PRESS RELEASE
Ethiopian Women for Peace and Development

We members of the Ethiopian Women for Peace and Development are very much concerned about the fate of the opposition party leaders and members, civil rights activists and journalists who are in prison in Ethiopia. We appeal to all peace loving people in the international community to pay attention to the following recent developments in the country.

Few weeks ago, the high court convicted 43 leaders of an opposition party (Coalition for Unity and Democracy), human rights activists and journalists of committing outrage against the constitution order. Today, the prosecutor asked for the death penalty for these 43 prisoners. The political leaders, human rights activists and journalists were imprisoned since they protested against the government’s frauds in the 2005 elections. Amnesty International has acknowledged them as prisoners of conscious.

There were rumors, in the last few weeks, that the government might release the prisoners. We thought the release of the political prisoners will lead to a dialogue with the government and eventually for peaceful resolutions of the country’s political problems. However, our hopes were dashed when the Prime Minister refused to release them and decided that the court should handle their fate. It is widely known that the judiciary system in Ethiopia is not independent and the trial of these people has not been fair. Today, the prosecutor has asked for the death penalty and the court will decide on the 16th of July.

In consideration of the above current serious situation in the country, we appeal to the American public and the international community in general to urge the Ethiopian government to free the political prisoners without any preconditions. Unless the imprisoned political leaders and civil rights activists are freed, we believe that there will be great upheaval by the people that will create chaos and turmoil throughout the country and the region and the consequences will be costly.

The Ethiopian government has refused to reconcile with political opposition groups in the country despite the repetitive calls for peaceful dialogue by the oppositions groups. To bring peace and stability in Ethiopia, all political prisoners must be freed and negotiations with all oppositions groups that are based inside and outside of the country must start urgently. Peace can only come through dialogue and reconciliation. We appeal to all peace loving people in the world to support us in our effort to bring peace to Ethiopia.

EWPD is a non-partisan Ethiopian women’s peace organization created in 1991.

Ethiopian Women for Peace and Development (EWPD)
5505 Connecticut Avenue, #259
Washington, DC 20015
www.ewpd.info * [email protected]