LEWISBURG — Bucknell University economics professor Berhanu Nega knows the Ethiopian government would imprison him if he were to return to his homeland.
But his dream for democracy in the African nation of 81 million people has not died. He continues to be an outspoken supporter of opposition leaders.
News reports about the arrest of 35 people suspected of a coup attempt on Friday have identified Berhanu, the former mayor of Addis Ababa, as a leader in the movement.
Government spokesman Ermias Legesse said the group, which calls itself “May 15” after the date of controversial 2005 elections in Ethiopia, is a party being led by Berhanu, and that Berhanu would be arrested if he came to the country. The suspects are comprised of two cliques, one of former soldiers, another of civilians, Legesse said. The charges have not been set, and court proceedings will begin soon, he added.
He denies charges. Berhanu, 51, denies being a part of organizing a coup attempt, but does not deny his involvement in the fight against tyranny.
“It is really a criminal government,” he said during an interview at Bucknell on Monday. “Any struggle against tyranny should be supported.”
Congress has passed a bill in support of democracy in Ethiopia, Berhanu said.
A permanent resident of the United States, Berhanu came to America in 1980 as a refugee from Ethiopia, escaping the then-worsening dictatorship.
He studied in the U.S. and taught at Bucknell from 1990 to 1994.
Upon a government change in the 1990s, Berhanu and his family returned to Ethiopia, intent on helping the democratic effort. “We thought there would be democracy,” he said. “We thought all dictatorships were over.”
Berhanu taught at the Addis Ababa University, and his wife, a doctor of optometry, operated a clinic.
“Like anyone else, we wanted to live in peace and freedom,” Berhanu said. “Freedom is a natural condition of humanity. It is cruel to live in tyranny.”
A full democracy
He sought to play a part in establishing full democracy for the people.
“Our hope was to slowly civilize these people,” Berhanu said. The government, he said, was “intolerable” and “not human.” Officials, accused of genocide, had killed thousands of people.
But for the first time, he said, during the election in 2005, the people were given reasonable freedom to vote.
Berhanu was elected as the mayor of Addis Ababa on May 15.
That was the day, he said, the present government stole the election, he said.
They overthrew all elected officials, and 193 civilians were shot down on the streets during a peaceful demonstration in which they asked the government to accept the possibility of a democratic future. Another 900 were injured.
Sharing a cell with 350
That’s when Berhanu was thrown in jail, under horrendous conditions, he said. At one point, he shared a cell with 350 other people. Within hours, he said, “there was no air to breathe.”
Because his case was internationally known, prison officials never beat him or others associated with him during his 21-month imprisonment. But they saw many others tortured and beaten on a regular basis.
In 2007, Berhanu was sentenced to life in prison for treason, and then pardoned by the Ethiopian government.
Berhanu quickly returned to the U.S. upon his release.
He has testified in front of Congress, and often gives speeches to tell of his experiences, and is “calling for the U.S. to support democracy,” he said. “It is the responsibility of all freedom-loving people to help. That’s what bonds us as human beings.”
In Ethiopia, “anyone who says anything against the government is harassed, beaten, put in jail,” he said. “Liberty can only come by people fighting for their rights.”
Sham election
Another election in Ethiopia is planned for 2010, but Berhanu said it is just for show. And he knows he can’t return as long as the current government is in control.
“It’s unthinkable to go back,” he said.
However, it may be bittersweet news that the recent arrests have been made by the government.
It means the people are still fighting, he said. “Ethiopians are actually fighting this government all over the country. I hope at some point they will be victorious.”
No response was given to an e-mail sent to the American embassy in Ethiopia on Monday morning.
A call to the African Affairs Bureau of the U.S. Department of State was not returned.
ADDIS ABABA (Apr 27) –
Relatives of two prominent exiled Ethiopian politicians are among 35 people jailed in connection with an alleged plot to overthrow Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s government. Ethiopians shocked by news of the arrests are scrambling to learn the identities of the accused plotters and details of their alleged crimes.
Ethiopian officials say they had nothing to add to a statement issued Saturday announcing the arrest of 35 alleged members of Ginbot Seven, an opposition group based outside the country.
Ginbot Seven, or May 15th, is the date of Ethiopia’s disputed 2005 election. The group’s leader, Berhanu Nega, is a charismatic politician who was elected mayor of Addis Ababa in that election. He was arrested afterward, convicted of treason, and sentenced to life in prison along with more than 100 other opposition leaders. All were later pardoned.
Berhanu now lives in the United States, where he is an economics professor at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania.
Saturday’s government statement said security forces had foiled a terror network formed by Berhanu to wage armed struggle against the government. Spokesman Ermias Legesse said a search of suspects’ homes had revealed a cache of weapons, military uniforms and a plan of attack.
In a telephone interview Monday, Berhanu confirmed that Ginbot Seven’s aim is to overthrow the government by any means possible.
“Our position is very clear from the beginning. This is an illegal government. This government is in power by coup de etat in 2005. This government has usurped power by force and therefore any mechanism to get rid of an illegitimate tyranny is legitimate as far as we are concerned,” he said.
Ethiopian media said those arrested included an active duty army general, Teferra Mamo, said to be leader of Ginbot Seven’s military wing. The only other suspect identified was Melaku Tefera, an organizer for the opposition Unity for Democracy and Justice party.
Melaku was among the opposition leaders convicted of treason and later pardoned following the 2005 election. He now joins UDJ leader Birtukan Mideksa, who was re-arrested earlier this year and ordered to serve out her life sentence.
Berhanu Nega says he had been told the accused included a cousin of his living in Addis Ababa, and the 80-year old father of Tsige Andargachew, an exiled Ginbot Seven official living in Britain.
Berhanu told VOA security forces had surrounded his parents’ Addis Ababa home and confiscated their cellphones. “This is a government that accuses your relatives for what you do. Whatever it is that you do. That is why Ato (Mr.) Tsige Andargachew’s father is in prison. Maybe my cousin is in prison for the same reason,” he said.
Several Ethiopian opposition figures expressed concern over the arrests. Parliament Member Bulcha Demeksa agreed that Ginbot Seven would be considered an illegal organization under Ethiopian law, but he expressed skepticism about the reports of a coup plot.
“I honestly believe this is not true. The government of Ethiopia has used such accusations so many times to make it a reason to arrest people … The election approaching. Anybody who could be a viable candidate for an opposition party will be caught by this net,” he said.
A government spokesman said he was busy in meetings but said told VOA further details of the arrests and the coup plot would be forthcoming in the next few days. He declined to speculate on what charges might be filed against those detained, but said the suspects would soon be brought before a judge to hear the charges read.
