| Ali Abdu, UN Sanctions and VOA’s Shabby Reporting |
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| Written by Michael Abraha | |
| Friday, 19 February 2010 | |
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The Eritrean Minister is doing his job really well, but Peter Clotty is not as he ought to in the interest of fair and responsible journalism. Eritreans cannot have free and balanced news coverage inside their country - a place which only serves as a giant prison for its captive population. ****************************************** Eritrea: Ali Abdu, UN Sanctions and VOA’s Shabby Reporting Michael Abraha On Wednesday (02/17/10), the veteran news organization, Voice of America, behaved like a propaganda mouthpiece for Ali Abdu, the Eritrean Information Minister. Its news story was entitled: “Eritrea Official Denies Asmara’s Involvement in Organizing Protest against UN- Sanctions”. In it, Ali Abdu is telling VOA reporter Peter Clottey that the planned pro-government protest marches near the White House are a result of an “absolutely popular appraisal against the unjust [UN sanctions]..…This resolution is not only targeting Eritreans, it’s targeting the Horn of Africa entirely.” Ali Abdu goes on to allege that the UN has not yet presented any evidence to justify its punitive measures against Eritrea and “people are asking, where is the proof?”
The Eritrean Minister is doing his job really well, but Peter Clotty is not as he ought to in the interest of fair and responsible journalism. Eritreans cannot have free and balanced news coverage inside their country - a place which only serves as a giant prison for its captive population. But in good old, free USA, citizens demand that there be responsible news reporting. VOA could have made the story fairer and more balanced by quickly obtaining the reactions of anyone of the leaders of influential Eritrean civic organizations like the US based Global Eritrean Solidarity or the UK based Citizens for Democratic Rights in Eritrea. Clotty may be too busy writing three to four stories a day. But it is better to do one thorough story or none at all. VOA could also have spoken to a UN spokesperson about Eritrea’s repeated assertions that there is no evidence to support the sanctions. Irresponsible journalism exasperates conflicts especially in today’s Africa.
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