WASHINGTON, DC – The re-arrest of Judge Bertukan Mideksa signifies the degree of unrelenting repression in Ethiopia for which we call upon human rights organizations to push for the release of the opposition leader, an association of support groups in North America said on Monday in a statement.
Full Text:
“We just learned that Mrs. Bitrukan Medekasa has been arrested and taken to prison by Ethiopian secuirty forces from her party’s headquarters. Her colleague, Professor Mesfin Woldemariam and her driver, who were with her at the time, were physically assaulted by the security agents. It is reported that the elder Proessor Mesfin was taken to a hospital.
“Mrs. Birtukan Mediksa has endured a campaign of intimidation by the Ethiopian government controlled media and has been under constant security surveillance restricting her movement since last week. The harassment and now the arrest of Judge Birtukan Midekas is all aimed at preventing her from doing her activity as a leader of the most popular opposition party.
“Her arrest is a powerful reminder of the unrelenting repression in Ethiopia and we call upon all human rights organizations, democratic governments to pressure the government of Ethiopia to release judge Birtukan Mideksa immediately and without any condition.
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CONTACT:
Andinet North American Association of support organizations (Anaaso)
1334 9th Street, NW. Suite # 1 Washington DC. 20001.
After weeks long of unrestrained propaganda and intimidation, the regime of Meles
Zenawi has finally imprisoned Ms. Birtuka Medeksa, leader of Unity for democracy and
justice party (UDJP). This young and fearless leader has sustained barrages of unbearable
grief from security forces longer than humanly possible.
Round the clock surveillance of
her movement which is a gross violation of her human rights has led to highly
orchestrated act of kidnap this morning. The whole objective of the Ethiopian people’s
revolutionary democratic front (EPRDF) engaging in such lawlessness is to silence
Birtukan and leaders of (UDJP) from carrying out their peaceful struggle for Democracy
and Justice.
The security forces cowardly attack of a 78-yr. old human right activist is a blatant act,
not unusual, from a regime increasingly becoming desperate. Such dramas produced and
directed by (EPRDF) over its 18 years in power are familiar scenes that the Ethiopian
people are facing on daily basis. The ruling party’s engagement of its propaganda
machinery and security apparatus in full force are signs of despair reminiscent of the last
days of its predecessor. Obviously, it is long overdue for democratic forces to seize the
opportunities that the ruling party has long been incapacitated and unable to tighten its
grip on power any longer.
Kinijit for Human Rights and Democracy Toronto, unequivocally denounces the
shameless action of the EPRDF and demands for the immediate and unconditional release
of Birtukan Midekssa, and all prisoners of conscience.
We demand the regime of Meles Zenawi to desist from its act of intimidation and
harassment of leaders of democratic institutions including opposition party leaders,
journalists and all human rights activists.
We extend our urgent call to members of the ruling party (EPRDF) to come out clean and
denounce Meles Zenawi’s despicable action against our people.
—
7 Woodmount Ave. Toronto, On. M4C 3X4
Telephone No. 416 422 2962
www.kinijit.ca Email [email protected]
A Canadian Human Rights Advocacy Organization
Background Information
Ms. Bertukan Mideksa is chairwoman of the UDJP which was re-constituted by most former leaders of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP). It is to be remembered that CUDP was the main opposition party which, according to most independent observers, won the election of 2005. The government of Meles Zenawideclared a state of emergency even before the counting of votes was closed and threw the leaders of CUDP to prison for more than a year and a half. Government security officers also gunned down over 193 unarmed civilians in the streets of Addis Ababa and jailed thousands of CUDP supporters, human rights activists and free press members. These atrocities of the government are well-documented by independent human rights activists who reported their findings to international organizations like the EU parliament’s human rights committee. This is also confirmed by the findings of the commission that was formed by the Ethiopian government parliament itself. The members of this commission now live in exile, fearing persecution by the Meles Zenawi government.
After more than a year and a half of incarceration of the leaders of CUDP, the intervention of elders – encouraged and supported by the international community – succeeded in securing an agreement between the government and the opposition leaders – for terms of release and the continuation of their political activity. Since their release, the leaders and their supporters have been working hard to reconstitute the party from scratch. Unable to use their former name of CUDP because of an arbitrary ruling that gave their name away to an individual, the leaders were forced to rename their party as UDJP.
The reconstituted party has started to be active again in organizing and reaching the people. The party has been able to re-open 35 of its offices in the several parts of the country and is on schedule to open 90 plus offices before the 2010 election. The party has started organizing public meetings both abroad and at home. The recent tours to Europe by the chairwoman and the large public meeting in Addis and the positive responses by the people in these meetings are examples of such activities. The party has openly announced its plans to continue holding similar meetings with the public through out the country. These initial contacts with the people were done despite repeated interventions and obstructions by local government agencies at several levels. The government shamefully intervenes in the activities of CUDP even at the highest level. Pro-Government News papers routinely report on the minutes of highest level meetings by UDJP. These papers can do such things only through the help of government security forces whom we suspect are planting listening devices in rooms and halls of the party’s meetings.
The action of the government against the chairwoman of UDJP can be explained only as an attempt to obstruct the on-going political activities of UDJP. It is clear now that government agencies like its election board certifies legal parties for appeasing donor governments while its other agencies, like local officials, the police and the pro-government press engage in subverting the legal and peaceful activity of parties like UDJP.
