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Ethiopia must end crackdown on government critics
16 September, 2011 | Amnesty International
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The five were arrested in Addis Ababa on 14 September. They are
all accused of involvement with the banned Ginbot 7 group.
All five have been vocal in their criticism of the government, and had
recently undertaken public or written activities calling for reform.
At least 100 opposition politicians and five journalists have been
detained in Ethiopia since March. All have been accused of
terrorism-related offences.
“The list goes on and on,” said Michelle Kagari, Deputy Director for
Africa at Amnesty International. “The Ethiopian authorities are using
counter-terrorism measures to stifle dissent.”
“It is not plausible that countless members of the political opposition
and independent journalists are engaged in terrorist activities”, she
said.
The five men arrested on 14 September are: Journalist Eskinder
Nega, Andualem Arage, Nathanial Mekonnen and Asaminew
Berhanu, all senior officials of the Unity for Democracy and Justice
party, and Zemene Molla, the general secretary of the Ethiopian
National Democratic party.
All five reportedly appeared in court on 16 September and were
remanded in custody for 28 days while the police carry out their
investigation.
They are being detained at Maikelawi, the Federal Police Crime
Investigation and Forensic Department in Addis Ababa which is
infamous for the frequent use of torture against pre-trial detainees.
Earlier this month five Ethiopian journalists were charged under the
anti-terrorism legislation while another journalist, Argaw Ashine,
was forced to flee the country, after he was mentioned in a
Wikileaks cable, and was summoned by officials from the
Government Communication Affairs Office and the Federal Police
for interrogation over his sources.
Well-known actor and opposition party member Debebe Eshetu
was arrested on 8 September.
In late August and early September nine opposition party members
were arrested, along with 20 other people, on terrorism accusations.
These included Bekele Gerba, a teacher at Addis Ababa University
and deputy chairman of the Oromo Federal Democratic Movement,
and Olbana Lelisa, an official with the Oromo People’s Congress
party. Both men had met with Amnesty International delegates just
days before their arrests.
In March this year at least 89 members of the two Oromo political
parties, were arrested. Many of them were former members of
parliament, and had campaigned in the 2010 elections.
“There is clearly a pattern of arresting and detaining groups that are
critical of the government, particularly opposition politicians and
media,” said Michelle Kagari. “Rounding up and detaining people in
this manner sends a chilling warning to other opposition politicians
and journalists to either cease exercising their right to freedom of
expression altogether, self-censor, or risk arrest,” she added.
Eskinder Nega has been detained on several previous occasions.
Eskinder Nega, Andualem Arage and Debebe Eshetu were tried on
treason charges between 2005 and 2007, along with 129 other
opposition politicians, journalists and civil society activists, after the
post-election protests of 2005.
All three were found guilty, but freed by presidential pardon. They
have been under close surveillance by the government ever since
their release in late 2007.
“It seems the Ethiopian authorities are intent on destroying the last
vestiges of free expression in Ethiopia,” said Michelle Kagari. “But
locking up those who hold different opinions not only violates
Ethiopia’s obligations under domestic and international law, but also
undermines Ethiopia’s efforts to ensure peace and stability in the
country.”
Courtesy
16 September, 2011 | Amnesty International
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- The Ethiopian authorities must end
their continuing crackdown on
dissent, Amnesty International said
today, following the arrest of a
prominent journalist and four
senior opposition politicians on
accusations of terrorism-related
activities.
The five were arrested in Addis Ababa on 14 September. They are
all accused of involvement with the banned Ginbot 7 group.
All five have been vocal in their criticism of the government, and had
recently undertaken public or written activities calling for reform.
At least 100 opposition politicians and five journalists have been
detained in Ethiopia since March. All have been accused of
terrorism-related offences.
“The list goes on and on,” said Michelle Kagari, Deputy Director for
Africa at Amnesty International. “The Ethiopian authorities are using
counter-terrorism measures to stifle dissent.”
“It is not plausible that countless members of the political opposition
and independent journalists are engaged in terrorist activities”, she
said.
The five men arrested on 14 September are: Journalist Eskinder
Nega, Andualem Arage, Nathanial Mekonnen and Asaminew
Berhanu, all senior officials of the Unity for Democracy and Justice
party, and Zemene Molla, the general secretary of the Ethiopian
National Democratic party.
All five reportedly appeared in court on 16 September and were
remanded in custody for 28 days while the police carry out their
investigation.
They are being detained at Maikelawi, the Federal Police Crime
Investigation and Forensic Department in Addis Ababa which is
infamous for the frequent use of torture against pre-trial detainees.
Earlier this month five Ethiopian journalists were charged under the
anti-terrorism legislation while another journalist, Argaw Ashine,
was forced to flee the country, after he was mentioned in a
Wikileaks cable, and was summoned by officials from the
Government Communication Affairs Office and the Federal Police
for interrogation over his sources.
Well-known actor and opposition party member Debebe Eshetu
was arrested on 8 September.
In late August and early September nine opposition party members
were arrested, along with 20 other people, on terrorism accusations.
These included Bekele Gerba, a teacher at Addis Ababa University
and deputy chairman of the Oromo Federal Democratic Movement,
and Olbana Lelisa, an official with the Oromo People’s Congress
party. Both men had met with Amnesty International delegates just
days before their arrests.
In March this year at least 89 members of the two Oromo political
parties, were arrested. Many of them were former members of
parliament, and had campaigned in the 2010 elections.
“There is clearly a pattern of arresting and detaining groups that are
critical of the government, particularly opposition politicians and
media,” said Michelle Kagari. “Rounding up and detaining people in
this manner sends a chilling warning to other opposition politicians
and journalists to either cease exercising their right to freedom of
expression altogether, self-censor, or risk arrest,” she added.
Eskinder Nega has been detained on several previous occasions.
Eskinder Nega, Andualem Arage and Debebe Eshetu were tried on
treason charges between 2005 and 2007, along with 129 other
opposition politicians, journalists and civil society activists, after the
post-election protests of 2005.
All three were found guilty, but freed by presidential pardon. They
have been under close surveillance by the government ever since
their release in late 2007.
“It seems the Ethiopian authorities are intent on destroying the last
vestiges of free expression in Ethiopia,” said Michelle Kagari. “But
locking up those who hold different opinions not only violates
Ethiopia’s obligations under domestic and international law, but also
undermines Ethiopia’s efforts to ensure peace and stability in the
country.”
Courtesy
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