Ethiopian opposition leader’s driver harassed by security service – report

ADDIS ABABA, Aug 8, 2005 (Addis Zena) — The driver of Hailu Shawel, chairman of opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), has been beaten and threatened at gun point by government security men.

Hailu Shawel’s driver was beaten and threatened at gun point by security personnel on Saturday 30 Hamle — date in Ethiopian calendar, corresponding to 6 August.

On that fateful date the driver was taking Hailu Shawel to Global Hotel for a party meeting. When they reached the hotel and the driver was trying to park the vehicle, one of the security personnel who had been trailing the chairman’s car threatened the driver and told him that things would be bad if he banged his car.

While the driver tried to park his car and ignore the threat, the same man spit on him and pointed his gun at the driver. However, when the driver tried to defend himself by raising his arm the assailant’s gun fell into Shawel’s car. Then the security man ran to his car and brought an AK-47 machine gun and beat the driver.

If the people who were around did not interfere and separate the two, the driver would have sustained more injuries. The security man, while beating the driver, was also threatening him saying that he would lose his life if he did not alienate himself from the opposition.

One of the three cars that was trailing Mr Hailu tried to hit him while heading to the hotel after alighting from his car.

Material provided by the BBC Monitoring Service.