Ethiopia re-arrests opposition leader, US embassy expresses concern
By Tesfa-alem Tekle
January 2, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) — The federal police of Ethiopia re-arrested opposition leader, Birtukan Mideksa, one year after she was released on pardon from a life term she was sentenced following the country’s post election violence in 2005.
Birtukan, a leader of Unity for Democracy and Justice party was arrested after she refused to acknowledge that she had requested a pardon for her release.
Government authorities last week gave the 35-year old opposition figure a 3-day period to confirm or deny to the reports she announce to medias saying that she had never voiced remorse to mistakes and didn’t ask government for pardon to her release in july2007.
The political party she heads has confirmed her arrest but said that they don’t know where she is being held.
Special adviser to Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Bereket Simon, told reporters that Birtukan could again face life in prison.
“She said she didn’t ask government for pardon and government tried to advice her to reconsider her denial” Bereket said adding “she is denying to the pardon request she signed for. In this case according to the legal procedure the verdict has to be implemented.”
Meanwhile the US embassy in Addis Ababa on Wednesday expressed concern over the fate of the opposition leader under arrest.
“The United States is concerned about the government of Ethiopia’s arrest of Unity for Democracy and Justice party leader Birtukan Midekssa.” the embassy’s information officer Darragh Paradiso said in a statement..
“We are particularly concerned by reports that Birtukan’s pardon has been revoked and she has begun a life sentence in prison.”
“The United states looks to the government of Ethiopia to provide the political space necessary for them to function. Steps that appear to criminalise dissent impede progress on democratization,” he added.
Birtukan along with 37 others were freed on pardon in July 2007 after the opposition leaders signed a letter admitting they have committed mistakes both individually and collectively to which the president of Ethiopia signed the amnesty grant
In 2005 post election unrest in the capital Addis Ababa left some 185 protesters killed and also led to the arrest of 126 opposition leaders, journalists and activists.
(ST)