Get news alerts Login Central AfricaEast AfricaHorn of AfricaIndian OceanNorth AfricaSouthern AfricaWest AfricaAfrica / World Agriculture - NutritionCulture - ArtsEconomy - DevelopmentEnvironment - NatureGay - LesbianGender - WomenHealthHuman rightsLabourMediaPoliticsScience - EducationSocietyTechnologyTravel - Leisure From Behind By Country By Topic Chronological Press Releases Partner Media Contact Us
   
 


See also:
» 28.01.2011 - African leaders in Ethiopia land grab
» 04.03.2010 - Ethiopian project sets world climate change example
» 04.03.2010 - Mercenary activities focus at Addis Ababa meeting
» 25.02.2010 - Ethiopia calls for back-up
» 17.02.2010 - Somali refugees moved to Ethiopia
» 15.02.2010 - Ethiopia and UK leaders to head climate change team
» 02.02.2010 - African leaders tackle malaria
» 28.01.2010 - Underdevelopment pose serious threat to Africa, Ban








Ethiopia
Politics | Society | Human rights

Ethiopia jails human activists

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.


- Create an e-mail alert for Ethiopia news
- Create an e-mail alert for Politics news
- Create an e-mail alert for Society news
- Create an e-mail alert for Human rights news

    E-mail this to a friend     Printable version

Related pages and feature
Current afrol News Top Stories
Ethiopia
Politics
Society
Human rights
Affairs
Crime
Democracy - Dictatorship
Elections
Law
People
Violence
There are currently no news articles published related to this section.


top of page about afrol News | news | countries | archive | services | feed back | español 

© afrol News. Reproducing or buying afrol News' articles.

   You can contact us at mail@afrol.com