Ethiopia to sue CUD leaders for masterminding riots in capital
Nov1, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — The Ethiopian Ministry of Information disclosed that the government began filing legal charges against the organizations and the leaders masterminding the street violence.
In a statement it issued on Tuesday, the ministry said the teaching learning was disrupted as a group of people organized by opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) on the mission of violence threw stones towards the Addis Ketema secondary school and the students.
It said these CUD missionaries of evil, taking advantage of the commotion created when the students rushed out in fear and parents came to meet them, have assaulted low enforcing members and damaged public property by throwing stones and using machetes.
It said, in the assaults two police members lost their lives and 20 sustained heavy and light injuries. From the side of the rioters 6 have died and 23 received heavy and light injuries, it said.
It said the government has engaged in preventing such violence with patience to control illegal situations such as this. But, now that the situation is strained to the limit, the government has begun taking practical measures after making decisions. It said heartrending loss of lives and property damage were incurred in the CUD-made street violence.
In line with the decision, the major figures of CUD leadership who were masterminding and directing the street violence will be made to defend their cases while being in custody, it said.
Activities to detain these major players of the riot began on Tuesday, and these figures include Hailu Shawl, Berhanu Nega, Hailu Araya, Professor Mesfin Woldemariam, Major Getachew Mengiste and Colonel Tamiru Gulilat.
The statement said, although all members of the CUD are accountable for the violence, the government believes that those willing to back off from the path of violence should be given a chance.
It said some organizations and some members of their leadership as well as some editors of private newspapers who have been mouthpieces and key implementers of CUD’s directions would also be made to defend their cases while in detention.
It is decided, thus, that the measure should be limited to the forenamed individuals who were not willing to learn from mistakes, according to the statement.
(ENA/ST)