UK charity says two workers arrested in Ethiopia

Dec 16, 2005 (LONDON) — British development charity ActionAid said Friday two of its workers had been arrested without charge in Ethiopia, and demanded their prompt release.

The charity, which works in Africa, Asia and Latin America, said Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demessie, were among a number of activists held last month but never charged with any offence.

“We believe there is no case to answer and both men should be released immediately,” Fikre Zewdie, director of ActionAid Ethiopia said in a statement issued in London.

“Their continued detention is causing untold psychological suffering for the detained men, their families and fellow ActionAid staff,” he added.

Bekele is a lawyer for ActionAid in Ethiopia, while Demessie is executive director of close partner the Organization for Social Justice in Ethiopia.

Both men campaigned for independent monitoring of national elections held in May, which the government is accused of having manipulated — a charge the government denies.

Police shot dead 36 people in June and at least another 46 in November during renewed protests against the outcome of the elections, and earlier this month a court ordered 23 opposition politicians to remain in custody for two more weeks.

They were due to appear in court on Friday.

(Reuters)