July 17/2007

MISCARRAIGE OF JUSTICE, REPRESSION AGAINST THE PRESS

The regime of  Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has,on July 16, condemned more than 30 opposition leaders to life imprisonment and taken a hard stance to definitively silence the free press. Andualem Ayele of Ethiop,Zelalem Gebre, editor of Menelik, and Abay Gizaw editor of Netsanet newspaper have been sentenced to life while others have been given sentences ranging from three years to eighteen months. Publishers of newspapers and magazines like Ethiop have been sentenced to pay heavy fines and their companies are henceforth closed by decree.

 The ruling front lost the last election but stayed in power by force after massacring more than 200 peaceful protesters and jailing thousands of people including the political leaders now sentenced to life imprisonment. These leaders were taken through a sham trial worthy of Stalinist times and true to form they were also pressurized to sign a mea culpa paper (prepared by none other than Meles Zenawi himself) asking for a pardon for a crime they never did commit. Afte taking them through this humiliation, the regime has now sentenced them to life imprisonment and is trying to project an omnipotent(and "merciful") image by letting it be known that it will release most if not all through a presidential pardon.The life sentence carries with it a lifelong ban on any political activity or participation.

 This is miscarraige of justice par excellence--the culprit making the victim gulity and demanding an apology. The fact is that the condemned leaders did not have to spend one day in jail, they committed no crime, no treason, they did not incite anyone to rebellion.Their "fault" was winning the popular vote  and being elected by the people.The journalists also reported the truth unlike the State- owned media and they are being punished and closed up for good for informing the people and for refusing to be under the tutelage of the regime.

SOCEPP calls on all peace loving people of the world to call for he immediate and UNCONDITIONAL release of all those sentenced on July 16. The thousands jailed since June 2005 must also be released. It is the regime that should ask pardon for violating the rights of the people and not vice versa.

An end to the repression!!

Release all Political Prisoners!!!

SOCEPP