afrol News, 28 December - A court in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa sentenced two human rights activists to two and a half years in prison after they were found guilty of "promoting violence and provocations against the government and the public order."

The jailed officials - Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demassie - serve as Directors of ActionAid Ethiopia [the national chapter of an international humanitarian organisation] and Organisation for Justice in Ethiopia, respectively.

Their arrest and subsequent prosecution stemmed following the deadly post electoral clashes that claimed the lives of over 200 people. Over a hundred people - including key figures of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy and journalists - had been charged in connection with the clashes.

The case took a dramatic twist in recent months when all the other accused were granted amnesty after they had pleaded guilty to the charges.

Except Bekele and Demassie who would not admit guilty until proven guilty, all other accused were acquitted and discharged by the government.

Since the convicted officials had served most of their prison term in detention, they are expected to released within a couple of days.

But ActionAid would not allow the case to lay idle, disclosing its plans to file an appeal against the conviction at the African Union court, insisting that the officials were merely carrying out their role to restore democracy and rule of law in the country.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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