Ethiopia says CUD leaders’ acts liable to prosecution

Nov 2, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — Leaders of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) are liable to law for violent activities in Addis Ababa bent on dismantling the constitutional system through force, Ethiopian Minister of Justice said.

In a press conference he gave to the official news agency ENA on Wednesday, Assefa Kesito said as the street violence surfaced in Addis Ababa has the objective of overthrowing the constitutional government through force, it would lead to prosecution.

The government had been trying to control illegal moves of the CUD with patience, the Minister said, it has now begun taking the right measure against them as they failed to refrain from their destructive activities.

Assefa said attempting to destruct federal and State governments through instigating street violence is a major crime, adding, judicial bodies will take the appropriate legal measures on leaders of the CUD.

As the illegal moves of the CUD are affecting peace and stability of the people as well as hampering development activities, the public should join hands to prevent such evil attempts, he said.

Wednesday’s violence flared up hours after security officials arrested opposition leaders. All 15 members of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy’s central committee and about 1,000 supporters were taken into custody, a lawyer who works for the opposition party said on condition of anonymity because of security concerns.

But the opposition claims that hundreds of their supporters and members have been arrested in the past two months. At least 42 people were killed by police during protests in June, according to human rights groups.

(ENA/ST)