Harsh reprisals at Kaliti
Ethiomedia
July 15, 2006
ADDIS ABABA - When Kinijit Secretary General Muluneh Eyoel was held incommunicado for several weeks in a dark cell, there were fears he might have suffered some health problems. Now he is paying the price of fighting for freedom and democracy by nursing a severe pain related to vision problems, according to a popular Ethiopian blog - Seminawork.
Likewise, says Seminawork, Dr. Berhanu Nega - the first democratically-elected mayor of Addis - had suffered a shortness of breath, and rushed to a hospital. Some sources said he might have suffered minor heart attacks, while others hinted at a serious, athsma-like illness that could be costly to his life. Doctors who treated the opposition leader recommended their patient get enough breathing space during his incarceration.
However, the government threw the ailing Dr. Berhanu back into a crowd of 450 political prisoners all sardine-packed under one roof. It is a political reprisal being played out at Kaliti, the prison where the country's top-notch opposition leaders, journalists and human rights activists are held on fabricated charges of treason and genocide.
Repeated appeals to improve the appalling prison conditions for the ailing leaders of Kinijit have fallen on deaf ears of the regime. The prisoners of coscience have sent out appeals to human rights organizations.
In another development, a chairman of the subdued opposition Oromo National Congress (ONC) has narrowly escaped death after his deputy loyal to dictator Meles Zenawi fired a shot during a political melee in their office, the Voice of America (VOA) announced on Friday.
ONC Chairman Teferra Legesse said the violence ensued after the party issued a statement supporting its former chairman, Dr. Merera Gudina, a measure that infuriated political hirelings of Meles Zenawi. Merera was a vocal critic of the Meles regime in the run-up to and aftermath of the rigged May 2005 elections.
Teferra said ONC deputy Tolossa Tesfaye and his colleague Bona Tadesse had broken into his office when Tolossa fired a shot but missed him.
Teferra told the VOA reporter the attack had a government backing as security forces simultaneously carried out detentions of ONC parliamentarians.
Deputy Chairman Tolossa Tesfaye on his part said Teferra Legesse and those others who issued the statement on behalf of ONC about their reconciliation with Merera Gudina were ex-members of the party who had no real power. A National Electoral Board official, however, refuted the official's allegation and told the VOA that Teferra Legesse was still chairman of ONC.
VOA said Teferra was scared for his life and the life of those other MPs who were being hunted down in their own country by forces loyal to the Meles regime.
The whereabouts of two ONC officials - Secretary General Takele Oma and Organizational Affairs chief Deyessa Letta - remained unknown, the radio quoted Teferra as saying.
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July 15, 2006
ADDIS ABABA - When Kinijit Secretary General Muluneh Eyoel was held incommunicado for several weeks in a dark cell, there were fears he might have suffered some health problems. Now he is paying the price of fighting for freedom and democracy by nursing a severe pain related to vision problems, according to a popular Ethiopian blog - Seminawork.
Likewise, says Seminawork, Dr. Berhanu Nega - the first democratically-elected mayor of Addis - had suffered a shortness of breath, and rushed to a hospital. Some sources said he might have suffered minor heart attacks, while others hinted at a serious, athsma-like illness that could be costly to his life. Doctors who treated the opposition leader recommended their patient get enough breathing space during his incarceration.
However, the government threw the ailing Dr. Berhanu back into a crowd of 450 political prisoners all sardine-packed under one roof. It is a political reprisal being played out at Kaliti, the prison where the country's top-notch opposition leaders, journalists and human rights activists are held on fabricated charges of treason and genocide.
Repeated appeals to improve the appalling prison conditions for the ailing leaders of Kinijit have fallen on deaf ears of the regime. The prisoners of coscience have sent out appeals to human rights organizations.
In another development, a chairman of the subdued opposition Oromo National Congress (ONC) has narrowly escaped death after his deputy loyal to dictator Meles Zenawi fired a shot during a political melee in their office, the Voice of America (VOA) announced on Friday.
ONC Chairman Teferra Legesse said the violence ensued after the party issued a statement supporting its former chairman, Dr. Merera Gudina, a measure that infuriated political hirelings of Meles Zenawi. Merera was a vocal critic of the Meles regime in the run-up to and aftermath of the rigged May 2005 elections.
Teferra said ONC deputy Tolossa Tesfaye and his colleague Bona Tadesse had broken into his office when Tolossa fired a shot but missed him.
Teferra told the VOA reporter the attack had a government backing as security forces simultaneously carried out detentions of ONC parliamentarians.
Deputy Chairman Tolossa Tesfaye on his part said Teferra Legesse and those others who issued the statement on behalf of ONC about their reconciliation with Merera Gudina were ex-members of the party who had no real power. A National Electoral Board official, however, refuted the official's allegation and told the VOA that Teferra Legesse was still chairman of ONC.
VOA said Teferra was scared for his life and the life of those other MPs who were being hunted down in their own country by forces loyal to the Meles regime.
The whereabouts of two ONC officials - Secretary General Takele Oma and Organizational Affairs chief Deyessa Letta - remained unknown, the radio quoted Teferra as saying.
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