Amnesty International April 06 --- Ethiopia: fear of Torture and unfair trial

URGENT ACTION
Ethipia: Torture/ possible prisoners of conscience/ fear of unfair trial

Torture/ possible prisoners of conscience/ fear of unfair trial

• Kifle Tigeneh (m), aged 67, elected member of parliament for Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), businessperson
• Solomon Aregawi (m), aged 20, journalist
• Admassu Abebe (m), aged 50
• Getachew Kebede (m), aged 58, elected member of Addis Ababa City Council for CUD, army captain
• Kifle Mekonnen (m), aged 60, elected member of Addis Ababa City Council for CUD
• Solomon Demissie (m), 70, elected member of Addis Ababa City Council for CUD
• Molla Alemayehu (m), aged 56
• Mulunesh Mammo (f), aged 39
• Natnael Mekonnen (m), aged 28
• Wassihun Alemu (m), aged 60
• And 23 others

Those named above are among 33 members or alleged members of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) opposition political party who have been charged with offences including "outrages against the Constitution" and "genocide". The defendants could face an unfair trial, and if they are found guilty, they could face the death penalty.

Eight of those named above claim that they have been tortured in detention. The 33 were detained following demonstrations organized by the CUD in November 2005 against alleged election fraud. They were charged before the Federal High Court in the capital, Addis Ababa, on 20 March. No date has been set for their trial. Amnesty International is concerned that they may not receive a fair trial by an independent court according to recognized international standards.

Getachew Kebede, Kifle Mekonnen and Solomon Demissie (all three of whom are Addis Ababa City Council members-elect, representing the CUD), Admassu Abebe, Molla Alemayehu, Mulunesh Mammo, Natnael Mekonnen and Wassihun Alemu, all complained in court that they had been tortured while detained by police in the Central Investigation Bureau in Addis Ababa, and denied medical treatment for injuries sustained during torture.

Wassihun Alemu claimed that he had suffered hearing damage and a broken hand through torture. He also claimed that he had been denied food for several days, despite needing to eat regularly as he suffers from diabetes.

Getachew Kebede said he had been forced to sign a statement even though he could not read it because he was bleeding so heavily after being beaten. Another defendant said he had been given electric shocks. Some named the police officers who had allegedly tortured them. Read more