(AFP) – Ethiopian authorities The Woyanne junta charged 24 people with terrorism offenses Thursday including an opposition politician and a journalist, a government spokesman said.
“They are accused under the anti-terrorism law of being members of a terrorist network and abetting, aiding and supporting a terrorist group,” Shimeles Kemal told AFP.
Prominent opposition leader Andualem Arage and journalist Eskinder Nega were among those charged, the latest in a string of opposition supporters to be accused of plotting against the state.
They were arrested on September 14 on suspicion of being involved in “terrorist activities that would likely wreak havoc” added Shimeles.
The maximum sentence for supporting a terrorist group is 15 years, according to Ethiopia’s anti-terrorism legislation.
The suspects are accused of receiving support from neighboring Eritrea to carry out attacks in Ethiopia, according to the charge sheet.
“They have received from the Eritrean government weapons and explosives for the purpose of carrying out terrorist activities in Ethiopia,” Shimeles said, reading from the court-issued document.
Eritrea and Ethiopia are long time foes, with both accusing each other of supporting proxy rebel forces to destabilise each other.
Eskinder and Andualem were arrested on September 14 on suspicion of being involved in “terrorist activities.”
Opposition member Berhane Nega, a former mayor of Addis Ababa currently living in exile in the United States, was also charged with terrorism.
“He is being charged in absentia,” Shimeles said.
But opposition member Negassa Gidada, a former president of Ethiopia, called the charges “laughable.”
“What they’ve tried to do is make the people shut their mouths. Unacceptable. Unacceptable,” he told AFP.
Ethiopia’s media is among the most repressed in Africa, according to the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists, which calls the country’s anti-terrorism law “far-reaching.”
The watchdog reports six journalists have been arrested since June.
6 thoughts on “Andualem Arage, 23 others charged with terrorism”
The BEST Joke of the day!
According to the charges, the crimes of the twenty four people happen to be being sympatizers of Doctor Berhanu Nega’s group plus working with the Eritrean government at the same time.
My question is how come hundreds of unarmed protestors in 2005 got shot and killed without any charge just for being suspected of involvement with Doctor Berhanu Nega’s group?
The Mels Zenawi’s soldiers that shot and killed the protestors in bright daylight never got accused of any wrong doings for their actions because noone filed charges yet according to Shimeles Kemal.
The family members need to file charges soon to find out who the real terrorist is.
Over 85 million Ethiopians know where the #1 terrorist lives and they are waiting for the right time to take him out of that palace and send him back in the woods where he belongs.
Kangaroo court has nothing to do with justice rather play business as usual. Make funny things and let the world know who really they are:uneducated,uncivilized,uncultured,bla,bla… also not grounded on facts.They are the tyrants workshop.
According to united nation to which Ethiopia belongs, ” terrorism refers to those violent acts which are intended to create fear (terror), are perpetrated for a religious, political or ideological goal, and deliberately target or disregard the safety of non-combatants (civilians).” it is undeniable that many acts of terrorism has taken place in Ethiopia. “violent acts which are intended to create fear” have been carried out against ” non combatant( civilians) ” ( Ethiopians) for the last twenty years to create fear and promote pure political and ideological goals. those journalists and opposition party leaders who are accused of promoting terrorist activity in Ethiopia have never engaged in any violent activity. they were preaching and engaged in peaceful activities to promote democracy and human rights in the country. however, there is a group that has been terrorizing the civilian population in Ethiopia to rule through the use of violence and fear. that is the group which should be charged with terrorism. The government of Ethiopia needs to find those who massacred innocent civilians before , during and after the 2000 election and bring them to face the law. those who arrest, kill and destroy the civilian’s life and property to rule by force need to be charged with terrorism. we are with the government of Ethiopia in its effort to tamper out terrorism in the country. if the government of Ethiopia is serious in its effort to eliminate terrorism from the country, it can do so in a very simple way. so far, all evidence of terrorism in the country shows that it is the government and mainly TPLF and its cronies who are the ones practicing terrorist acts. This kangaroo trial which is taking place to persecute innocent civilians to create fear among the populace itself is terrorism. we urge the government of Ethiopia to refrain from its terrorist activities and the whole world need to condemn this barbaric acts inflicted on the people of Ethiopia on a daily basis.
“They have received from the Eritrean government weapons and explosives for the purpose of carrying out terrorist activities in Ethiopia,” Shimeles said, reading from the court-issued document.
Look this statement … how can it be possible? How can shabia give arms to his enemies. Shabia would prefered to give arms to Woyane than to these oppostion parties (because of the Assab port issue, shabia leaders don’t want Woyane to be toppled). The reality is, the Woyane leaders consider anyone who opposed their rule is a terrorist. The woyane are playing a very dangerous game.