Charges filed against Ethiopian opposition activists

Dec 19, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopian prosecutors have charged 131 politicians, journalists and civil society members, who were detained in a crackdown on opposition groups in early November, with crimes ranging from genocide to treason.

The alleged offences relate to widespread post-election violence in which at least 46 people were killed in clashes between demonstrators and security forces. In June, another 42 died in similar protests over the parliamentary elections, which were held on 15 May.

Some 15 separate charges were presented on Friday in a packed and heavily guarded courtroom. They included conspiracy, causing armed uprising and trying to subvert the constitution.

The maximum sentences for the crimes range from 25 years in prison to the death penalty, according to Ethiopia’s penal code. Minimum sentences for some of the charges are three years imprisonment.

“The court has received the charges against 131 defendants, including those before me,” said Judge Adil Ahmed.

None of the defendants had formally been charged because of delays by legal officials in sifting evidence and preparing charge sheets, the judge added.

Acts of genocide, according to Ethiopia’s penal code, include killing, causing displacement of persons and issuing propaganda “with the interest to destroy in whole or part a nation.”

Among those facing the charges are 10 elected members of parliament.

The British minister for African affairs, David Triesman, who visited Ethiopia on Saturday and met Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, expressed concern over the recent political unrest and called for the trials to be transparent.

“It is now a matter for the courts to deal with the charges in a way that is fair, quick, and transparent and where it is absolutely plain to the international community as well as the people of Ethiopia that the process is completely fair,” he said. Triesman also met opposition leaders and families of those held by police.

“In political differences it is vital that they are resolved by political dialogue,” he said. “Political differences themselves are never resolved in courtrooms.”

Triesman also announced that Britain was reviewing its entire £90 million (US $159 million) annual aid package to Ethiopia because of political turmoil in the country, although no aid will be cut.

At present £50 million ($88 million) has been put on hold while Britain looks into the possibility of diverting the funds from the Ethiopian government’s budget to international charities and the UN.

“We are going to make sure that all the aid gets to the people that need it,” said Triesman.

Fifty-five of the detainees were in court, including leaders of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), who lawyers said are continuing their hunger strike to protest their incarceration.

Many of the hunger strikers, including the mayor of Addis Ababa, Berhanu Nega, and 75-year-old human rights activist Mesfin Wolde Mariam, appear to have lost considerable weight since their last court appearance on 1 December.

CUD leader Hailu Shawel was not in court, as he was receiving medical treatment in the police hospital, the judge told the courtroom full of family members and diplomats.

Prosecutor Abraham Tetemke said all the defendants would face the same charges. He also urged the judge to deny bail to the detainees because of the gravity of the case.

A bail hearing is scheduled on Wednesday, during which the defendants will also be presented with copies of the charge sheets. Defence lawyers said the defendants would then be given 25 days to plead guilty or guilty to the various charges.

A crackdown on the independent media, opposition politicians and civil and human rights activists began on 1 November during demonstrations protesting the outcome of parliamentary elections held on 15 May.

The CUD says the authorities of rigging the polls that returned the ruling party to power.

On Tuesday Prime Minister Meles Zenawi told parliament that approximately 3,000 people would face charges in connection with the disturbances.

Ethiopia’s human rights council issued a statement on Friday calling for the CUD leaders to give up their hunger strike. “It will affect your health, cause worry to your families and friends and might affect the democratisation of the whole country,” it said.

International charity ActionAid also called for the release of two anti-poverty activists who are among those who were charged. Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demessie had done nothing illegal, nor were they involved in any unconstitutional activities, it said in a statement.

(IRIN)