Ethiopia Accused of Detaining Activists to Deter Uprising...

Ethiopia Accused of Detaining Activists
to Deter Uprising

24 March, 2011 | Peter Heinlein (VOA)
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Ethiopia has detained dozens

of political activists as part of

what opposition groups say is

a crackdown aimed at

preventing a North African or

Middle Eastern style popular

uprising. Our correspondent

in Addis Ababa says the

crackdown is focused on the

politically sensitive Oromia region, home to more than one third of the
country’s population.

Oromo opposition leaders say as many as 100 of their party members
have been arrested in federal police sweeps over the past two weeks.
They say many of those detained are charged with minor offenses such
as quarreling with neighbors.

Bekele Gerba, deputy leader of the Oromo Federalist Democratic
Movement says the arrests have spread fear among opposition activists
in Ethiopia’s largest region.

"Anyone who speaks the language and does not belong to the ruling
party is a suspect and can be taken to prison any time," said Bekele
Gerba. "They want to show, if you don’t belong to us or you happen to
support any opposition, this is your fate tomorrow. This is how we are
going to drag you into prison. So people are intimidated now."

Bekele says opposition groups see the crackdown as a warning to
anyone hoping to inspire a popular uprising like those sweeping other
countries in the region.

"They are worried about what is going on around the world and what is
happening to dictators around the world, and it is because of that that
mass arrest and intimidation are going around," he said.

Oromia region officials flatly rejected any political motive behind the
arrests. Spokesman Mesfin Assefa says the government respects people’
s right to political dissent.

"There is rule of law in this country," said Mesfin Assefa. "There is due
process of law. Everybody who violates the law or who breaches the
trust of public will be liable. If certain guys commit crime, they will be
liable for their offenses."

The arrests come at a time when government officials are admittedly
nervous about unrest in the region. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi this
month said he was especially worried about political turmoil in Yemen,
just 150 kilometers from Ethiopia’s northern border. Mr. Meles said
some domestic opposition groups were trying to incite a copycat
uprising.

"We are aware that some parties who are legally operating in Ethiopia
are praying this happens, and maybe playing a few games to try to
accelerate such an event," said Prime Minister Zenawi. "So we are
watching these issues carefully."

A sign of the government’s growing unease has been a partial
resumption of jamming of VOA language service broadcasts to Ethiopia.
The broadcasts are often jammed before Ethiopia’s elections, but the
jamming stops after the voting.

Opposition leader Bekele says recent broadcast have been audible,
except for loud noises that disrupt the signal when political issues are
discussed.

"We have a lot of problem even to listen to the VOA," he said. "The
jamming. There are experts who are standing by and ready to jam the
wave every time if there is any political issue. Immediately the jamming
starts. It has become virtually impossible to listen to the VOA on the
radio. It is only possible on the Arabsat satellite."

VOA last year began broadcasts to Ethiopia by the Arabsat satellite after
Prime Minister Meles authorized jamming its short wave radio signals.
The VOAnews.com website is also blocked to Ethiopian internet users.

VOA is the only international radio service broadcasting in three main
Ethiopian languages, Amharic, Afan Oromo and Tigrayan

Courtesy