The Association of Andinet Support Organizations in North America (NAASO) has learnt disturbing developments in the prison conditions of Ms. Birtukan Mideksa, Chairwoman of UDJ. According to our sources, Ms. Mideksa still continues to be held in solitary confinement- nearly two months now. Her lawyer is once again prohibited from contacting her after he was allowed to meet with her only once following an international outcry. Ms. Mideksa’s niece, who was allowed to visit her in order to relieve her 72 year old frail mother from the burden of carrying food and other essentials on a long trip, is no more permitted to show up at the gates of the prison. As of today, it is only her elderly mother and her four year old daughter who have a weekly visitation rights.
More disturbing and alarming is the information we are receiving from credible sources inside the prison about the government security operatives’ physical and psychological torture against Ms. Mideksa. Ms. Mideksa is held in a small unhygienic cell infested with bugs. She is not allowed to read books or listen to radio or watch television like the other prisoners. Prison sources have informed us that Ms. Mideksa is subjected to sleep deprivation for days at a time. It is apparent that the government security operatives are putting inhuman and illegal means to break her will. The physical and mental ill-treatment that Birtukan is subjected to is corroborated by her mother who told relatives and friends that she observed an unusual behavior from Ms. Mideksa emanating from distress. Ms. Mideksa’s mother said recently that her daughter has told her, “the ill-treatment is getting beyond she could bear as a human being”. The regime has blocked access to Ms. Mideksa and her condition in prison by all independent observers including human rights organizations.
We call upon all freedom loving governments to protest against this barbaric violation of the basic rights of Ms. Birtukan Mideksa. We particularly urge the donor community to release that their financial support to Meles without a strong demand for change in his regime’s behavior has been an enabler for repression against Birtukan and other political opponents. We want to also to remind these donors that Ethiopians are truly baffled by the contradictory stances of the donor countries’ laudable stand and action against Mugabe of Zimbabwe and the absence of any meaningful actions against the human rights abuses of Ethiopia’s Meles.
Finally, we call on the new US administration to use every influence to exert pressure on the Ethiopian dictators to unconditionally release Ms. Birtukan Mideksa who is in prison for the last two months in blatant violation of all laws of the country and international covenants to which Ethiopia is a signatory.
—- For More Information
North America Association of Support Organizations (NAASO)
1334 9th Street, NW. Suite # 1 Washington DC. 20001.
Tel: (202) 462 0556 Fax: (202) 462 0557 Email: [email protected]
Canadian party calls for the release of Birtukan Mideksa
The New Democratic Party (NDP) of Canada calls for the
Immediate and Unconditional release of Miss Birtukan Mideksa
In his January 15, 2009 letter addressed to Hon. Lawrence Cannon, Canada’s Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Paul Dewar, MP, Ottawa Centre and the NDP’s Foreign Affairs Critic,
stated that: “NDP believes that the Government of Canada must call on the Ethiopian authorities to release Birtukan Mideksa immediately and unconditionally, unless she is
charged with a recognizable criminal offence.”
By clearly stating the details around Ms. Mideksa’s arrest on December 28, 2008 without charge and the harrowing life she has been subjected to in solitary confinement for the mere exercise of her freedoms, Mr. Dewar unequivocally labeled Miss Mideksa as “a
prisoner of conscience.”
He further expressed his concern about the fact that Miss Mideksa has not been
provided access to legal representation of her own choosing. Hence, gravely concerned about solitary confinement and the denial of her rights to legal council, Mr. Dewar expressed his concern to the Foreign Minister stating: “I am deeply concerned that Ms. Mideksa is at risk of torture or other forms of ill-treatment.”
In his closing remarks, Mr. Dewar urged the foreign ministry for an immediate action stating that: “Canada’s NDP believes that the Government of Canada must call on the Ethiopian authorities to release Birtukan Mideksa immediately and unconditionally,” adding: “unless she is charged with a recognizable criminal offence.”
It is to be remembered that two other Canadian parliamentarians – The Hon. Maria Minna (Toronto) and Hon. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg) responded to SOCEPP Canada’s similar appeals and have issued letters urging the Prime Minister of Canada to intervene on January 19 and 15, respectively. These two letters were posted on the web to the general public. Both parliamentarians called for the immediate and unconditional release of Birtukan Mideksa. The details of the two strongly worded letters can be found posted on various websites.
SOCEPP-Canada is grateful and appreciative of the action of the three Canadian
Parliamentarians and others who continue to be a voice for the voiceless in Ethiopia.
WE continue to urge the Government of Canada and the international community to
continue using their influence and demand the respect of basic rights and the rule of law in Ethiopia including the immediate release of Birtukan Mideksa, Chair of the UDJP, Tsegaye Gebremedhin (and compatriots), Leader/s of the EPRP, the popular Ethiopian singer and icon: Teddy Afro, Mr. Bekele Jarso (Oromo Federalist Party) and many others who continue to languish in prison under inhumane conditions only because of their political beliefs and for exercising their internationally recognized human rights.
We urge Canadians of Ethiopian origin and all others who stand for Human Rights and Justice in Ethiopia to continue writing to their members of parliament urging them to demand the end of human rights abuse.
— Contact Socepp:
P. O. BOX 413, STATION – E.,
TORONTO, ON (Canada) M6H 4E3
Email: [email protected]
