Gov’t to start new campaign on “Let our Voice be Heard” organizers

 

(ESAT News) May 1, 2013 – Instead of solving the tension and ongoing peaceful protests of Ethiopian Muslims that has become a threat to the regime, the Ethiopian government is going to arrest high and mid level organizers of the protests from each locality. It is also planning to sue them on alleged link with terrorist organizations, reliable information to ESAT from high level government official states.
Loyal cadres of the regime will soon start taking part in a training that will be held in Tolay and Birshelko training centers for this same purpose. These trainees, who will be composed of community members, Kebele and Party members, will suspects behind the movement and pass their details to officials.
The government’s focus is on university and high school teachers, business people, and students of local Islamic schools. Our sources also stated that identified leaders of the “Let our Voice be Heard” Movement are already under surveillance by the government.
Those that would be arrested are reportedly going to be charged of putting the constitutional order in danger and of being “agents of the Ginbot 7 Movement”. Those that are found in Oromia Region will be charged of being “agents of the OLF and various extremists”.
Although the government arrested Abubaker Ahmed, the leader of the “Let our Voice be Heard” Movement with the hope of quelling the Movement, the protests have not stopped so far. Thus, it is set to once again arrest those that are suspected of leading the Movement from each locality.
The Official said to ESAT that top leaders of the ruling Front have been worried of the Movement of Ethiopian Muslims that the religious protests might change into broader political struggle. The complexity of the issue is also in that most Muslim officials and members of the ruling Front sympatize with the “Let our Voice be Heard” Movement.

Breaking News: TPLF sentenced Eskinder Nega and Andualem Arage

 

ADDIS ABABA (AFP) — An Ethiopian court on Thursday dismissed the appeal of blogger Eskinder Nega and opposition leader Andualem Arage who were jailed last year for terror-related offences.

From left: Journalist Eskinder Nega and opposition leader Andualem Arage

“The sentencing is still correct so there is no reduction,” said Supreme Court judge Dagne Melaku, confirming Eskinder’s jail term of 18 years and Andualem’s life sentence.
One of the charges — serving as a leader of a terrorist organisation — was dropped, but had no affect on sentencing.
After the ruling, Eskinder made an emotional appeal to the court which was crowded with family, friends and diplomats.
“The truth will set us free,” he said. “We want the Ethiopian public to know that the truth will reveal itself, it’s only a matter of time.”
Both men are accused of links to the outlawed opposition group Ginbot 7.
“The walls of justice will be demolished,” Andualem told AFP.
Four other men also jailed for terror-related charges had their appeal quashed.
One other defendant, however, Kinfe Michael, had his sentence reduced from 25 years to 16 years.
Rights groups have called Ethiopia’s anti-terrorism legislation vague and accuse the government of using the law to stifle peaceful dissent.
“I am very sad, I am very angry, I cannot talk rationally,” Eskinder’s wife Serkalem Fasil told AFP after the decision.
Defence lawyer Abebe Guta said that justice had not been served, and that if his clients agreed, they would appeal to court of cassation, Ethiopia’s highest court.
Ethiopia has one of the most restricted media in the world and the highest number of journalists living in exile, according to US-based press watchdog, the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Last year Eskinder was awarded the prestigious PEN America’s “Freedom to Write” annual prize.
Rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch condemned the initial conviction of the Eskinder in July 2012.