Addis Ababa (ENA) – The Ministry of Justice said Ethiopian President Girma Woldegiorgis approved the pardon plea of other 31 members and leaders of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD).Some 38 of the 71 members and leaders of CUD, who signed on June 22 and June 25,2007 on the pardon plea letter, which was sent to the Prime Minster and looked in to by the Ethiopian Board of Pardon, were freed on July 20,2007.
The Board did not look in to the cases of the remaining 33 detainees since they did not fulfill the necessary requirement, the ministry said.
However, the Board on August 9, 2007 met and examined the cases of 31 of the 33 detainees.
Applying for pardon and being convicted and sentenced for the crime were the main requirements set by the Board to look in to the pardon request, the Ministry said.
The Ministry further said that the Board learnt that the prisoners had admitted that their attempt to change the constitutional system through force, following the unrest occurred following the May2005 national election, was mistaken.
In addition to collectively and individually taking responsibility for the blunder, the leaders and members of the CUD have agreed to discharge their responsibilities through respecting and abiding by constitutionally organized governmental institutions.
The Board also learnt that the members and leaders of CUD forwarded their plea for the Ethiopian government and people to grant them pardon, in accordance with the country’s culture, by considering that they regretted their wrong deeds.
The Board, in accordance with the pardon procedure no 395/1996 E.C accepted the pardon plea forwarded by the detainees.
Accordingly, President Girma on Friday (August 17, 2007) approved the recommendation forwarded by the Board to grant full pardon for the CUD leaders and members. The full pardon enables the prisoneers to enjoy their full public rights particularly the right to elect and be elected, which had previosuly been stripped off by the court.
The prisoners were provided certificate that confirms they were granted pardon by proclamation number 395/1996 E.C. and were released from prison on August 18, 2007, the Ministry said.
Following are the prisoners granted full pardon:
1. Melaku Tefera Tilahun
2. Shewagult Yimenu Beyene
3. Major Argaw Kabtamu Ayne
4. Abebe Sida Mersha
5. Goshu Mogese Belete
6. Maheteme Bekureselassie
7. Tesfaye Derebe Borsema
8. Tadios Tantu Blate
9. Dereje Ergete Feleke
10. Amare Lema Woldemichael
11. Legesse Hailemichael Metaferiya
12. Kifle Tigneh Abate
13. Admasu Abebe Hailu
14. Yimer Birru Yimam
15. Ejigu Gebremichael
16. Brook Alemu Berhe
17. Aklilu Legesse Gebre
18. Mesfin Wolde Bekele
19. Goitom Befekadu Getachew
20. Zewge Ayalew Dejene
21. Yosef Hundesa Disasa
22. Natnael Mekonnen Gebrekidan
23. Abagida Abafita Abawajo
24. Girma Zewde Kebede
25. Solomon Demissie Aleha
26. Mebratu Kebede Seman
27. Kidist Bekele Kinfe
28. Girma Amare Kassa
29. Wossenseged Gebrekidan Tegen
30. Dawit Kebede Bahita
31. Ermias Teshome Berehane