Police arrest opposition members in western Ethiopia

Feb 26, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopian authorities arrested opposition members accused of subversive activities in western Ethiopia. The Ethiopian TV said the “anti-peace forces” collaborated with the Ormo rebels and the Eritrean government.

The term “anti-peace forces” is often used by the government to refer to members of the main opposition political party, the Coalition for United and Democracy (CUDP), which claims elections last year were rigged.

Nearly all the CUDP leadership are among a group of 131 opposition supporters, journalists and others facing treason and other charges after being accused of fomenting a coup d’etat through protests against the May 15 polls.

The deputy administrator of East Welega Zone (in western Ethiopia), Kena Yadeta, told reporters that “lives were lost, property destroyed and livestock bunt alive inside their enclosures during raids by members and supporters of some political organizations that professed to be waging peaceful struggle, in the zone’s Abay Chomen and Guduru districts”.

The raids were carried out in collaboration with the “sha’biyyah” (Eritrean government) and Oromo Liberation Front (OLF).

He said members and supporters of some political organizations were carrying out the “atrocious criminal acts with aim of taking power illegally by subverting the constitution and overthrowing the government by force”.

He said two people were killed and six others wounded in the attacks, adding that a number of residential houses and vehicles were also destroyed and livestock burnt to death. He said the anti-peace forces employed soldiers of the former army of Mengistu Hailemariam government, OLF members and outcast vagrants.

Kena praised area residents for cooperating with government security forces in thwarting destructive missions. He said the opposition members and their weapons were captured, and the process of taking the “anti-peace forces” to court was being speeded up.

The commander of Ambo town police in West Shewa Zone, Inspector-General Anteneh Mengistu, also said eight people were wounded and property destroyed by 13 bombs thrown at residential houses by opposition forces at various times. He said suspects were facing the law and peace was restored in the area.

(ST)