By JASON McLURE | The New York Times
A leader of Ethiopia’s opposition alliance on Monday criticized a court verdict in the stabbing death of an opposition parliamentary candidate, accusing the ruling party of intimidating a key witness.
The candidate, Aregawi Gebre-Yohannes, was killed March 2 at his restaurant in the Tigray region. The opposition said the candidate was killed by supporters of the ruling party. The killer, Tsegie Berhane, was sentenced last week to 15 years in prison, said Shimeles Kemal, a government spokesman. Mr. Tsegie was granted leniency because he had confessed, Mr. Shimeles said, adding that the accused was not a member of a party.
“It was an arranged and orchestrated court,” said Gebru Asrat, a leader of the Arena party, part of the opposition alliance.
He said witnesses who testified had been “involved in the killing.”
3 thoughts on “Opposition alliance criticizes verdict in the killing of its candidate”
“It was an arranged and orchestrated court,” said Gebru Asrat,
Well, he would know how the TPLF operates, it takes one to know one.
After they had removed the unwanted opponent they rushed to make a court trial within a short period of time. It is the fastest court trial that the Woyane stooges carried out. Why? because things are going against their biased calculations. The current “TPLF” is getting a red card. It will be out of game within three months. TPLF will lose 60% of its 38 federal seats that is allocated for Tigray. That is ONLY 16 federal seats would go to TPLF rather than to the opposition in Tigray. The disintegration of TPLF-run Ethiopian government is gradually but steadily goes downwards.
God saves Ethiopia !
Ethiopia: Atleast three Murdered in Harar and Dire Dawa – SOCEPP
Published 03/16/2010 – 6:26 p.m. GMT Somali region of Ethiopia Reliable reports reaching SOCEPP have confirmed that the special security forces and Death Squads of the Meles Zenawi regime are on a rampage in Eastern Ethiopia (Harar,Dire Dawa,Jijiga,etc) kidnapping and killing citizens linked to opposition movements.
Two weeks ago, Captain (retired) Eshetu Mengiste was kidnapped in Harar by security forces, taken to a secret location, tortured brutally and his corpse thrown to the hyenas. Captain Eshetu was a well known critic of the Meles Zenawi regime. Similarly, two young friends, Abel Kuba and Dereje Mulugeta, were picked up by the secret police and have been disappeared .People have concluded that they have both been murdered given their known opposition to the Meles regime. Other such actions have been reported from Jijiga to Asbe Teferi and other places. It is to be noted that a member of an opposition group, Aregawi Gebre Yohannes, was stabbed to death in Tigrai.
The Meles Zenawi regime is in a full speed mode to repress and destabilize the opposition forces before the coming May election. The brutal murder of Aregawi, Captain Eshetu, youngsters Abel and Dereje is only the tip of the iceberg. The intensification of the repression is expected. SOCEPP calls on human rights organizations and democratic governments to condemn the brutal measures of the Meles Zenawi regime
•Solidarity Committee for Ethiopian Political Prisoners (SOCEPP)