By DAVE FORSTER, The Virginian-Pilot
VIRGINIA BEACH – Yacob Hailemariam is thankful he is no longer a political prisoner, but he is far from satisfied.
Hailemariam, 63, spoke Wednesday night at an interfaith Thanksgiving service of about 100 people at Congregation Beth Chaverim and thanked the community for its support for him while he was behind bars.
The former Norfolk State University professor was freed in July after 21 months of imprisonment in Ethiopia after he advocated for democratic change and won a parliamentary seat there in 2005.
Hailemariam wants to return to his homeland and continue the push for democratic reforms.
“Ethiopia hasn’t moved an inch” toward democracy and human rights, he said. “The fight has to go on.”
He has said that the support he received from Norfolk State and the Hampton Roads community boosted his morale while he was in prison.
“I really don’t deserve such an outpouring of love,” he said. “It was really humbling what Hampton Roads did for me.”
Hailemariam and about three dozen other opposition leaders were convicted earlier this year of crimes against the government.
The human-rights group Amnesty International called the defendants “prisoners of conscience.” They were sentenced in July to life in prison, but the Ethiopian government pardoned them days later and released them.
Hailemariam taught business law for nearly 20 years at Norfolk State but retired to return to Ethiopia when the country announced it would hold democratic elections in 2005.
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Dave Forster, (757) 222-5563, [email protected]
One thought on “Former political prisoner says thanks – Virginia”
Dear Doc Yacob,
Please come home and do what you said earlier that” We promised a lot of things to the people and we have to do it right now”, yes right now but on what basis is the question. First and foremost, if there is really differences in between the high ranking officials resolve it democratically through dialogue or other manses like ADR (Alternative dispute resolution) and mechanisms. Otherwise as you said in your recent speech Kingit will not move an inch like the democracy .okay
By the way I was participated the Great Run 2007 just an hour ago and you know what it was an oppositions rally with slogans and appreciations to our patriots and condemning those who betrayed the struggle as well as those who hate us and hate our country. It is not all about hate and love and I am not trying to preach hate, but it is the way we carry out our duties of peaceful struggle once in year since any assembly became unconstitutional by the government, a right which is enshrined in their own constitution. So to conclude as Birtukan said when the coalition was formed “Kingit is a Sprit” and the sprit is awaiting your response, our compatriots it is in our heart mind soul and in our every day life. We will not forget those who sacrificed for freedom, democracy, rule of law, equality, dignity and we owe them too much otherwise Ethiopia will not forgive us,never,never.
Dear Editor please pass this to the Dr.Yacob H/Mariam