Freedom of the Mass Media and Access to Information Proclamation No ...
21 of 23
4)
5)
http://www.ethiopian-law.com/federal-laws/substantive-law-legislations...
The court shall pronounce its judgment within one month from the commencement of the trial.
Where the accused person has not been duly summoned because he was not found at his address, the court shall
order the publication of the summons notifying that the hearing shall proceed in his absence should he fail to appear
within seven days.
6)
Where the person is not satisfied by the judgment given in default, he may lodge an appeal in accordance with
Article 44.
7)
save otherwise for prosecutions for false accusations and defamation against the constitutionally established
legislative, executive or judicial authorities prosecutions for defamation and false accusation committed against individuals
or private organization through the mass media shall be instituted and conducted by the private complainants.
8)
The court shall, cause the copy of the judgment it renders pursuant to sub-article (4) of this article to be sent to the
Ministry of Information or concerned Information Bureau of the Regional state.
44. Appeal
1)
The party who is aggrieved by the decision of the court shall lodge his memorandum of appeal to the appellate
court within thirty days of the rendering of the decision, and the rending court shall give the appellant copies of the
decision within 24 hours of receiving the party's notice to appeal.
2)
The appellate court shall give decision within 10 days of the receiving the memorandum of appeal.
45. Penalties
1)
Anyone who has contravened the provisions of articles 7(1)-(3) shall be punished with a fine of not less than 20,000
birr and not exceeding 200,000 birr.
2)
Any publisher of a periodical or broadcaster who, in violation of article 6(2) ,failed to appoint a responsible editor,
failed to comply with obligations set out under article9(6) or violates the obligations provided under article 10 shall be
punished with a fine up to 15,000 birr
3)
Where an editor in chief or program editor has improperly failed to publish or broadcast a reply or correction sent
to the mass media pursuant to article 40 of this Proclamation, shall be fined up to 15,000 birr.
4)
Any person who violates article 6(1) or article 8 may be fined up to 15,000 birr.
5)
If in an offence committed through a mass media the defendant is convicted, the court may ,up on request by the
party ,issue an order for the verdict to be published in that mass media outlet.
6)
The court may issue an injunction forbidding further dissemination of mass media output in respect of which a
conviction or order of impoundment has been issued.
46. Statute of Limitation
1)
Subject to Article 28(1) of the Constitution, no criminal proceeding for an offence committed through a periodical
may be instituted after the lapse of one year from the date when the offending matter was published.
2)
For broadcasters, the period in sub-article (1) shall be six months from the date when the program was broadcast.
Translate
Share
My Bookmarks
10/01/2011 4:15 PM