Woyanne court convicts Daniel and Netsanet

BBC

An Ethiopian Woyanne Kangaroo court has convicted two anti-poverty activists of inciting violence after the elections in 2005.

Daniel Bekele, who works for ActionAid International, and local charity worker Netsanet Demissie could face up to 10 years in prison.

The men were acquitted of more serious charges of violating the constitution.

They were the last of more than 130 defendants charged in relation to the protests complaining of fraud in polls won by the prime minister’s party.

ActionAid spokesman Tony Durham said the group were dismayed by the verdict.

The men will be sentenced on Wednesday.

Pardons

“Despite the lack of evidence proving their involvement in leadership and participation during the unrest, no evidence could be found to refute accusations of incitement,” judge Mohammed Aminsani told the court, AFP news agency reports.

“As a result, the court has found them guilty on this respect.”

Hundreds of thousands of people took part in demonstrations at alleged vote-rigging and some 193 people were killed.

Most of the dead were protesters, killed by security forces.

In August, the authorities pardoned more than 30 opposition members detained after the protest march two years ago.

Their release came a month after 38 senior opposition members were freed after signing a letter of pardon acknowledging a role in the disorder after the polls.