Jailed Ethiopian leaders refuse plea

AFP

December 29, 2005

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Jailed Kinijit leaders (Front from L) Prof. Mesfin Woldemariam, V-flashing Debebe Eshetu, Ms. Nigist G. Hiwot, Kinijit Vice President Ms. Birtukan Mideksa seen returning to prison after a court hearing on December 22, 2005. International calls are on the rise for the release of the Ethiopian leaders whom the tyrant Meles Zenawi has charged with “treason and genocide.” Meles on Wednesday suffered a devastating blow after donors considered withholding $375 million in direct budgetary aid. Despite the first major warning, observers say more needs to be done to force Meles step down peacefully than trying to rule a country by sheer terror and bloodshed. (Photo: Fortune magazine)

ADDIS ABABA – A group of 131 detained Ethiopian opposition figures and journalists refused en masse on Wednesday to plead on treason and other serious charges. The charges are related to an alleged attempt to overthrow the government after disputed elections.

Members of the group — who include nearly the entire leadership of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) and 22 journalists — said they would not enter “guilty” or “not guilty” pleas to the counts because they have been denied access to their lawyers while in custody.

“In order to say whether we understand the charges, we need professional advice which we have been denied by the prison administration,” CUD vice president Bertukan Middekesa told judges at Ethiopia’s Federal High Court.

Defense attorneys boycotted Wednesday’s hearing to protest their inability to meet with their clients, according to Bertukan, herself a lawyer by profession, who with others renewed requests to be granted bail.

“We would like to ask the court to address our request of bail before we answer any questions or enter into the charges,” said Yenineh Mulatu, another senior CUD official who is also a lawyer.

“The constitution grants bail as right for every citizen in this country … denying us bail is violating our consitutional rights,” he said. “We are members of an officially registered political party which has won respect and credibility from Ethiopian society and the international community.”

Yenineh and others argued the prosecution had not produced any evidence that members of the group were guilty of conspiracy to overthrow the government, treason, genocide or any of the other charges that have been levelled against them.

“As no evidence is documented against us of involvement in any crime following the May 2005 election, there is reason to deny us bail,” said Daniel Bekelle, one of three aid workers facing conspiracy charges.

But prosecutors told the judges that the charges — which stem from two rounds of deadly violence that erupted in the capital and other towns in June and November during protests against alleged fraud in the May 15 polls — were too serious to allow the group to be released before trial.

“Trying to overthrow a constitutional government by means of force is a serious crime especially in aggravated situations that result in the loss of life and property damage,” prosecutor Mehasha Abera said. “Understanding all this, the court should not grant bail to these people.”

Presiding Judge Adil Ahmed the adjourned the hearing and said he would rule on the bail request on January 4.

The charges have been denounced as political by the opposition and drawn concern from human rights groups and many foreign donors who fear Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s government may be backtracking on democratic commitments.

Meles maintains the CUD leadership and its supporters were trying to provoke the violent overthrow of the government through poll protests that have twice sparked clashes in and around the capital, killing at least 85 people.

All 131 are accused of “conspiracy to overthrow a constitutional government by force,” while different groups face six additional counts including “treason,” “genocide” and “attacking the political or territorial integrity of the state.”

The genocide charge stems from allegations the CUD targetted at least one pro-government minority in its protests against the results of the elections, which it claims were stolen by Meles’ ruling party.

The CUD won 109 seats in the 547-member parliament in the election but says it was robbed of victory by fraud, is boycotting the legislature and has urged a campaign of civil disobedience to press for new elections.