European Parliament – Press Release
June 21, 2007
Following up on previous resolutions on Ethiopia, MEPs take another look at the unstable situation that has persisted in that country since the 2005 elections. Opposition leaders who led protests at the outcome of the elections have been convicted in court and may now face the death penalty. While calling on the Ethiopian authorities to respect fundamental rights, MEPs also believe the EU institutions could be doing more and indeed that the EU bears some responsibility since it persuaded Ethiopians not to boycott the elections.
In the wake of the May 2005 elections, whose results are widely held to have been falsified by the government, opposition demonstrations were met with violence from the authorities, resulting in 193 civilian deaths and 763 injured, according to a Commission of Inquiry set up by the Ethiopian Parliament. Members of the Commission were later “forced to flee following pressure by the government to reverse the Commission’s findings”.
Ethiopia urged to release political prisoners and review court verdicts
Now, on 11 June 2007 an Ethiopian court has found 38 senior opposition figures guilty of charges “ranging from ‘outrage against the constitution’ to aggravated high treason”. Sentencing is expected next month and most of the accused could face the death penalty.
Among a range of demands on the Ethiopian authorities in their resolution, MEPs call on the government “to release immediately and unconditionally all political prisoners, including elected members of parliament, CUD leaders, human rights activists, journalists, teachers, students, trade union activists and ordinary citizens”.
The EP also “urges the Ethiopian judicial authorities to reconsider their verdict, and calls on the Ethiopian Government to repeal possible death and/or prison sentences”. In addition, it “calls for the establishment of an international independent Inquiry Commission”.
Greater involvement and pressure from the international community
MEPs strongly believe the international community should play a bigger role. They ask the EU, the African Union and the UN “to encourage and support an all-inclusive inter-Ethiopian dialogue, with the participation of political parties and civil society, in order to work out a lasting solution to the current political crisis”.
MEPs call on the UN “to appoint a ‘special rapporteur’ to conduct an investigation in Ethiopia into judicial independence and arbitrary detentions, the human rights situation, including minority rights, post-election violence and killings, and charges of treason and outrage against the constitutional order directed at opposition leaders, journalists and civil-society activists”.
In addition, the EU Commission and Council should “pursue a coherent post-electoral policy in Ethiopia” and “consider the application of targeted sanctions against senior government officials”. The EP points out that “development cooperation programmes under the Cotonou Agreement should depend on respect for human rights and good governance”. It hence calls on the Commission and Council to “take a coordinated stance” consistent with Article 96 of the agreement.
7 thoughts on “European Parliament called on the U.N. to appoint a special rapporteur to investigate human rights atrocites in Ethiopia”
Where were they (UN)? any way i found it a good move. EPRDF/TPLF is already in panic. they already started negotiation with CUD leaders in the prison.This (pressure from UN) helps in the negotiation process.Our leaders should be released unconditionally. TPLF is trying to share their crime with our leaders. Noway!They (EPRDF/TPLF) are the only responsible for the bloodshed. Meles,Bereket,sebhat Nega has to end up in the Den-Haag for the crime they commited against Humanity.
Kudos to the Eurpoean Parliament for the unambiguous message to the Woyanne dictators!
INVESTIGATING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES BY THE MAD DOGS OF ADDIS: MELES, BERKET,SEBHAT NEGA etc.
All of us were convinced that our only friend in the Western Europe is Anna Gomez and the rest of MEPs as the bunch of hypocrites
This a typical neo-colonialist diatribe. Ana Gomez and the rest of the idiosyncrats in EU parliament mission is clear,i.e to derail the ” shemgelena’ that is being carried out by Ethiopians and Ethiopians alone. Leave us alone and we will put our house in order.Given the track record of EPRDF they will for sure react in typical Ethiopian ” Elehe”.There is a high probablity that the light of hope we saw on the past few days may be put off.
The battle against TPLF mercenaries will continue more than ever. It has reached at another level. It Will never stop until it achieved its goal which is free our country from the mentally sick woyanes our country facing them for many, many years. Our brave leaders started the game, the rest of the Ethiopian people have to finish it.
Anti Ethiopians Hate Media groups such as Aiga forum financing by TPLF, individuals including such as Tecola(Tencolegnaw) Hagos and crazy Abrham yayeh (suffering of nightmare to create Tigri_Tigrigna unable to understand Eritrea has 10 Ethnic groups and his so called Tigrigna lived at a piece of stony territory that has no seacoast, agricultural land, Asmara or other Eritrea has) and the Entire TPLF criminal groups and their wild animal supporters must be our priority confronting them with anything possible at each and every occasion. Diaspora need to act as part of the political groups in the 21-century.
Sudan supported shabia and TPLF for many years. But later on Shabia actively supported Darfur militants, SPLA and Easter fronts against Sudan. That means in politics there is no enemy or friend forever. Shabia need Ethiopian oppositions mainly those stand for one and united Ethiopia knowing Ethnic militia would affect Eritrea too as Eritrea has 10 Ethnic groups and the majorities are Muslims. For this matter we need brave and visionary Diasporas and inside the country politicians to have constructive relationship with shabia. Issayas is more Ethiopian than Meles, Sebhat and the Like do. Issayas needs strong and determine oppositions with Military power and pro united Ethiopian than we imagine of his thinking otherwise. He knows dividing Ethiopia under Ethnic lines means tomorrow Eritrea will be the same. The Eritrea situation is more complicated than Ethiopia does. 10 Ethnic groups and Muslim majority in a small country such as Eritrea need sto preach unity for themselves and others too, as it will turn on them if they do it wrongly to others.
To make it clear the so called greater Tigry and Tigay
I am hopeful that Meles’s and Bereke’s fate is in the way as that of “Sadam the Butcher”. Dil Le ETHIopians is in the right way.
I realy liked the word “Meles,Bereket and sebhat Nega have to end up in the Den-Haag” God of Ethipia will not deny us this.Believe me either in Haag or at Lideta this shall happen.
Bulcha