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Ethiopia - Human Rights Campaigners to Hear Verdict
advertisement12/23/07
Ethiopia - Human Rights Campaigners to Hear Verdict
Ethiopian Human Rights Campaigners to Hear Verdict Tomorrow
VERDICT MONDAY 24TH ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
After more than two years in prison, two Ethiopian human rights campaigners on trial for treason hope to hear tomorrow morning whether they can spend the holidays at home with their families.
Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie, both coordinators of Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) in Ethiopia, are the last two accused in the high profile Ethiopian trial that originally charged 131 politicians, journalists, organisations and civil society leaders. They have been detained since November 2005 on charges of conspiracy and "outrage against the constitution and constitutional order." If found guilty, the human rights campaigners could face life imprisonment or even death sentences.
Their verdict has been delayed four times since final statements were presented in August. Daniel and Netsanet have been denied bail throughout their trial.
Aside from their work with GCAP, Daniel is also head of the policy department at ActionAid International Ethiopia. Netsanet is also the founder of local human rights group Organisation for Social Justice in Ethiopia. Both Daniel and Netsanet assisted in monitoring the May 2005 election, peaceful and legitimate civil society work for which they now stand trial
As previously, CIVICUS Secretary General and GCAP chair, Kumi Naidoo, will be present in Addis Ababa for the hearing.
For background information on the trial, please visit:
civicus.org
5 comments
Criminals desrve to stay locked up in JAIL.
I actually find it funny, in a cynical way, that these men are still in jail. Let's be true to ourselves, these two men possess no harm or ever have possessed any harm towards the state. They are activists who are doing their job in accordance with the laws and provisions set in the constitution and general laws.
They are NOT criminals and deserve freedom.
A Merry Christmas to them.
Samuel Gebru,
Thanks for correcting me but again there are more issues in Ethiopia we can discuss rather than those people who did not live up to their duties. I don’t find it funny at all but if they did not comment any crimes they could have been simple about it and say look we are not criminals if the Ethiopian general public felt we’re criminals then “sorry” and be done with it. Now, they are facing possibly 5-10 yrs in jail. I don’t think that is good thing but sometimes we should think twice before we do something, otherwise it comes back and haunts us. I would rather see these people out of jail, Ethiopians focusing in better democratic system and building better/stronger economy. It does not do us any good to try to proof each other wrong Samuel. You wishes them merry Christmas… I would like to add, Merry Christmas to everyone although Ethiopian Christmas is 2-weeks
away…
{By the way, I am aware of your site and I don’t think you are old enough to understand the Ethiopian system} you got to live it and breathe it to understand it. Just your family are from Ethiopia does not make you the expert about Ethiopia… you’re starting be you got long way to go. Good luck to you in grading high school and heading off to college. I hope you will one day serve positively in Ethiopia for Ethiopians.
Take care,
Z-Mike
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