inform the public about violations of human rights," said Frank La Rue, Special Rapporteur of the UN on freedom of speech, which stressed that "should not face criminal prosecution for carrying out their legitimate work, let alone be severely punished. Ethiopia is obliged to guarantee the right of all individuals to freedom of opinion and expression under international law of human rights. "

criticism of the United Nations in Ethiopia coincides with a case that went before the Supreme Court of Ethiopia, on Friday. The court shall consider the request of the Council of Human Rights (HRCO), the oldest organization of the Ethiopian Human Rights, to allow an appeal against the freezing of their bank accounts. The accounts were frozen after the introduction of the Charities and Societies Proclamation law (CSO), adopted by the Parliament of Ethiopia in 2009, under the guise of regular national and international NGOs.

"once vibrant civil society in Ethiopia has been severely damaged due to legal assistance and other work in government-imposed," said Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project and other groups in a statement. "The law of CSOs is just one of a series of laws passed since 2008 to provide the legal basis for restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of association. "

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