January 18, 2002

RELEASE THE TEACHERS' UNION LEADERS

EPRDF police have jailed two leaders of the Ethiopian Teacher's Union (ETA) and re trying to concoct a case against them to send them to long prison terms. The two illergally detained teachers are Ato Teferi Gesese (secretary general for the Addis Abeba branch of the ETA ) and Ato Wordefa Gufera (in charge of the ETA in Gamo Gofa). Detained in Arba Minch (Gamo Gofa) they were taken after some days to Awassa and brought before a judge .

The court appearance at Awassa has proved amply yhat the two were just detained fro political reasons as part of the uninterrupted official campaign to destroy the ETA whose leaders have been murdered in and out of prison and whose secretary general, Dr. Taye Welde Semayat, is serving along prison sentence on trumped up charges. Ato Teferi and Ato Woredfa are being kept in jail till the prosecution comes up with a "credible" accusation and there are fears that their case may be dragged on and on to keep them behind bars for months and months.

 The EPRDF must be made to sop the repression against the ETA and to release the above two civic association leaders. The charade of taking Dr. Taye to court week after week for months should also end and the secretary general of the ETA should be released without any delay or conditions.

Send your protests to: Prime Minister Meles Zenawi

Fax no 251-1-552020

 E mail:  national.parliament@telecom.net.et

SOCEPP