Ethiopian court rejects demand for medical checkup of political detainees

June 15, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) – An Ethiopian court refused to allow a doctor chosen by the families of detained opponents to visit them in jail and compile a report on their health.

Ethiopian authorities are accused by rights groups and detainees relatives of torturing a group of opponents detained over alleged plot to assassinate top officials and bombing of public facilities since April 23.

Ethiopia government says Weapons, landmines, and copies of plans were seized during a raid by security forces.

At a pre-trial hearing held on Monday the judge refused a request from a lawyer for one of the detainees for a doctor chosen by the families to examine them. The judge said the detainees have to a prison doctor.

The families of the detained suspects told Reuters that their relatives had told about mistreatment in the prison.

“Some of them have been tortured and are injured,” one relative, who asked not to be named, said outside court. “They have been interrogated for up to nineteen hours. One man with injuries to his penis had to be treated in hospital.”

Lawyers said five of the group were being held in solitary confinement. The 32 detained opponents were mainly former and current army personnel, including two generals.

However the government rejected the accusations describing it as baseless.

“They have the right to relate any indignities they allege they have suffered openly in court,” Shimeles Kemal said. “If this had been the case, they would have, but they didn’t.”

The authorities refused to make public the names of the jailed persons only two have been identified. Another 14 people, some resident in the United States and Britain, have been charged in absentia.

The government says the accused, arrested more than a month ago, belonged to a “terror network” formed by Berhanu Nega, an opposition leader who teaches economics in the United States.

Last may the government said members of the opposition “Ginbot 7” group meant to create havoc in the country, but not a plot to endanger the existing government.

Addis Ababa says the group had planned to kill senior government officials and blow up power and telecommunications facilities to provoke protesters who would then march on government buildings and attempt to topple the government.

(ST)