The head of the European Union 2005 election observers in Ethiopia has said she is “appalled” at the life sentences given to 30 opposition leaders.
Ana Gomes told the BBC the sentences were “farcical” and “inhumane” and urged the EU to seek their release.
Another eight people were given shorter jail terms, while five were tried in absentia for their role in violent protests at alleged poll-rigging.
Ethiopia’s information minister hinted that the 38 could soon be freed.
Bereket Simon told the BBC’s Focus on Africa programme that the government was looking into their apology and request for a pardon
“The prisoners have admitted… trying to overthrow the government by the use of force and have asked for clemency.”
He said that now that the legal process had ended, a new political process would start.
Many Ethiopians expect the 38 to be freed soon by the government.
Their relatives say the detainees have signed a document which could pave the way for their release.
The prosecution had demanded the death penalty for them all.
Reconciliation
Ms Gomes told the BBC’s Focus on Africa programme that she thought life in prison was just as bad as the death penalty.
“[Their] only crime was to express their opinions freely in elections, which were supposed to be democratic,” she said.
High court judge Adil Ahmed also barred the 30 Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) leaders from voting or standing for election.
“The accused have committed serious crimes, which caused the death of civilians and security forces and attempted to overthrow the government,” he said.
“The accused have also failed to present to the court mitigating evidences for the charges brought against them.”
But he said they did not deserve the death penalty.
Before the sentences, the US had warned that any judgement should promote reconciliation between the government and the opposition.
The BBC’s Elizabeth Blunt in Addis Ababa says the trial has been closely watched in the city, a CUD stronghold.
She says that the entire front row of seats in the court was taken up by diplomats and a simultaneous English translation was provided.
Apology?
Five of the 38, including CUD leader Hailu Shawel, were convicted of inciting, organising and leading armed rebellion.
Among the 38 are the entire CUD leadership, several of the capital’s elected MPs and city councillors, including Berhanu Negga, mayor-elect of Addis Ababa.
Hundreds of thousands took part in demonstrations complaining of fraud and rigging in the elections won by Prime Minister Meles’ party.
Some 193 people were killed in protests at alleged vote-rigging.
Most of the dead were protesters, killed by security forces.
Tarnished
An independent inquiry carried out by an Ethiopian judge concluded that the police had used excessive force.
He went on to accuse them of carrying out a massacre. The judge later fled Ethiopia, saying he had been put under pressure to change his findings and had received death threats.
The government points out that it introduced multiparty elections to Ethiopia after years of military rule.
In the elections, the opposition made huge gains but says it was cheated out of victory.
Three months ago, a judge threw out controversial charges of attempted genocide and treason against 111 people, including those sentenced on Monday, over the election protests.
The violence and the charges of election fraud have tarnished Mr Meles’ image as a favourite of Western donors and one of a new wave of reforming African leaders.
WASHINGTON: The United States on Monday urged Ethiopia to grant clemency to 35 opposition politicians and activists sentenced to life in prison for inciting violence in an attempt to overthrow the government.
The prosecution had called for death sentences against the defendants, who included Ethiopia’s top opposition leaders.
“We’re following it very closely,” State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters. “As a matter of trying to bring together the Ethiopian people and bringing an end to this particular chapter of political turmoil, we would urge the Ethiopian authorities to strongly consider clemency for these individuals.”
International human rights groups have widely condemned the trial as an attempt to silence government critics, and opposition leaders have claimed it was politically motivated.
Reporters Without Borders voiced outrage at the federal high court’s decision today to sentence six journalists to jail terms ranging from six months to life. They are part of a group of 43 government opponents who were tried together. Most of them were found guilty of “trying to overthrow constitutional rule.”
“We are certainly relieved that court president Adil Ahmed did not accept prosecutor Abraha Tetemke’s request for the application of the death sentence, but imposing life imprisonment on journalists who, to our knowledge, were just doing their job is outrageous,” the Reporters Without Borders said.
“After the acquittal of eight journalists in April, we had reason to hope that Ethiopia would finally respect the right of its citizens to free speech,” Reporters Without Borders added. “Today’s sentences will just fuel tension in the country. We hope the defendants will be able to appeal and that the judges will then treat them with clemency.”
Today’s high court sentences were passed on 43 members of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy, of whom six are journalists. There were arrested for taking party in opposition protests in November 2005 following disputed legislative elections.
Ethiop editor Andualem Ayele received a life sentence, as did two other journalists who were tried in absentia, Menilik editor Zelalem Guebre and Netsanet editor Abey Gizaw. Asqual editor Wonakseged Zeleke was sentenced to three years in prison. It is not yet known what sentence was passed on Abay editor Mesfin Tesfaye.
