Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Reported by: Shannon Sims
WVEC-TV
Tuesday, the U.S. State Department confirmed a former Norfolk State University professor was convicted of crimes against the Ethiopian government.
Monday, an Ethiopian court convicted Yacob Hailemariam and 38 other defendants of attempting to over throw the government.
“It was tough going to visit him,” said Yacob’s daughter, Seyneie.
It’s been four months since she has seen her father.
“We were shocked. We didn’t expect this. I think we knew there might be opposition. This was the first time democratic elections were being held.”
Hailemariam, a former law professor at NSU in 2005, left the U.S. to run for a seat in parliament in his home country.
He won the election by a landslide as an opposition candidate, but before he could take office, he was arrested and imprisoned ruling government.
Human rights organization Amnesty International has been following his case closely.
“Amnesty International has put pressure on the government of Ethiopia and its allies, like the U.S., to act responsible and insure a fair trail and release these prisoners of conscience,” said Lynn Fredriksson of Amnesty International.
Seyneie is hoping the U.S. government will step in and help free her father.
“Maybe the next administration will be more hopeful, like the American government has not had a strong enough voice in the situation like we expected,” she said.
Hailemariam faces an extreme sentence life in prison or death. Neither option is a promising one for Hailemariam to be reunited with his family in Virginia Beach.
“Of course, when you hear those words my whole body freezes for a moment,” said Seyneie. “It’s not over yet. It doesn’t look good now, but we are certainly hopeful. He wanted to make a difference and hopefully one day that will happen.”
It has been more than a year since Hailmariam was arrested.
2 thoughts on “Former Norfolk State University professor convicted of treason in Ethiopia”
I think he should learn that law works in poor as well as rich countries.He should not have undermined the law of his motherland.
The spirit of pride had taken them to this end. We ordinary Ethiopians want peace and united Ethiopia tha provides the right to Nationalities (Ethinities).The ethinic politics became issue because of the fault Amhara rulers has made when they decided to oppress,humilate and amaranize the whole people.
So,ethinic politcs is the solution to the problem than the problem created by TPLF.The problem was born in the hands of Amhara rulers like Minilik-the stupid.
Dear Abel,
First of all you try to get the idea what the situation has been so far in Ethiopia since those old days (Since Minilik era) before you pass on a judgement.. it is clearly visisble that you are one of those blood sucker parasites of Ethiopia (TPLF-Weyane).. Nobody misses you from a bunch of variety of people with different conceptions on issues pertainin to Etiopia….. you have been trying hard to misguid the rest of the Ethiopian people to stand against Amahara becuase you know that ethinic group constitutes the second huge proportion of Ethiopia.. your ultimate plan is clear that you keep on sucking when the rest ethnicities are fighting to each other… you miscalculated the intelectual understanding and cultural values of the Oromo people …. you are all the times trying to ascribe CUD with Amhara too.. do you think that we Oromo people are fool? Do you think that we are can’t understand things like you do? you shout and you listen to yourself…… We are done with you….. Ethiopian problem has never been and will never be the ‘Amharas’… period.. you know it and we know it as well.. you find out another pretext to keep on your cheap propaganda……. Don’t ever underestimate the sacrifce that the Oromo nationalities are paying to the welfare of the whole Ethiopian ethnic brothers and sisters… Bedru Adem, Birtukan Midekssa, Hailu Shawul and many others are examples of of the noble personalities from the Oromo tribe..
Down with the traitors.. Down with Weyanes.. Down with TPLF …
rule of law will come to Ethiopia soon… the previouse dictator was as powerful as these bunch of sadist Weyanes .. but it got destroyed by Ethiopians.. Weyanes will get destroyed too.