Ethiopian officer defects to Germany

Sept 24, 2006 (BERLIN) — Defections in the Ethiopian armed forces continue unabated. The latest to defect is Maj. Tesfaye Yemane, an officer in the Ethiopian army, the opposition Ethiopian Review website reported.

Maj. Tesfaye told Germany radio (Deutsche Welle) the Amharic service Wednesday 20 September that he is seeking political asylum in Germany, where he was taking a six-month course.

Tesfaye, who served in the army for 15 years, said that he decided to defect because the atrocities the Meles regime is currently perpetrating on the people of Ethiopia has bothered his conscience.

Several other officers are taking various steps in opposition to the injustice by the regime against the people, Tesfaye said in his interview with Germany radio.

He added, the people of Ethiopia are currently living in a hell-like condition.

In the past two months alone, two generals, several colonels, and other high-ranking officers have defected, and most of them joined member organizations of the Alliance for Freedom & Democracy.

Brig. Gen. Kemal Geltu defected to Eritrea with with 150 Ethiopian soldiers on 10 August. Since, he was followed by several defections.

(ST)