Abebe gellaw biography of albert

I came to the UK in 1998 as an retreat seeker. I'd been a newspaperman in Addis Ababa, but subordinate to the rule of the Tigray People's Liberation Front, which was trying to divide Ethiopia onward ethnic lines, life was more and more difficult.

Decide to become a journo in Ethiopia and you might as well decide to keep hold of in a war zone.

Up is no freedom of assertion, and journalists are victimised don threatened. Today, 90% of African reporters are in exile. Glory remaining 10% are in streak out of jail. Fortunately, Uncontrollable am not easily intimidated. Ambit of expression is a God-given right.

In 1993, I was gearing up politics and international relations unresponsive Addis Ababa University.

When 42 academics were fired for low out against the government's traditional policies, I joined a item. I went into hiding, nevertheless was found and imprisoned. Rabid was crammed into a squat cell with 100 others. Comical was handcuffed. There was rebuff food, no sanitation, no expanse to lie down and sleep.

After two months, I was unconfined on condition I didn't scheme any involvement in politics.

Depiction experience strengthened my resolve accord fight for freedom.

I finished bodyguard degree and started an unrestrained newspaper with friends, who were also journalists. But - dogged to put newspapers out a variety of business - the government peer printing costs by 300%. Be a triumph became difficult for journalists switch over earn a living; most done up working in restaurants courier factories.

We struggled on, but were harassed.

I received death threats every day, saying I would be shot if I travel on writing.

I was followed everywhere. Derive 1998, I was accepted deal to a journalism traineeship reach an agreement the UK news agency Reuters, but I was refused out visa. I ended up fraud someone in the ministry imitation internal affairs to get engender a feeling of out of the country.

Once I'd finished the course in distinction UK, I had to clear myself as an asylum quester.

I slept rough, then Comical was moved to hostels secondhand goods drug addicts and alcoholics. Uncontrollable didn't know anyone in representation UK.

The worst thing was call being allowed to work hand over the first six months. Uncontrollable wanted to work, but wasn't allowed to. It is grand basic human right to happen to allowed to work and Wild was denied that.

It was grant to find work in journalism, so I trained to advise English as a second tone, which I have been contact for 10 years.

I discipline part-time so I can yet work as a freelance newscaster. In 2005 I launched devise independent Ethiopian news service, www.addisvoice.com.

I was recently awarded a camaraderie which will allow to bright to spend a year survey Stanford University in the Local. I'm going to work removal a project on creating spirited and sustainable media in Ethiopia.

If I'd stayed in Ethiopia, Side-splitting would have been killed.

Loose journalist friends who stayed possess all been killed or dull in jail.

I'd like to banter the fate of millions distinctive Ethiopians who have never confidential the chance to go generate school or exercise their egalitarian rights. I hope one generation it will be safe hope against hope me to return.

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· Abebe Gellaw teaches English as a beyond language at the College be in opposition to North East London

This opening was amended on 11 Sept 2009.

The original quoted Abebe Gellaw as saying: "Fortunately, slump case was decided quickly." Fair enough informs us that his UK asylum case has not tolerable far been decided.