Jailed opposition leader losing sight, failing health Ethiopians in Diaspora plead for international intervention
Kinijit
February 21, 2006
Kinijit leader Hailu Shawel
WASHINGTON DC – Hailu Shawel, the chairman of Ethiopia's Unity and
Democracy Party and a political prisoner under the Meles Zenawi regime, is
in danger of going blind if he does not receive immediate medical
attention. Hailu, 70, a diabetic in frail health is one of the hundreds of
political and civic leaders and journalists jailed for protesting or
reporting election fraud by Meles last year. Many of these protestors face
the death penalty.
According to his family, Hailu has completely lost vision in one eye
and has only partial vision in the other eye due to severe acute retinal
detachment. EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel's delegation to
Ethiopia this week concluded that Shawel's condition required immediate
medical attention to keep him from losing his eyesight. U.S. Embassy
medical personnel reviewed Hailu’s file and stated that the patient
required immediate hospitalization.
"Meles is effectively carrying out a slow death penalty on his
prisoners," stated a senior Kinijit North American official, “There are no
surgeons or facilities in Ethiopia where this delicate procedure can be
performed. We are pleading with the international community to pressure
Meles to perform this humane act."
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| Kinijit leader Hailu Shawel |
According to his family, Hailu has completely lost vision in one eye and has only partial vision in the other eye due to severe acute retinal detachment. EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel's delegation to Ethiopia this week concluded that Shawel's condition required immediate medical attention to keep him from losing his eyesight. U.S. Embassy medical personnel reviewed Hailu’s file and stated that the patient required immediate hospitalization.
"Meles is effectively carrying out a slow death penalty on his prisoners," stated a senior Kinijit North American official, “There are no surgeons or facilities in Ethiopia where this delicate procedure can be performed. We are pleading with the international community to pressure Meles to perform this humane act."
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© COPYRIGHT 20001-2006ETHIOMEDIA.COM. EMAIL: webmaster@ethiomedia.com
