Ethiopia continues to present videotape evidence in opposition trial
May 31, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — The Ethiopian federal prosecutor today presented to the Federal High Court a sequel of videotape evidences deposited against the leader of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP) Hailu Shawel and others who faces charges of treason.
Her prosecution videotape evidence litigates that defendants Dr Hailu Araia, Dr Berhanu Nega and Debebe Eshetu made instigation for violence during a meeting at the National Lottery Hall on 28 August 2005.
The prosecutor told the court that four named defendants in asking participants of a meeting for or against joining parliament were suggesting fall of the government.
In addition the prosecutor said the agitation for woredas (districts) one and nine were the writing of the defendants listed one to 39 in the name of their organization. The prosecutor concluded that the meeting was meant by the defendants to dismantle the constitution and the constitutional system through violence.
The court having accepted the videotape evidence that run for one hour and 26 minutes for trials adjourned until this coming Thursday 1 June for the hearing of another sequel two the prosecution video tape evidences.
In Tuesday 30 May session the prosecutor presented a videotaped evidence which it says shows the defendants who had meet at woreda 17 with intend to alter the constitution in an illegal manner.
Speaking about the evidence presented to the Second Criminal Bench, the prosecutor said the videotape shows one of the defendants, Engineer Gizachew Shiferaw, while agitating that the constitution system could not help bring about peaceful and democratic transition of power as it is a system imposed on the people.
The prosecutor said the defendants is seen while agitating a public not to accept the decision of the National Electoral Board that is legally mandated to investigate electoral complaints and to officially announce the results of the election.
The trial of the opposition leaders started on Tuesday 2 May.
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.
On Friday 19 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 videotaped evidences pertain to the supreme council meeting of the CUDP held on October 9, 2005.
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.
(ST)