Ethiopia denies dropping charges for external pressure
March 23, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopia denied that its decision to drop charges against 18 suspects facing conspiracy and other criminal charges was due to external pressure.
The federal prosecutor said the charges against some defendants under the file of Hailu Shawel, leader of opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP) was dropped not because of external pressure or the suits are unworthy of indictment but on the basis of the country’s criminal procedure.
“The prosecutor has decided to drop all the charges of 18 accused after having taken into consideration the degree of participation and the age of these individuals,” deputy prosecutor Shemeles Kemal said. The 18 included five journalists working for the Voice of America and charged in absentia as well as two Ethiopian nationals, one of them a 14-year old.
In a statement to Ethiopian TV he gave here today, Shimels Kemal said dissemination of information regarding last Wednesday 22 March court session by certain media was “groundless which he said misleads the public”.
Shimeles said the cancellation of the charges also focused on major suits and avoiding complication so as to be able to issue justices.
He said dropping the charges would help focus on the remaining six law suits.
Shimeles said the decision by the prosecutor about the dropping of the charges was submitted to the court with a notification that it would exercise the right to file the law suits when ever the need arises.
In a press release issued on 22 March, CPJ said US diplomatic pressure may have played a part. VOA, which is funded by the US government, broadcasts into Ethiopia in the local language, Amharic.
This month, a delegation from the US based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) met with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and asked for the release of the 16 journalists currently in jail in Ethiopia. Fourteen of them are facing anti-state charges.
The CPJ delegation also visited the prison where most journalists are held, and met with some of those charged with treason and genocide.
CPJ welcomed the dropping of these “ridiculous charges against VOA staff,” said Ann Cooper, executive director of the CPJ.
Charges were also dropped against a journalist for the Washington-based radio station Netsanet Le Ethiopia Radio, which is available on the internet and is strongly critical of the Ethiopian government. Charges remain, however, against several other exiled journalists charged in absentia.
The government cracked down on the private press after opposition demonstrations in November 2005 against alleged poll rigging in May elections that returned Meles to power.
At least 46 people were killed in the November clashes with security forces, international news agencies reported. In similar protests in June, at least 42 people died.
The court will continue to hear cases against some 100 opposition leaders, aid workers and journalists on charges that stem from the November violence.
(ST)