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Veteran anti-ethnic activist accused of attempting to incite ethnic and religious violence as part of an alleged seizure of the power of capital.
HEOn September 10, federal prosecutors charged opposition leader Eskinder Nega and six other people with crimes including training a terrorist group to assassinate the former acting mayor of Addis Ababa and inciting ethnic and religious conflict to try to take over. power illegally in the capital.
Eskinder, a writer and politician who opposes ethno-nationalist movements and defines himself as a pro-democracy activist, has been arrested several times prior to his arrest during an episode of deadly political violence. He was sentenced to 18 years for terrorism offenses, including attempting to foment an ‘Ethiopian spring’ in 2012 and released in 2018. In 2006, after the violent fallout from the previous year’s competitive elections, Eskinder was imprisoned for treason. , but he was released for a year. then.
The head of the Balderas Party for True Democracy, which is registered by the electoral board and whose stated mission is to protect the rights of citizens in the autonomous and multi-ethnic Addis Ababa, is being tried in the Federal High Court with six defendants, two of whom are fugitives and four of whom are senior Balderas officials. On September 17, the charges were read to the defendants, who are in two groups. Attorney Henok Akilu said Ethiopia outlook that the defense team did not attend the hearing because it was informed too late.
The charge sheet against Eskinder and four others says that since August 2019 they designated themselves as members of a “provisional” council in Addis Ababa, tried 14 times to start an ethnic and religious conflict and conspired against the government and the constitution. .
Replicas of a murder
By Yared Getachew
Among the second group of charges, which also includes Eskinder, is organizing the training of a terrorist group in Motta, East Gojjam Zone, Amhara region, with the aim of assassinating former acting mayor Takele Uma and other senior officials. . The sixth defendant, Ashenafi Aweke, recruited and introduced the apprentices to Eskinder, the charges allege. They will also be tried for conspiring to burn down religious institutions to create chaos in Addis Ababa and overthrow the city government.
The first group is charged under articles 32 (1) (a) and (b), 35, 38 and 240 (1) (b) of the Penal Code. The two absent defendants and Eskinder are also accused of violating articles 32, 35 and 38 of the Penal Code and article 6 (2) of the Proclamation 1176/2020 Proclamation against terrorism.
Yesterday, the Attorney General’s Office announced that the Oromo nationalist leaders, Jawar Mohammed and Bekele Gerbe, would also be charged with crimes of terrorism. Meanwhile, centrist politician Lidetu Ayalew is on trial for firearms offenses in an Oromia court.
According to prosecutors, the first five defendants in the Eskinder case and their followers used fake Facebook and other media accounts with the aim of provoking clashes between Amhara and Oromo and Muslims and Christians. When a site in the Nefas Silk sub-city was designated for the construction of a mosque, on August 12, 2019, Eskinder, as the self-proclaimed leader of the council of “ caretakers ”, ordered his followers to spread information that Takele is promoting the spread of Islam and used words that were designed to provoke Muslims, the charges claim.
On February 5, after police and community members clashed in the Haya Arat area of Addis Ababa over the construction of a church, Eskinder is accused of attempting to cause a disturbance by visiting the site and telling the community that This is Takele’s work and that the now Minister of Mines is a “murderer”.
Transition to trial
By Leul Estifanos
The charge sheet says that on April 10, at Balderas headquarters, Eskinder told his supporters: “We will seize every opportunity and pay for every sacrifice, including our lives, to remove the government before October 10. [the original expiry of all governments’ five-year terms before parliament extended them in June due to the pandemic]. We are prepared for both peaceful and armed struggle. Sub-cities that are not well organized should organize accordingly. “
In May, prosecutors say Eskinder told party members: “The election was postponed. This is not a legitimate government and will only remain in power after October 10 over our corpses. Warn the forces in and around the city to be ready and we will have help from our members within the Orthodox Church. “
In addition, the defendants allegedly used the murder of musician Hachalu Hundessa on June 29 to fuel ethnic and religious clashes. The next morning, Eskinder and two other defendants told their supporters that Qeerroos, literally Oromo singles, but also the name of a youth political movement that has been involved in peaceful and violent protests since 2015, are coming to Addis Ababa. from multiple directions and I need to attack to push them back. Following the order given to the youth groups by him and the fourth defendant, Askale Demese, Oromo and their properties were attacked around the sub-cities of Kirkos and Kolfe Keranyo and Tor Hailoch.
On July 1, the day of his arrest, prosecutors say Eskinder told the second defendant, Sentayehu Chekol, a senior Balderas official, to organize youth groups around Kirkos, distribute flyers and participate in riots. Apparently Eskinder promised 500,000 birr for the activity. On the same day, both defendants went to Bulgaria in the Kirkos sub-city and spread false reports that Qeerroos would come to burn the Kirkos and St. Michael churches. That prompted churches to ring emergency bells, sparking further riots.
How the murder of a musician exposed the media in Ethiopia
The amplification of false and dangerous narratives contributed to July’s deadly violence against civilians in Oromia.
As the defendants staged attacks against Oromo, Tigrayans and Muslims, there were 14 deaths and the destruction of property worth more than 187 million birr, prosecutors allege.
Eskinder told the court that security will benefit best if he is released: “If the state is concerned about public safety, the best thing for public peace and security is that they release us and participate in elections. The public will not trust the elections if we are excluded. “He later added:” The entire nation knows that we are political prisoners, and since the attorney general was recently appointed, I understand that he will experience a lot of pressure from senior officials to achieve the desired result”.
Sentayehu said: “Takele has been illegally handing over people, land, condominium apartments and identity cards in Addis Ababa. As politicians who defended the public interest, it is our duty to disclose and challenge such illegal actions, but we never plan to use strong measures. “
The charge sheet says that the seventh defendant, Fetawi Gebremedhin, was previously sentenced to death and escaped from prison. However, defense attorney Henock said Ethiopia outlook that neither he nor his clients are aware of Fetawi and suspect that it may not exist.
The defense asked the court to release the defendants on bail. The prosecution protested, as the charges potentially carry more than 15 years in prison and there is the possibility of more crimes being committed as the defendants are willing to give their lives to overthrow the government. The defense objected that the charges are for a minimum of 10 years and bail is a constitutional right. The judges decide on the request for bail on September 22.
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