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Ethiopia
Pardons 38 Opposition Members |
By ANITA
POWELL
Associated Press Writer
July 20, 2007
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopia
pardoned and freed 38 opposition politicians
and activists Friday following international
condemnation of their imprisonment and days
after U.S. lawmakers took steps to criticize
the country's human rights record.
The opposition members had been imprisoned
for inciting violence in an attempt to
overthrow the government following 2005
elections amid allegations that the
balloting was rigged.
Dozens of relatives and supporters outside
Kaliti Prison cheered, waved Ethiopian flags
and whistled in joy as three minibuses
carrying the freed opposition members left
the facility.
Some of those inside the buses made the
V-for-victory sign, which is also the symbol
of Ethiopia's opposition. The crowds pursued
the minibuses in other vehicles, and the 38
were dropped off at their homes.
They were released only minutes after Prime
Minister Meles Zenawi told journalists the
government had pardoned them. They had been
sentenced to various prison terms, including
life, for inciting violence in an attempt to
overthrow the government.
Meles had said he hoped the pardon "conveys
the message that people are given a second
chance as long as they seek it." The
prisoners had written the government asking
to be pardoned.
Meles said that the prisoners' right to vote
and seek public office also had been
restored. A Federal High Court ruled on
Monday that those sentenced to life would
have those rights permanently revoked and
others would be barred for five years from
seeking public office.
The United States had urged the government
to show clemency in the case, which had been
widely condemned by international human
rights groups.
After the sentences were announced Monday,
state-owned Ethiopian Television had
reported the politicians and activists had
written to the president to ask for pardons.
Amnesty International said the defendants
reportedly signed a statement some weeks ago
that was expected to lead to a pardon and
reconciliation with the ruling party.
Those pardoned included the leader of the
Coalition for Unity and Democracy, Hailu
Shawel; Berhanu Nega, who was elected mayor
of Addis Ababa; former Harvard scholar
Mesfin Woldemariam; and former U.N. special
envoy and a former professor at Virginia's
Norfolk State University, Yacob Hailemariam.
International human rights groups had
accused the government of trying to silence
its critics, and opposition leaders have
claimed the trial was politically motivated.
The Federal High Court trial began in
December 2005 following postelection
violence that erupted during protests over
balloting six months earlier.
The opposition won an unprecedented number
of parliamentary seats in the 2005 vote, but
not enough to topple Meles. The opposition
claimed the voting was rigged, and European
Union observers said they were marred by
irregularities.
Initially, the opposition leaders,
journalists and others were charged with
treason, inciting violence and attempted
genocide. Judges dropped the treason and
attempted genocide charges in April and
later that month freed 25 prisoners, among
them eight journalists.
Since April, a total of 52 people faced four
other charges, but only nine chose to put up
a defense. The trial for the remaining nine
continues on July 25.
Late last year, Ethiopia acknowledged that
its security forces killed 193 civilians
protesting alleged election fraud but
insisted they did not use excessive force. A
senior judge appointed to investigate the
violence had accused the security forces of
excessive force.
Earlier this week in Washington, a House
subcommittee completed work on legislation
that decries Ethiopia's recent human rights
record and opens the door for sanctions. The
subcommittee's approval would be a first
major step, but the bill still would have to
be passed by both houses and signed by
President Bush.
On Tuesday, Barry F. Lowenkron, the U.S.
assistant secretary of state for democracy
and human rights, gave sometimes harsh
testimony on Ethiopia before the Senate
Foreign Affairs Committee.
He spoke of the illegal detention of
"opposition leaders and tens of thousands of
their supporters" and said: "To this day,
the crackdown casts a shadow over the
Ethiopian government."
Lowenkron said he had spent 85 minutes of a
90-minute conversation with Meles in March
discussing the state of democracy in
Ethiopia, and Meles said he would make
changes "because it's in the interest of the
people of Ethiopia."
"I told him it should be in the interest of
all the people of Ethiopia, including those
that are in prison and need to be let out,"
Lowenkron said.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press.
All rights reserved. This material may not
be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed. |
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