Ethiopia grants clemency for 263 prisoners

Sept 12, 2006 (ADDIS ABAB) — Ethiopia has granted its first-ever amnesty to 263 prisoners, commuting the death penalty against 11 of them, state media reported Tuesday.

President Girma Woldegiorgis gave clemency to 237 inmates while the remainder received reduced prison terms to mark the Ethiopian New Year, which falls on September 11.

“The prisoners were provided with the clemency and reduction of prison terms as they have repented and shown good disciplines while they were in prison,” President Girma was quoted as saying. Convicted rapists and those convicted of corruption were not included in the amnesty.

Ethiopian officials were not immediately available for comment on the amnesty and it was not clear if any opposition leaders who were jailed last year were among those freed.

More than 100 independent journalists, opposition leaders and aid workers are on trial for treason and attempted genocide after violent protests following disputed 2005 elections.

London-based human rights group Amnesty International has called the defendants “prisoners of conscience who have not used or advocated violence.”

In January, Britain withheld 50 million pounds (US$87 million; A73 million) in aid to Ethiopia’s government, redirecting it to humanitarian agencies or local governments because of concerns about the central government’s handling of the unrest.

(AP/ST)