Ethiopian Court: 129 to stay in custody on treason charges
Dec 28, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — A judge Wednesday ordered prison officials to keep 129 opposition leaders and other people in custody for a week while he considers their bail application on treason, genocide and other charges.
The charges against opposition leaders, journalists and aid workers stem from violence that erupted in November during protests over the disputed May 15 elections that returned Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to power.
Some of the accused have been in prison since Nov. 1, when the government began a crackdown affecting independent media, opposition politicians and human rights activists in an effort to crush the violent protests in which at least 46 people were killed.
In similar protests in June, 42 people died. The protests began after the main opposition parties accused authorities of rigging the polls that returned the governing party to office.
Most of the defense lawyers boycotted the Federal High Court hearing Wednesday in protest at the refusal by prison authorities to let them see their clients to discuss the charges.
A prosecutor opposed bail for the accused Wednesday, saying they are a flight risk. The defendants, however, argued they are political prisoners.
Prosecutors alleged the violence targeted members of the Tigrayan ethnic minority that dominates power in this country of 77 million people. Some were stoned and their houses were burned, they told the court.
Former judges, teachers, lawyers, hairdressers and students were also among the 131 people who were originally charged. Two were released by the court to face separate charges.
About 94 people face genocide charges while 42 are charged with high treason. Other offenses include conspiracy and armed uprising.
Some 32 people who are living in exile will be tried in absentia.
Under Ethiopian law the sentences for the various offenses range from three years imprisonment to death.
About 80 defendants were present in the packed courtroom, including Hailu Shawel, leader of the main opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy.
International charity ActionAid urged the release of two aid workers who are among those who were charged.
Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demessie have done nothing illegal, nor were they involved in any unconstitutional activities, according to an ActionAid statement.
Authorities have said they have freed more than 8,954 detainees who were found not to be directly involved in November’s violence.
(AP/ST)