Ethiopia frees 10 jailed opposition leaders
Afrique Jet,ECOWAS
December 17, 2009
Ethiopian authorities have released former opposi tion politicians, jailed for causing mayhem after the 2005 general elections, but the fate of an influential former party leader, Birtukan Mideksa, remains unclear.
Ethiopia's Pardon Board cleared 10 politicians to be released but lifted earlier pardon given to four other politicians for allegedly "repeating the crimes for which they were jailed following the 2005 post-election violence,' according to state media reports Wednesday.
The leaders of the Coalition for Democracy and Unity (CUD), which contested the 2005 elections, were later jailed for trying to overthrow a legally-elected government.
Ethiopian Justice Ministry officials said the Pardon Board met 10 December to review the requests presented by various prisoners, including the 10 CUD officials.
Their release took effect from Tuesday.
Ethiopians are bracing for general elections in May, 2010. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has pledged the government would not repeat the mistakes that led to the post-election violence in 2005.
The Ethiopian Premier also warned foreign governments against applying "undue pressure" on the Ethiopian government, promising that the government would conduct a free and fair election.
Zenawi insisted that those jailed for the violence in 2005 were jailed on their own pleas of guilt. He has been consistent in his rejection of pressure to free CUD leader Birtukan, saying freeing her due to foreign pressure or pressure from any quarters could suggest that there were people in Ethiopia who are politically or legally untouchable.
However, Birtukan's supporters insisted she was being persecuted politically. Her pardon was lifted after she allegedly said her release from prison in 2007 was due to a common understanding and negotiations with the government.
The government said she broke the conditions of her pardon. She was later arrested on Christmas eve in 2008 and hauled back to prison to serve life sentence. The Justice Ministry said the defendants committed repeated crimes and failed to respect their own preconditions when they requested clemency.
Those whose pardons were upturned included Muluneh Eyuel Fage, Dr. Berhanu Nega Bonger, Melaku Tefera Tilahun and Mesfin Aman, according to state media reports.