CIVICUS Ethiopia Support Call

Ethiopia Solidarity Campaign

Political situation

Since April 2006 the Ethiopia Government has attempted to defend its stance on Human Rights and the conflict within the nation. A recent article by the Indian Ocean Newsletter in May 2006, reports that the Ethiopian Government has instructed all foreign embassies to respond to growing anti-government action by the Ethiopians in the Diaspora. The international community has put pressure on the Ethiopian Government to release political prisoners. Several interventions have taken place, as follows:

• 25 April 2006, a group of western diplomats based in Addis Ababa called on the Ethiopian Government to release all elected leaders so they could help with the post-election reconciliation process.
• 26 April 2006, The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mrs. Arbour criticised Ethiopia’s human rights situation calling it worrying.
• 27 June 2006, the USgovernment approved a comprehensive bill to promote human rights and democracy in Ethiopia. The bill, the Ethiopian Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights Advancement Act of 2006, authorises $20 million to be spent over two years to assist political prisoners, indigenous human rights organisations, independent media and civil society and to promote legal training. In addition, the bill calls on the Ethiopian government to unconditionally release all prisoners and calls for an independent, fair and transparent judiciary. In response to this bill, the Ethiopian Government has taken a reconciliatory approach calling for more dialogue and better understanding of the democratic and human rights challenges facing the country by its international partners. Non-governmental organisations aligned to the government have called into question the process and content of evidence and information leading to the adoption of the bill.
• 28 June 2006, the delegation of the European Commission to Ethiopia launches a grant programme to support local civil society projects in the field of human rights and democracy.

The much-awaited political trial of CUD leaders, human rights defenders and journalists commenced on 2 May 2006. Amnesty International released its report at the start of the trial and calls the charges of treason (specifically, outrage against the Constitution, organising and inciting armed rebellion and acts of genocide) levied against the accused persons as lacking in merit. Amnesty International maintains that all the accused persons are prisoners of conscience who have not used or advocated violence and should be immediately and unconditionally released.

Many of the defendants have refused to plead, refused legal counsel and are not participating in the trial proceedings. Only Daniel, Netsanet and one other accused person (an official from the Ethiopian Teachers Association) are participating in the trial and presenting their defense. To date, the trial has only viewed video evidence that has failed to implicate Daniel and Netsanet. The only mention of them in the evidence so far presented is a call by Netsanet for the government and opposition to solve the political impasse through peaceful means.

Daniel and Netsanet lodged an appeal seeking a review of the earlier court ruling declining their bail application. On 3 August, however, the court of cassation ruled against the bail right request of Daniel and Netsanet with a majority vote.

Ethiopia Solidarity Committee (ESC)activities in the last three months:

• Monitoring of trial at Kaliti court: A local team of volunteers provides regular briefs of events in court. The court is currently receiving video evidence and will be progressing to documentary and audio evidence. Although Daniel and Netsanet have lost weight and suffered from ill health, they remain alert and fully engaged in the ongoing court process. Members of the ESC have undertaken no less than six trips to Ethiopiato offer solidarity to the family and engage with civil society organisations.
• Publicity and advocacy at the Department of State Washington DC by Kumi Naidoo (CIVICUS) and Emira Woods (Institute for Policy Studies), 11 May 2006: Kumi and Emira engaged representatives of the state department on the situation in Ethiopian. The meeting explored various options for mounting pressure on the Ethiopian government to release political prisoners and allow civil society activities.
• Submission of African Union Human Rights Defenders Award: A comprehensive submission was prepared and submitted to the AU’s Human Rights Commission. A final decision of the commission is awaited.
• Civil Society Watch: The CIVICUS CSW programme prepared a petition to Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi to coincide with Ethiopia National Day, commemorated on 28 May 2006. The appeal was posted on the CIVICUS website and attracted support form several African organisations and individuals. The appeal is still carried on the website
• CIVICUS World Assembly 22–25 June 2006: The opening ceremony paid tribute to Daniel and Netsanet who were invited to attend the session. Delegates supported the appeal for their release by signing the appeal to the Prime Minister. A total of 740 letters were signed and dispatched to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. The appeal was also carried on the CIVICUS web page and delegates were encouraged to send messages to solidarity and support to Daniel and Netsanet and their families. The ESC set up a stall for the duration of the World Assembly.

How you can continue to support the campaign:

1. Draw attention to colleagues and networks to the call for action on www.civicus/csw.org and ask them to sign the petition to Ethiopian authorities supporting the call for the unconditional release of Daniel and Netsanet as well as sending a message of solidarity to Daniel and Netsanet at ethiopiasolidarity@civicus..org.

2. Speak about the campaign during meeting, events and workshops in order to strengthen the global call for action