Ethiopia grants amnesty to 60,000 prisoners in last seven years
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
August 13, 2010 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Ethiopian government has granted an official pardon to more than 60,000 citizens since the country’s amnesty board was established in 2003, state Ministry of Justice (MOJ) said.
In collaboration with local non-governmental organisation, Prison Fellowship Ethiopia (PFE), the Ethiopia MoJ this week held a consultative forum to prison commissioners and to regional justice bureau officials.
During the meeting, state minister Birhanu Hailu said the constitution of Ethiopia allows amnesty to prisoners and accordingly around 60,000 prisoners have been freed since 2003. He added that the amnesty grants by Ethiopia are exemplary to other countries.
Prison Fellowship Ethiopia (PFE) President Daniel Gebresilase said that the pardons had been given to those who shodiscipline creating golden opportunity for the freed prisoners to once again repay their community by actively participating in developmental endeavors. The president further noted that the pardoning will relax space to some crowded prisons.
Prison Fellowship Ethiopia (PFE) is an indigenous non-profit making, non-political, non-governmental organization established by a group of innovative volunteers in 1992.
It works very closely with the Federal and Regional Prison Administration. Since its inception, it has intervened meaningfully in numerous prisons all over the country. PFE uses holistic strategy to reach the justice sectors of the country with particular emphasis on prison system.
The administration was launched in 1992 with a mandate to change and improve the lives of prisoners, ex-prisoners, victims and families of prisoners across nation whereby they get access to rehabilitate, once prisoners are converted and ready to serve their country after release from prison.
PFE says that it works to enhance the capacity of prison and justice sectors for better execution of justice and handling of prisoners to a level of accepted international standard and provides appropriate trainings and workshops to prison officials on human right issues.
The Ethiopian government has taken a number of steps to improve prison facilities, to enhance the capacity of justice bodies and also to improve treatment of prisoners although doesn’t yet satisfactorily meet international standards.
After the 2005 post-election violence, the country granted amnesty to many political figures, opposition leaders, rebels and to others.
The Horn of Africa country, led by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, is accused by many groups of doing little to ensure human rights. The Ethiopian government has been accused of continuing to exercise wide violation of human rights in contrary to constitution and law; an allegation Ethiopia rejects.
According to a US State Department report, Ethiopia is home to long list of human rights abuses:
Human rights abuses reported during the year [2009] included unlawful killings, torture, beating, abuse and mistreatment of detainees and opposition supporters by security forces, often acting with evident impunity; poor prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention, particularly of suspected sympathizers or members of opposition or insurgent groups; police, administrative and judicial corruption; detention without charge and lengthy pretrial detention; infringement on citizens’ privacy rights, including illegal searches; use of excessive force by security services in an internal conflict and counterinsurgency operations; restrictions on freedom of the press; arrest, detention, and harassment of journalists; restrictions on freedom of assembly and association; violence and societal discrimination against women and abuse of children; female genital mutilation (FGM); exploitation of children for economic and sexual purposes; trafficking in persons; societal discrimination against persons with disabilities and religious and ethnic minorities; and government interference in union activities, including harassment of union leaders.
(ST)