Appeal for unconditional release of antipoverty activists in Ethiopia

His Excellency Prime Minister of Ethiopia Meles Zenawi
P.O. Box 1031, Addis Ababa,Ethiopia,
Tel. 251 11 552044 or 251 11 113241
Fax. 251 11 552020

cc: Hon. Ato. Assefa Kessito Minister of Justice,
P.O. Box 1370, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
Tel. 251 51 515099/ 251 51 157950,
Fax: 251 51 517755, E-mail: [email][email protected]

His Excellency Seyoum Mesfin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia
Email: [email][email protected]

His Excellency Kemal Bedri, President of the Federal Supreme Court and Chairman of the National Election Board
Email: [email][email protected]

His Excellency Alpha Konare, Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union
Tel: +251 11 5514554
Fax: +251 11 5513036
Email: [email][email protected]

26 May 2006

Urgent letter of appeal on Ethiopian National Day

Your Excellency, Prime Minister of Ethiopia Meles Zenawi,

On 28 May, the people and Government of Ethiopia will celebrate Ethiopia’s National Day, marking the anniversary of your independence from the injustice and lawlessness that characterised the previous military dictatorship. While saluting the people and the Government of Ethiopia for the gains that you have made over the last 15 years, we take this opportunity to remind your government of the sacred commitments that were made to foster democracy, freedom, development and human rights.

We appeal today to the Government of Ethiopia to fulfill those promises and to allow civil society to flourish once more in your country. While all the people of Ethiopia should be celebrating 15 years of freedom, many of those who have exercised their constitutionally guaranteed rights remain detained in prison on charges of treason, or silenced through fear of official reprisals.

We urge your government to unconditionally release and drop all charges against the civil society activists currently being detained on charges of treason, particularly the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) campaign coordinators, Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie.

The trial of Daniel and Netsanet, together with more than 100 civil society activists, journalists and members of the opposition parties, began on 2 May 2006. The defendants face six charges, including attempted genocide and treason. Specifically, Daniel and Netsanet are charged under Article 238(2) of the criminal code with, “the crime of outrage against the constitution and the constitutional order.” The charge can carry the severe punishments of life imprisonment or death. Both Daniel and Netsanet have been denied bail, even after appealing to the Supreme Court.

We also encourage you to re-open civic space for the work of the vibrant civil society movement in Ethiopia, which is actively and peacefully engaged alongside your government, in fighting the pervasive poverty plaguing the country. By charging courageous social activists, your government is discouraging work vitally important to the welfare of the people of Ethiopia.

The Government of Ethiopia could clearly re-assert its commitment to democracy, development and human rights by releasing civil society activists and publicly assuring Ethiopian civil society of their constitutionally guaranteed freedoms to participate in public affairs. We are confident that your government will work to ensure all the people of Ethiopia can enjoy all the rights and freedoms promised to them 15 years ago.

Rest assured of our highest respect and intentions for you, the state and people of Ethiopia.
Yours sincerely,

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
OTHERS TO BE ADDED