Ethiopia sentences 5 to death, 33 to life on coup plot
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
December 22, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) — An Ethiopian court on Tuesday handed down death penalty to five coup plotters and sentenced life imprisonment to 33 others.
The sentenced plotters, all members of an outlawed Ginbot 7(May 15) opposition movement, were accused of plotting to assassinate top government officials, conspiring to incite rebellion within the army, blow up power and telecom facilities, provoke protests and there by topple Prime minister Meles Zenawi-led Ethiopian government.
In April, The Ethiopian government claimed that it had foiled a plot by the group and said its security men have seized weapons, coup plans and other documents from the hands of these plotters.
“All the convicted five have committed grave offences and four of them have not learnt from their previous sentences,” Judge Adam Ibrahim of the federal High Court said.
“Therefore we are left with no choice but to hand down the maximum sentences” he added.
Among those sentenced to death was Berhanu Nega, an associate professor of economics at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania who founded and leads the exiled opposition movement ,labelled by Ethiopian government as a ‘‘terrorist’’ group.
Three, among the five sentenced to death were sentenced in absentia.
All but two of the defendants in Ethiopian custody have proclaimed their innocence. On special consideration, the two defendants who admitted their guilt were sentenced to 10 years.
Last month, court in Ethiopia handed down guilty verdict against 27 defendants. Earlier – in August court in absentia convicted 13 others, most living in exile in the same case. Six were acquitted after court found no solid evidence to support the charges.
Many of the convicts are former or serving army members.
Last month, Chief prosecutor in Ethiopia’s coup plot case has asked court death penalty against the convicted group.
The defendants’ relatives and lawyers said they would appeal the sentences.
(ST)
Dinka Boy
Ethiopia sentences 5 to death, 33 to life on coup plot
Dear Ethipian brothers and Sisters,
The death panalty of these five will be the great loss to the citizens of Ethiopia. If these individuals are sentence to death because of coup plan/plot against the governmnet then i rather begged your govt not to killed people like that professor of Economics and the others that are in that list. Please can Judge reduce their death panalty to jail sentence.
Thanks
Dinka Dominated SPLA
Ethiopia sentences 5 to death, 33 to life on coup plot
Well riak machar must be looked very carefully atherwish he could repeat his wicked oaf evil act against DR KIIR.
DEATH TO RIAK MACHAR TENY
Issa
Ethiopia sentences 5 to death, 33 to life on coup plot
A very usual Abyssianians power struggle.
It may seem as an event but this is just a déjà vu scenario played and replayed at least 9 times over the last 150 years.
One hand an abassinian tyranic ruler victim of an obessional compulsive mental disorder deliberately wrecking this country in order to entice bargain with foreign nations: economic and military assistance for him to stay in power.
In the other hand, an elite is which fully conscious about upcoming and unavoidable system collapse. This disgrounted elite can be either close to the power base (like Neway sons and Siye Abraha) or globalised and rooted into the diaspora like Berhanu Nega and followers.
Meles does not have the guts required for carrying on the announced execution. The convicted are not Ogaden, Gambella, Sidama or Oromos …cheap flesh.
Moreover Meles is not a principled leader like Haile Selasse or Mengistu. No Meles is rather the world chief beggar.
The whole game, is an empty show design to create a communication opportunity for zabanya Meles to get some assistance from his real masters: the USA and the western world.
This show was played and replayed isn’t it?. Therefore this should not divert our attention!