Ethiopia -- Injustice will be done

Mar 16th 2006 ADDIS ABABAFrom
The Economist print edition

An ill-judged treason trial

Mr Meles is not listening

THE trial of 129 opposition politicians, journalists and other dissenters starts later this month in Addis Ababa. The accused face a range of charges, including treason and planning “genocide”. Among them are the leaders of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), an umbrella organisation of several parties, mainly representing one of the largest ethnic groups, the Amhara. The prisoners include the coalition's elected mayor of Addis Ababa, Berhanu Nega, and 13 of the country's more independent journalists. But putting opponents and critics in the dock on trumped up charges will not endear the government of Meles Zenawi to the western governments that have given Ethiopia hundreds of millions of dollars in aid. Read More