Source: African Press Agency
American popular singer Beyonce Knowles will stage a day-long concert for the Ethiopian millennium to be celebrated on September 12 in Addis Ababa.
Beyonce, who won the Grammy Award in 2001 and 2002, has been invited by the Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa.
Sheraton Addis will pay Beyonce $1 million dollars and pay for the transportation of her band and equipment, APA learnt here on Monday.
The 26-year-old singer is expected to be accompanied by other singers from the United States whose identity has not yet been made public.
Sources told APA that Michael Jackson will also attend the Ethiopian millennium as a special guest together with other VIPs.
The Ethiopian millennium has been recognized by the African Union and United Nations as an African and worldwide celebration.
Over 400,000 Ethiopians from the diaspora, tourists and other invited guests are expected to come to Ethiopia for the millennium celebrations.
The Ethiopian calendar is eight years behind that used by most of the world. It is still 1999 in Ethiopia.
BBC
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.
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The Associated Press
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.
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Reporters Without Borders
Press Release
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.
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