Exiled union leaders demand the release of Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie

PRESS RELEASE
Exiled Ethiopian Trade Union Leaders

Release Anti-poverty Campaigners

Once again the verdict in the case of Ethiopian anti-poverty campaigners Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie, which was expected on Thursday, November 22, 2007, has been postponed because one of the judges all in a sudden became ill. Not only the Kangaroo court judge, but the whole system is also sick as the country is in a crisis after the May 2005 national election. By terrorizing its citizens, the state and the system run by world class criminal gangs is sick and beyond recovery.

It is very sad and disturbing to hear again and again the lame excuses given by the failed legal system to postpone the verdict, to Friday November 30, 2007 which was long overdue. It is also an irresponsible act and disregard for the rule of law and the suffering of the two innocent young men, working for their country. The failed system has once again demonstrated its disregard for the rule of law and human rights as the fiasco prime minister is still clinging to power by intimidating and killing its citizens.

It has been repeatedly documented by various human rights organizations that the regime of the self crowned Prime Minster, Meles Zenawi, is synonymous sheer lack of justice or absence of semblance of due process. The courts are private chambers of Meles, prosecutors as his mouth pieces and the judges serving as his loyal butlers. Once again we witness and prove to the Democratic world, what has been said and happening continuously in the country.

Currently in our country Ethiopia, it is not the rule of law being upheld, but instead the gun culture is ruling over reason and logic as secret executions and detentions are common. Due process is never to be seen and framed up charges are order of the day through out the country.

In the mean time, the Addis Ababa criminal regime security forces and their hired armed thugs are attacking human rights activists, journalists, opposition party members and prominent citizens. They continue to deny the public to any independent information, except to their monopolized one sided false propaganda to enforce their act of evil. This refusal to allow the public to the basic freedom of expression and information is aimed at drawing an impregnable veil over human rights abuses and the disregard of the rule of law in the country and the crime they are committing by the hour.

It is long over due for the regime in Addis Ababa to account for its crimes, return to the rule of law and demand all those supporting and giving aid to the regime to halt their actions until it ceases its human right violations and respects the rule of law. To remain silent is to allow the forces of evil to flourish by every minute where millions are denied their rights by very few.

As a result, we appeal and call on world leaders and human rights organization as well as peace loving people of the democratic world to demand the release of the anti-poverty campaigners Daniel Bekele and Natsanet Demissie, which is long over due. The anti-poverty campaigners are hostages of the failed system, while the regime is the hostage of its false and failed system and propaganda. The democratic world has a moral and international responsibility to exert pressure for the release of the anti-poverty campaigners who continue to be under unbearable conditions for almost two years.

Thank you for supporting those whose rights are denied.
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Exiled Ethiopian Trade Union Leaders
Email: [email protected]