Defence of Ethiopian opposition leader rejects translation of accusation

March 5, 2007 (ADDIS ABABA) — The defence lawyers of the Ethiopian opposition leader rejected today a translated copy — made by the accusation — of a press statement given by Eng. Eng Hailu Shawl in English to the American press.

The defence of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP) leader rejected, Monday March 5, a translation of a press statement made in English to the foreign press handed out by the prosecutor

The defence lawyer further argued that the document has borne sign of the translator as being Walta Information Centre (WIC) which is recognized as a media organization, but may be doubted as a licensed translator. The WIC is known as a pro-government media body.

In response to the right of expression given to the defendants, a defence lawyer to defendants Netsanet Demsie and Daniel Bekele petitioned that there was no indication against whom among the defendants the document was brought as evidence. The prosecutor countered saying the required indication had been supplied when the copies were handed out.

After the Amharic version of Eng Hailu’s press statement was handed out to all but one of the defendants, the Second Criminal Bench adjourned until 23 March so as to look into the document submitted as one of the written prosecution evidences, and to come up with a ruling.

The Bench then proceeded and ordered the defendants to make heard there and then whatever pronouncements they might have on the document or to submit them in written form until Friday 9 March.

Having ordered the prosecutor to submit authentication before the adjourned date, the Bench said should authentication fail, the translation would be made void.

CUDP leader Hailu Shawl is accused of had been behind the bloody post-election protests that erupted in June and November. But he denies the charges.

“This is a political case, not a criminal one, said 70-year-old Hailu. If they can produce a single shred of evidence against us, let them [do so], because there is none.”

(ST)