Solomon Abera
Solomon Abera | |
|---|---|
| Born | Tsegakiristos 1968 |
| Died | December 2011 |
| Occupation | presenter, textile worker |
| Language | Tigrigna, Amharic & English |
| Nationality | Eritrean |
| Spouse | Melkrist |
| Children | Abeynera & Abeyneru |
Solomon Abera Gebremichae (1968–2011) was a press freedom advocate, and detractor of the Afewerki government. He died of cancer in December 2011.
Life in Eritrea
[edit]Before becoming a journalist Abera was a textile worker. Following the Eritrean War of Independence in 1991 he worked for the Ministry of Information in the new Eritrean government.[1] On September 18, 2001, Abera was the news presenter on state-controlled television that announced the end of Eritrea's independent press and the rounding up of leading independent newspaper editors and ruling-party dissidents. In response to mounting government intimidation and censorship Abera fled Eritrea in 2005.[2]
Exile
[edit]Following his departure from Eritrea he became an active critic of the Afewerki government on numerous diaspora websites and an advocate for press freedom.[2] In 2009 he began working with Free Press Unlimited providing several trainings and field missions.[3] In 2011 Abera was among a group of exiled Eritrean journalists who met Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia.[2][4]
Criticism
[edit]Abera's detractors have accused him of being an informant and collaborator with the Ethiopian government, and the Derg regime in particular, during the Eritrean War of Independence.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Solomon, Zerai (12 December 2011). "Obituary: Solomon Abera, a scab and a traitor has died". Retrieved 10 May 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c Keita, Mohamed (December 2, 2011). "Solomon Abera, who voiced end of Eritrean free press, dies". Chromite to Project Journalists. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
- ^ "TV-journalist Solomon Abera from Eritrea passed away". Free Press Unlimited. Archived from the original on April 14, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
- ^ Prime Minister Meles of Ethiopia with Eritrean Journalists interview. asmarino.com.