Dawit Fassil, the deputy editor of the now defunct weekly Satenaw, who had been found guilty of publishing inaccurate information, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. After spending 17 months in prison, he was released on bail in April and was then re-arrested. The court is discussing the possibility of releasing him in view of the time he has already been held.
The court also imposed heavy fines on the Serkalem, Sisay and Fassil press groups and ordered that they be disbanded.
Shortly after the court in Ethiopia sentenced the leaders of the country’s main opposition party, the state-run media reported that the case has now been referred to the Amnesty Board chaired by Minister of Justice Assefa Qesito.
ETV reported that it has received an information from the Prime Minister’s office today that the jailed leaders sent a letter asking forgiveness from the government. ETV showed the letter signed by Ato Hailu Shawel. Tomorrow the Amnesty Board will submit its recommendation to President Girma Woldegiorgis, who will then decide on the recommendation, according to ETV.
The Prime Minister’s office did not disclose the information until now so that it will not influence the court’s decision, the ETV reported added.
Meanwhile, the Federal Police are rounding up suspected members of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (Kinijit). Homes are also being searched, including computers and personal files without search warrant.
Amnesty International today expressed dismay at the life sentences handed down to 30 Ethiopian opposition party leaders, journalists and one of the country’s most prominent human rights defenders.
The 30 were also stripped of their right to stand for election or vote.
“On the basis of the information we have, most — if not all — of those sentenced today are prisoners of conscience imprisoned on account of their opinions, who have not used or advocated violence and should therefore be immediately and unconditionally released,” said Erwin van der Borght, Director of Amnesty International’s Africa Programme.
Five exiles being tried in their absence were also sentenced to life. Eight others were sentenced to terms in prison ranging from one to 18 years, following the 14-month-long political trial. All have the right to appeal to the Supreme Court and subsequently for presidential pardon.
Some weeks ago they had reportedly signed an undisclosed statement that was expected to lead imminently to a pardon and political reconciliation with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s ruling party, although the government has not confirmed this.
The trial continues on 25 July for ten others who are presenting a defence, including two civil society activists.
AI regrets that its representatives were not issued with visas they had applied for to enable the organization to observe today’s hearing, but still hopes to observe the upcoming defence case. The Ethiopian Prime Minister had said the trial was open to observers, and an Amnesty International representative had observed part of the trial on two previous occasions.
While Amnesty International reserves its assessment on the fairness of the trial until it is completed and the organization has fuller details of the proceedings, the organization is concerned that some aspects of the trial may not have met recognized international standards of fair trial.
Note to editor:
Amongst those sentenced to life in prison today is the prominent human rights defender Mesfin Woldemariam, a retired professor aged 76, who suffers from a worsening and painful spinal complaint.
For a fuller outline of Amnesty International’s concerns about the case and its background, please see: http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engafr250162007
Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA – A court sentenced 35 opposition politicians and activists, including a former Virginia professor, to life in prison and denied them the right to vote or run for public office for inciting violence in an attempt to overthrow the government, a judge said Monday.
The prosecution had called for death sentences against the defendants, who included Ethiopia’s top opposition leaders and five people charged, tried and convicted in absentia. Another eight defendants facing similar charges were sentenced to between 18 months and 18 years in prison, said Judge Adil Ahmed, reading the sentences on behalf of the three-judge panel.
The judges declined to follow the recommendation of the prosecution to hand down the death penalty, Adil said.
“The court has deemed life imprisonment as a comprehensive and sufficient verdict for the actions taken,” he said.
All people sentenced to life imprisonment also have been permanently denied the right to vote or run for office. Those given lesser sentences were banned from office for five years.
The judges also ordered the closure of three publishing companies and fined each of them between $1,700 and $13,600.
Those facing life imprisonment include the leader of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, Hailu Shawel; Berhanu Nega, who was elected mayor of Addis Ababa; former Harvard scholar Mesfin Woldemariam; and former U.N. special envoy and former Norfolk State University professor, Yacob Hailemariam.
International human rights groups have widely condemned the trial as an attempt to silence government critics, and opposition leaders have claimed it was politically motivated.
The Federal High Court trial began in December 2005 following postelection violence that erupted during protests over balloting six months earlier.
The opposition won an unprecedented number of parliamentary seats in the 2005 vote, but Prime Minister Meles Zenawi held onto power. The opposition claimed the voting was rigged, and European Union observers said they were marred by irregularities.
Initially, the opposition leaders, journalists and others were charged with treason, inciting violence and attempted genocide. Judges dropped the treason and attempted genocide charges in April and later that month freed 25 prisoners, among them eight journalists.
Since April, a total of 43 people faced four other charges, but only nine chose to put up a defense.
Late last year, Ethiopia acknowledged that its security forces killed 193 civilians protesting alleged election fraud, but insisted they did not use excessive force. A senior judge appointed to investigate the violence had accused the security forces of excessive force.
