ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – An Ethiopian [kangaroo] court sentenced eight people to death for a grenade attack that killed five people last year in the Horn of Africa nation’s restive Somali region, local media reported on Thursday.
The assault at a packed ceremony in 2007 was blamed on the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), a separatist movement in the remote eastern area. A stampede after police fired over the crowd killed another six people.
“The Somali state high court sentenced to death the eight people after evidence presented by the prosecution proved that the accused killed and wounded civilians,” the state-run Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) quoted the court as saying.
The eight have a right to appeal to higher courts under Ethiopian law. Death sentences must also be approved by the state president.
The ONLF says it is fighting for autonomy of the ethnic-Somali region. Both the government and the rebels accuse each other of human rights abuses.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi told parliament that the rebel group has been largely “neutralised” by a military offensive going on for the past year.
The ONLF denies this, saying it still has operations in the countryside. Addis Ababa says its neighbour Eritrea is training and supplying the ONLF, but Asmara denies that.
6 thoughts on “Kangaroo court sentences 8 residents of Ogaden to death”
Woyane is singing its version of “Yefiyiel wetete”!
Elias too is going to be hunged soon. But I would rather listen to him appealing for mitigation to life sentence.
We don’t belive in your court system and is not even legal. I hope this man dies as a martyrs for the greater good. Somali state will be in the mother state of Somalia. Until this is not happen. Horn of Africa will see problem for the next thousands of years.
Good job and well done! There should not be tollerance towards terrorists. Teach them a lesson! Yebel, wedi-nebri-golgel! I wish you had not sold our land to Sudan, however.
That one is a serious crime and you may have to face the same judgemnet. No lesser than what the terrorists are getting. I hate you for that cowardice act. You have no right to give our land. I suggest you get out! You are a shamne to Yohannes, Alula and Tewodros. Buff! I am ashamed of your acts. If Asemera would agree to chase out all the oppostion, Meles will not hold back any claim of land by Isayas but give with joy. You see, it is all power-grip. It does not matter what would happen to our children, as long as his are secured. Did you know that Meles’ father is a traitor and banda? Sad, he could not do better but worse.
TPLF butchers people from Tigray to Ogaden. They are blood-thirsty cruel beasts.
the 8 residents are just young somaliboys 15-20and allah knows what they have been true sow melez is in a power now but we see what will happend in future in east african region…melez made big mess and he should do finish what he started i dont think so those ppl will forgive