June 7/2003

The High Court in Addis Abeba has sentenced Eshetu Shenkute Belete to be hanged in public for the crime of killing 27 people during the Red Terror campaign in the late seventies when the Mengistu Haile Mariam regime murdered thousands and thousands of members and sympathizers of the opposition Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party (EPRP). In this same week, Dr. Alemayehu Tefera, accused also of Red Terror crimes, has been released after 11 years of arbitrary incarceration without proper trial. There are thousands of prisoners in Kerchiele and Kaliti still awaiting proper trial.

SOCEPP has over the years expressed serious opposition and grave concern vis a vis the so called Red Terror trials. To begin with, there is no independent judiciary and the trial is being used and manipulated for political motives and objectives. Moreover, the ruling front (TPLF) is itself accused of taking part in the Red Terror and has no moral position and legitimacy to sit in judgment over others. The TPLF/ EPRDF also uses the accusation for political purposes thereby detaining political rivals or dissidents for years under such charges. In the meantime, dozens of people accused by people of having been involved in the Red Terror are roaming free because their ethnic origin or present political loyalty agrees with those in power. Add to this the fact that big officials, the polit-bureau members of the ruling party at the time, have been released thereby making it dubious as to the objectivity of the detention and trial of the lower officials who executed the orders.

SOCEPP expresses its objection to the hanging sentence on principled grounds and on the basis of fairness and legality. At issue is not Eshetu's guilt or innocence but the legality and impartiality of the whole process and the so called Red Terror Trial. The tragedy of the Red Terror must await the free determination of the people and the time when Ethiopia shall have a democratic governance and an independent judiciary and inquiry commission.

SOCEPP