Ethiopia pardons 31 prisoners from election violence
By Tesfa-alem Tekle
July 9, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopian authorities on Tuesday freed 31 prisoners who were arrested for alleged involvement in street violence over the 2005 post-election unrest. An amnesty committee said.
The freed prisoners are members and supporters of Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUD), the largest opposition which made significant gains during the 2005 parliamentary election.
The amnesty committee said it is in the process of negotiations with government officials to grant pardon to the remaining 40 members and supporters of CUD, who are still in prison.
In 2005, CUD members and supporters took to the streets of Addis Ababa over the contested results of May 15 parliamentary elections leading to deadly street violence between riot police and protesters.
The violence which returned an international outcry left at least 46 people dead and thousands including top political figures of the country arrested.
In July 2007 the Ethiopian government pardoned 38 of the countries top opposition leaders who have been charged with treason and genocide.
The move was lauded by international community and human right organizations as a breakthrough to the nation’s reconciliation and building democracy.
(ST)
biiftuu
Ethiopia pardons 31 prisoners from election violence
Congratulation for those who are freed.
My question is for ato Meles, what about thousands of Oromos in your hell prison? Would you like to free them or do you want OLA involve in the issue? I know you will jump out of the window as soon as OLA is close to your comfort zone. Free the Oromo people! They are innocent! You eat and graz their resource and you prison them. How inhuman you are?
Yaadasaa Dafaa
Ethiopia pardons 31 prisoners from election violence
Meles knows that the Oromoos have to be treated with an iron fist whether in prison or out in the public. It is a shame for those who are begging Meles to release imprisoned Oromoos. Because no real and true freedom could be obtained from all the prisons through the kindness of the violators of human Rights and oppressors, neither through begging or surrendering to them. It will be obtained through sustained unflinching perseverances
despite the periodical ups and downs. Those fiends or enemies alike; who may believe that the Nation of Oromoo could be easily terrorized (by imprisoning or murdering them, which is not new) to halt their National quest for freedom and Democracy, think it over again. We are here for a long ride.
Ulfaadhaa
Yaadasaa