Amnesty urges to release names of Ethiopian political prisoners
May 6, 2009 (LONDON) — Ethiopia has to disclose immediately the names and fate of more than 35 people arrested since last week of April, said Amnesty on Tuesday.
Ethiopian government accused last month a group led by an Ethiopian-American professor of had planned to use assassinations and bombings to provoke street protests and topple the regime.
Amnesty International today called on the Ethiopian government to immediately disclose the names and fate of more than 35 people believed to be held by its security forces on political grounds since 24 April.
The government has arrested additional people, also the rights group said some of the the arrested have been arrested for their own or families. Also Amnesty said further arrests are expected.
Amongst the 35 is an 80-year-old grandfather in urgent need of medical care.
“We are very concerned about the fate of those arrested,” said Michelle Kagari, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Africa Programme. He further urged their immediate release.
The rights group said stressed that several of the arrested people have been arrested of the bsisi of familly ties with the members of Gibot 7
Ethiopia’s human rights record deteriorated after the disputed 2005 elections, when at least 187 demonstrators were killed and members of the political opposition party, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), journalists and civil society activists were arrested and tried for treason.
While some of these defendants were acquitted, others were released and pardoned in 2007 and 2008, after signing a letter of apology.
In December 2008, Birtukan Mideksa, leader of the UDJ Party was re-arrested and her life sentence reinstated after she discussed details of the pardon process at a meeting in Sweden.
(ST)