|
 
MEDIA ADVISORY
Verdict delayed:
Ethiopian activists now detained for over
two years
9 October 2007 – Anti-poverty activists
Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie today
heard that they must wait in prison for at
least another six weeks, as judges in
Ethiopia's Federal High Court again delayed
the verdict until 22 November 2007, bringing
their total detention to over two years.
Both activists are recognised by Amnesty
International as prisoners of conscience.
“The
courts must stop delaying. It is
unacceptable to force these courageous civil
society leaders to spend any longer in
prison. Justice delayed is justice denied,”
said Kumi Naidoo, CIVICUS Secretary General
and co-chair of the Global Call to Action
against Poverty (GCAP).
Daniel and Netsanet were due to hear their
verdict this morning, 9am local time in
Addis Ababa, on charges of conspiracy
to overthrow the government, specifically,
“outrage against the constitution and
constitutional order.” Both coordinators of
GCAP, they are the last two accused in the
high profile Ethiopian treason trial that
originally charged 131 politicians,
journalists, organisations and civil society
leaders.
“Both are dedicated GCAP campaigners. They
spoke out against injustice in their
country, so it's a double tragedy they won't
be able to take part in GCAP’s global Stand
Up and Speak Out day of action on 17
October. When we stand up next week, we will
be speaking out in solidarity with them
too,”
said Naidoo.
In delaying the verdict, the
judges explained that the Prosecution, and
subsequently the Defence, had submitted
their final comments to the court later than
expected, not allowing the judges adequate
time to make a decision.
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.
At the start of the trial in May 2006, 131
opposition politicians, journalists and
civil society leaders stood accused of a
range of charges from genocide to treason.
They were among thousands who were detained
following protests accusing the government
of rigging the 15 May 2005 presidential
elections. Many of the accused were
acquitted during the course of the trial.
Others were convicted but pardoned in July
and August 2007 – all of whom had allegedly
signed a confession, admitting use of
"unconstitutional means to change the
constitutionally established government
functions” following the 2005 elections.
Although they were asked to sign a similar
statement, Daniel and Netsanet declined.
They argued that their activities in 2005
were entirely legal and did not serve to
undermine, but rather to protect and promote
Ethiopia’s constitutional order.
ENDS
For more information or interviews, please
contact:
Julie Middleton, CIVICUS Civil Society Watch
at +27 82 4036040,
cswatch@civicus.org
Micha Hollestelle, CIVICUS Media Manager at
+27 76 6338525,
micha.hollestelle@civicus.org
Ciara O’Sullivan, GCAP Media Coordinator at
+34 679 594 809,
ciara_os@hotmail.com
For more information on CIVICUS:
www.civicus.org
For more information on GCAP Stand Up and
Speak Out on 17 October:
www.whiteband.org
|