Ethiopia presents video-taped evidences against CUDP leaders
May 21, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — The Ethiopian Federal Prosecution on Friday 19 May continued presenting video-taped evidences to the Federal High Court looking into the charges against the leader of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP) Hailu Shawel and others who are charged with treason.
Ethiopian government accuses the jailed opposition figures of conspiring with Eritrean-backed rebels to foment a coup by inciting violence after disputed elections last year. The trial of the opposition leaders started on Tuesday 2 May.
The Prosecution presented 2-hrs-and-50-minutes of video-taped evidences which, it says, will substantiate the charges filed in the 1st, 2nd, 5th and 7th counts. The video-taped evidences pertain to the supreme council meeting of the CUDP held on October 9, 2005.
According to the Prosecutor, the evidences show the accused while articulating preconditions such as the change of existing procedures and institutions, which it said, were intended to take time to orchestrate preliminary activities to realize their “criminal ambitions”.
The Prosecutor said the evidence shows the 12th, 6th and 11th suspects suggesting as precondition the re-structuring of the National Electoral Board in a manner that would guarantee its independence, the fair utilization state media, the issuance of law allowing for the establishment of private electronic media, the independence of courts as well as for the immediate establishment of an independent body to enquire into the June 8, 2005 incidents, the official ENA reported.
The suggestions also included the revoking of laws and procedures issued after May 15 related to the conduct of the House of Peoples Representatives and the Addis Ababa City Administration; the release of political prisoners; the reopening of Offices sealed off, halting of harassment of opposition party members.
It also included a recommendation put forward by the 11th suspect for the establishment of a National Unity Government, the Prosecutor said.
These evidences are, according to the prosecutor, agreements that served as the foundation for the crimes stated in the 1st, 5th, and 7th counts.
The prosecutor said the video-taped evidence also features a decision by the accused to prepare detailed program to execute the crimes indicated in the 1st, 2nd, 5th and 7th counts. The Court was adjourned for the coming Monday, 22 May 2006.
The 111 — 101 individuals, four political parties and six newspapers — all stand charged with conspiracy to foment a coup, while 54 face more serious charges ranging from high treason to genocide that could draw death sentences.
Those charged with high treason, including nearly the entire leadership of the opposition CUDP, have been specifically linked to the previously unknown Ethiopian Patriotic Front.
Laying out the state’s case against the 111 defendants on the opening day of their trial, prosecutor Shimeles Kemal said the group had worked with rebels supported by Asmara to destabilize the government in Addis Ababa.
“They have been collaborating with a clandestine Ethiopian organization, the Ethiopian Patriotic Front, which is supported by the Eritrean government and has openly declared an armed struggle to overthrow the government,” he said.
Despite calls from aid donors for the release of the accused and allegations of political motivation in the case, Ethiopian government says the defendants had inspired unrest after the May 15, 2005 polls.
“All defendants had the same criminal objective: to overthrow and dismantle the duly established government through violence, this is their common objective,” prosecutor said. “All the defendants participated in instigating riots.”
(ST)