The ruling was upheld although the parties had shown evidences that much of the money was obtained before the law that banned overseas donations was enacted, according to Addis Fortune website.
The bank accounts of EHRC’s in the amount of 9.5 million Birr and EWLA’s 10 million Birr were frozen five months ago but the two had appealed to a supreme board hoping the ruling would be reversed.
However, the appellate board approved the previous ruling, eventhough both had evidences that their money was received prior to the new decree came into effect, and in the case of EHRC, some of the money was obtained from local sources, which should have been spared, the website said.
The board consists of Asmelash Woldegiorgis, MP and chairperson; Kebede Worku (MD), State Minister for Health; Woldai Amha (Ph.D.), former president of the Eth. Economics Association; and Fuad Ibrahim, state minister for foreign affairs.
The membership shows almost all of them are members of the ruling party, which is the architect of the law enacted to kill organizations that promote the political and democratic rights of Ethiopian citizens.
The source of the news said 1.5 million Birr was returned to EWLA to pay the salaries of its employees. It lost the rest.
The Charities and Socities Agency also revoked the licenses of two foreign NGOs, namely the Samaritan’s Purse and Mobility without Barrier Foundation-Ethiopia (MWBF-E) due to what Addis Fortune called tax evasion and other charges.
