Kaliti restricted on New Year's Day
Kinijit news release | September 11, 2006
ADDIS ABABA - Today is Ethiopia's New Year's Day, and families, friends and supporters who had hoped to meet Kinijit leaders, journalists and human rights activists at Kaliti Prison were denied access under latest restriction order imposed by the government.
Alemash Melese, 12, collects flowers to celebrate the Ethiopian New Year in Lalibela, central Ethiopia, September 11, 2006 (Reuters/Euan Denholm - Ethiopia)
Nothing changed since the first day of restriction which exempts spouses and children of the prisoners who could present picture IDs. The respected political detainees were dismayed by the actions of the government and expressed their protest by declining any food or other necessitities brought to them.
There was hope that the prison administration will behave humanely and allow visitation of the leaders by their loved ones. However, once again the government refused to allow visitors; as a result, the detainees decided to remain in their cells.
On this occasion, the Kinijit supporters call on the international community to once again condemn the inhuman acts of the EPRDF government, and pressure the government to lift the restriction.
Despite the harsh measures being taken by the regime, however, the spirit of the Ethiopian people to carry the struggle for peace, justice and democracy remains high, all the time the nation being inspired by the unwavering stand of the Ethiopian leaders behind bars at Kaliti.
Kaliti Restricted
A new government directive has barred relatives and friends from visiting Kinijit leaders and other political prisoners behind bars at Kiliti, a top Kinijit source informed Ethiomedia on Saturday.
"Only spouses and children that provide photo I.D.s upon request are granted access to visit the inmates," the source said.
As a result of the new restrictions, Bertukan Mideksa could not meet with the only sister who used to regularly visit her with food and clothes. The popular Kinijit leaders protested against the new measures by staying back in their cells. Scores of Kinijit family members, supporters and friends who had travelled to Kaliti Prison to wish the leaders and other political prisoners a happy Ethiopian New Year were turned back by prison guards.
Two top judges defect
Woldemichael Meshesha, a top Meles Zenawi loyalist judge, and Firehiwot Samuel, the president of the Supreme Court, both on the commission that was set up to investigate into the killings of June and November 2005 have reportedly fled the country.
The popular blogger Ethio-Zagol said the two left Ethiopia despite a relentless effort by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to reverse the findings of their investigation which incriminate the ruling party as the sole responsible body for the deaths in the post-election crisis.
ETHIOMEDIA.COM - ETHIOPIA'S PREMIER NEWS AND VIEWS WEBSITE
© COPYRIGHT 20001-2006ETHIOMEDIA.COM. EMAIL: webmaster@ethiomedia.com
ADDIS ABABA - Today is Ethiopia's New Year's Day, and families, friends and supporters who had hoped to meet Kinijit leaders, journalists and human rights activists at Kaliti Prison were denied access under latest restriction order imposed by the government.
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| Alemash Melese, 12, collects flowers to celebrate the Ethiopian New Year in Lalibela, central Ethiopia, September 11, 2006 (Reuters/Euan Denholm - Ethiopia) |
Nothing changed since the first day of restriction which exempts spouses and children of the prisoners who could present picture IDs. The respected political detainees were dismayed by the actions of the government and expressed their protest by declining any food or other necessitities brought to them.
There was hope that the prison administration will behave humanely and allow visitation of the leaders by their loved ones. However, once again the government refused to allow visitors; as a result, the detainees decided to remain in their cells.
On this occasion, the Kinijit supporters call on the international community to once again condemn the inhuman acts of the EPRDF government, and pressure the government to lift the restriction.
Despite the harsh measures being taken by the regime, however, the spirit of the Ethiopian people to carry the struggle for peace, justice and democracy remains high, all the time the nation being inspired by the unwavering stand of the Ethiopian leaders behind bars at Kaliti.
Kaliti Restricted
A new government directive has barred relatives and friends from visiting Kinijit leaders and other political prisoners behind bars at Kiliti, a top Kinijit source informed Ethiomedia on Saturday.
"Only spouses and children that provide photo I.D.s upon request are granted access to visit the inmates," the source said.
As a result of the new restrictions, Bertukan Mideksa could not meet with the only sister who used to regularly visit her with food and clothes. The popular Kinijit leaders protested against the new measures by staying back in their cells. Scores of Kinijit family members, supporters and friends who had travelled to Kaliti Prison to wish the leaders and other political prisoners a happy Ethiopian New Year were turned back by prison guards.
Two top judges defect
Woldemichael Meshesha, a top Meles Zenawi loyalist judge, and Firehiwot Samuel, the president of the Supreme Court, both on the commission that was set up to investigate into the killings of June and November 2005 have reportedly fled the country.
The popular blogger Ethio-Zagol said the two left Ethiopia despite a relentless effort by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to reverse the findings of their investigation which incriminate the ruling party as the sole responsible body for the deaths in the post-election crisis.
ETHIOMEDIA.COM - ETHIOPIA'S PREMIER NEWS AND VIEWS WEBSITE
© COPYRIGHT 20001-2006ETHIOMEDIA.COM. EMAIL: webmaster@ethiomedia.com
