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Ethiopia is accused of
'torturing and illegally jailing opponents of
regime'
By Steve Bloomfield in Addis Ababa
Published: 09 February 2007
Ethiopia is conducting a systematic campaign of
intimidation, detention and torture against
political opponents of its increasingly
autocratic government, human rights groups have
alleged.
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, a celebrated ally
of the US administration in its "war on terror"
and previously invited to sit on Tony Blair's
Africa Commission, has become increasingly
blatant in his suppression of opposition.
At least 40 opposition supporters in the country
have been held in prison since December where
torture has become commonplace, according to
evidence from Amnesty International.
None of the detainees being held in Addis
Ababa's Maikelawi prison have been allowed to
see family members or lawyers and released
suspects say prison guards routinely torture
inmates.
The opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy
(CUD) also claimed several of their supporters
had been shot dead in a series of extra-judicial
killings.
Those held include a 23-year-old IT student
called Endalkachew Melese who was arrested on 15
December in Addis Ababa. His family has been
allowed to bring him food but have not been able
to see him. Despite being taken to court, he is
yet to be formally charged. Mr Melese, like the
others held with him, is a supporter of the CUD.
Mr Meles was once the poster boy for good
governance in Africa and feted only two years
ago by the West as one of Africa's brightest
democratic leaders. Since then, his star has
fallen rapidly.
Mr Meles first changed the constitution to allow
himself to seek a third term as prime minister
and the subsequent elections in May 2005 were
marred by allegations of fraud.
Mr Meles and the opposition claimed victory and
the prime minister called in the security forces
to quell unrest. Several thousand suspected
government opponents were arrested after
demonstrations in Addis Ababa in 2005. Police
and security forces opened fire on
demonstrators, killing 187 and wounding 765.
There are currently 76 opposition leaders and
journalists standing trial for treason and
"attempted genocide". Their trial, which has
been condemned by human rights campaigners and
EU nations, including Britain, is set to resume
on 19 February.
There is a sense of fear on the streets of Addis
Ababa when the subject of politics is raised.
Martin Hill, Amnesty International's Ethiopia
expert, said: "We are very concerned that
members of an opposition party are being held
incommunicado and possibly on fabricated
charges. They are clearly at risk of torture and
ill treatment and that is why we have appealed
to the authorities."
The Ethiopian government denied any opposition
supporters had been arrested. Bereket Simon, an
adviser to the prime minister, said: "We have
arrested people related to the terror plot
only," a reference to the allegation that
Ethiopia's bitter rival, Eritrea, attempted to
plant a bomb during last month's African Union
summit in Addis Ababa.
"No opposition supporters have been arrested,"
he said. "It is simply unfounded." As Mr Meles'
democratic credentials have taken a battering,
he has sought the backing of the West,
particularly the United States, in fighting the
"war on terror".
A coalition of Islamists took control of much of
Ethiopia's neighbour, Somalia, last year,
prompting fears in the US administration that
the war-ravaged failed state was becoming a safe
haven for would-be al-Qa'ida terrorists. Mr
Meles portrayed himself as America's sole ally
in the Horn of Africa and the US gave him tacit
approval to launch an attack on Somalia's
Islamists.
Britain has made it clear it no longer sees Mr
Meles as a democratic leader. Britain's
International Development Secretary, Hilary
Benn, announced last year that the Government
would no longer provide aid direct to the
Ethiopian government.
"Tony Blair was personally betrayed by what
Meles did," said Amdargachew Tsege, a leader of
the CUD. "The crackdown on the democracy
movement was savage. When Mr Blair saw him in
South Africa, he looked at him as if he was a
piece of something. They are not supportive of
Meles but, just like the Americans, Britain has
its own interest of fighting against terror. All
other issues take second place."
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