AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA
PRESS RELEASE

(New York, July 20, 2007) — Amnesty International today welcomed the release of 38 Ethiopian opposition party officials, prominent human rights defenders and journalists who had been detained since November 2005. They received a pardon and had their political rights restored four days after most were sentenced to life in prison and others to prison terms of up to 15 years. Amnesty International considered most, if not all, to be prisoners of conscience.

“We are pleased by the decision to pardon prisoners of conscience, including human rights defenders, who are now free to participate in the social and political development of their country,” said Lynn Fredriksson, Africa Advocacy Director for Amnesty International USA.

Amnesty International expressed the hope that this important measure of political reconciliation will be a step toward the institutionalization of human rights protections throughout the country. The 38 were arrested after political demonstrations against official parliamentary election results in 2005, after which security forces killed 187 people and six police officers were also killed.

“Following today’s news, we renew our appeal for the release of two other prisoners of conscience, Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie, accused with the 38 but whose trial is continuing next week,” said Fredriksson. Unlike those sentenced the two had opted to submit a defense. Another prisoner of conscience whose trial is adjourned until October is Kifle Tigneh, who was elected to parliament in 2005.

The 38 released today received pardons after submitting a letter to the government of Ethiopia acknowledging “mistakes committed both individually and collectively” in relation to the 2005 elections.

They include Coalition of Unity and Democracy (CUD) leaders Hailu Shawel, Birtukan Mideksa, Dr. Berhanu Negga and Professor Yakob Hailemariam, as well as Professor Mesfin Woldemariam, founder of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council, and journalist Andualem Ayele.

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