April 15, 2002
Twenty-three EDP members arrested
Some released after given warnings
The Ethiopians’ Democratic Party (EDP) has announced that twenty-three of its active members have been arrested in the past five days by Meles Zenawi’s security forces. Some were released after they were told that they will be shot in their heads if they organize any opposition.
Many of the EDP members who are arrested were active in the petition drive EDP conducted a few weeks ago, which resulted in the collection of 135,942 signatures that appeal to the United Nations to stop the Hague border decision.
The arrests of EDP members came after the Meles regime has unleashed violent propaganda attacks against EDP in the past few weeks.
Despite the arrests, the threats and warnings, EDP is going ahead with its plan to stage a mass protest demonstration in Addis Abeba on April 28, in opposition to the Ethio-Eritrea Border Commission’s decision, which makes Ethiopia a landlocked country.
For further information:
EDP-DC
PO Box 70634
Washington DC 20024
Tel: 301 806 6156
Fax: 301 630 8685
EDP Main Office
PO Box 101458
Addis Abeba, Ethiopia
Tel: 50 87 27
Fax: 50 87 30
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