December 2/2008

CONDEMN THE RAILROADING OF SINGER TEDROS KASSAHUN

The regime of Meles Zenawi controls the judiciary in Ethiopia and, true to its Stalinist convictions, uses the court as means of punishing dissidents and taking revenge against those that dare to displease it. Popular singer Tedros Kassahin, known as Teddy Afro, has been railroaded through the kangaroo court and found guilty of manslaughter--(running over a pedestrian).

Teddy Afro is a popular singer who earned the wrath of the power holders because he sang songs that are critical of the regime and called for the unity of the people of Ethiopia and the ethnic discriminatory regime was incensed by this. Incessant pressures on him did not bear fruit in that he refused to be bought by the regime. And thus, the accusation of running over a pedestrian was concocted and as the court proceedings showed the case was a sham. The regime was not able to present any credible witness and the so called evidence was apparently made up and contradictory. That the regime's hatchet man of a judge, Judge Leul, was reassigned the case has been also noted and had been taken as a sure sign of conviction.  Come next Friday, the puppet judge is ready to sentence Tedros. The regime is out to punish and humiliate even if popular protest may force it to stage yet another "he asked us for a pardon" charade and to release him.

In Ethiopia, thee is no due process, no rule of law,no independent judiciary. Tedros Kassahun is the latest victim of a system that has thus incarcerated more than 35,000 political prisoners and disappeared dozens. SOCEPP condemns the travesty of justice and call for the immediate release of Tedrros Kassahun and all political prisoners.

SOCEPP