Ethiopia charges 22 over inciting violence and terror plots

Ethiopia charges 22 over terror plot after 'receiving instructions from Oromo Liberation Front'

Some 22 people are charged as Ethiopia tackles 'anti-peace' forces under state of emergency.

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  By Ludovica Iaccino
  November 15, 2016 10:16 GMT
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Ethiopia declares state of emergency after civil unrest Reuters

Ethiopia has charged 22 people for allegedly inciting violence in schools in Oromia, the country's largest state. The Federal High Court in the capital Addis Ababa charged the defendants for damaging government and public properties and planning to carry out terror acts.

The court claimed the individuals acted after receiving instructions from Kenya and Norway-based leaders of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), which the government labelled as a terrorist organisation.

More on Ethiopia unrest from IBTimes UK

•  Ethiopia lifts travel ban on diplomats as 'peace and security restored'
•  Ethiopia's new information minister vows to create 'vibrant press' though tolerance and stability
•  Jawar Mohammed: This is why Oromo people don't care about cabinet reshuffle

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The defendants will plead to the charges on 25 November, the state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Ethiopia has detained 11,000 people following months of anti-government protests in Oromia and Amhara regions.

The response to the protests, labelled as the biggest anti-government unrest Ethiopia has witnessed in recent history, has resulted in the death of more than 500 people since November 2015, a figure the government later confirmed.

During rallies, Oromo people attacked foreign-owned factories, acts of violence that could result in a reduction in investments in the country.

What is the OLF?

Created in 1973, the OLF stemmed from the discontent among people over a perceived marginalisation by the government and to fight the hegemony of the Amhara people.

The OLF – which is still active today – calls for the self-determination of the Oromo people.

The Ethiopian government labelled the OLF as a terrorist organisation that carries out violent acts in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya.

The group has always denied allegations of violence, claiming its mission is to terminate "a century of oppression" against the Oromos.

Among other things, protesters called for the release of political prisoners, and demonstrated against perceived disenfranchisement and lack of inclusion in the political process as the government is dominated by the Tigray minority.

In October, the country declared a six-month state of emergency following the unrest.

Critics to the state of emergency claimed the government was trying to quell protests by, among other things, banning certain media outlets, including the Oromia Media Network.

The government, which often blamed "outside forces" including from Eritrea and Egypt for the protests, denied the allegations and said it will use the new measures to co-ordinate security forces against "anti-peace elements" that aim to destabilise the country.

The interior of a textile factory that was set alight by protesters in the town of SebetaTiksa Negeri/Reuters

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Ethiopia renews accusations that Egypt supported Oromo unrest - Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan

Ethiopia renews accusations that Egypt supported Oromo unrest - Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan: "Ethiopia renews accusations that Egypt supported Oromo unrest ArticleComments (1) EmailPrintSave November 1, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Ethiopia Tuesday renewed accusations that Egypt and Eritrea fuelled a wave of protests in Oromia region that led the government to declare a six-month state of emergency. The visiting Ethiopian Minister of Federal Affairs and Pastoral Area Development, Kassa Tekleberhan, reiterated that his country has "ample evidence" of Egypt and Eritrea involvement in a series of protests in Oromia but also sprung up in the Amhara region. Tekleberhan said they are still calculating the exact numbers of individuals who were killed during the unrest. According to Human Rights more than 400 people have been killed in clashes with the security forces in Oromia, although the government disputes this figure. Ethiopian authorities say Cairo backs the banned Oromo Liberation Front that organized attacks across the populous region of Oromia, and led to the declaration of a state of emergency. Commenting on a ministerial reshuffle announced on Tuesday hours before the press conference, Tekleberhan said the new cabinet was necessary to continue the development programmes and denied that it was a result to the protests. He further praised the support of the Sudanese government to his country describing it as an unforgettable "historical stance". He further said he discussed with President Omer al-Bashir and a number of Sudanese officials how to sustain peace in Ethiopia and issues of joint concern. The construction of Ethiopia’s 6,000-megawatt Grand Renaissance Dam has become a bone of contention between Ethiopia and Egypt, which lies downstream and relies on the Nile River for agricultural, industrial and domestic water use. Last October, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi denied Ethiopian accusations that his government was supporting the opposition OLF which accused of orchestrating the protests "I want to assure the brothers in Ethiopia that Egypt has never ever offered any support to the opposition and will not carry out any conspiratorial action against Ethiopia," al-Sisi said on 13 October. The construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam has raised tensions between Ethiopia and Egypt,which lies downstream. Addis Ababa says the dam would be used to only produce power and would not affect Egypt which relies on the Nile River for agricultural, industrial and domestic water use."



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Ethiopia shake up after protests, BBC News

Ethiopia's new information minister: 'State media is paralysed'

Posted at12:46

In the discussions about Ethiopia's new ministers some of the focus has been on the ethnic make up of the cabinet.

At the forefront of the recent wave of protests has been the complaint that some ethnic groups - the Oromos and the Amharas- have been excluded from the political and economic developments in the country.

Two key posts have been given to ethnic Oromos: Workneh Gebeyehu is now foreign minister and Negeri Lencho heads the communications ministry.

As part of the job Mr Negeri, who up to now ran Addis Ababa university's school of journalism, will be running the state media outlets.

For an insight into his views on the state-controlled media we can turn to an interview that he gave in 2013.

He recalled a conversation he had with the journalists:

I asked those journalists hired by the state media how they differ from the privately hired ones, and the difference was visible. 'Since we are in the government media we have to promote developmental polices, and that is all about what to do,' they replied.

So, it looks pretty paralysed, and they tend to be a mouth piece for the government, or like a spokesperson for the government, since their editorial policy is to carry out state policies and strategies."

The state dominates the media scene in Ethiopia, it controls the only domestic TV channel, all but one of the radio stations and most of the newspapers.

Under the current state of emergency, the viewing of certain TV channels broadcast from abroad has been banned.

Ethiopia shake up after protests, BBC News

Ethiopia's new information minister: 'State media is paralysed'

Posted at12:46

In the discussions about Ethiopia's new ministers some of the focus has been on the ethnic make up of the cabinet.

At the forefront of the recent wave of protests has been the complaint that some ethnic groups - the Oromos and the Amharas- have been excluded from the political and economic developments in the country.

Two key posts have been given to ethnic Oromos: Workneh Gebeyehu is now foreign minister and Negeri Lencho heads the communications ministry.

As part of the job Mr Negeri, who up to now ran Addis Ababa university's school of journalism, will be running the state media outlets.

For an insight into his views on the state-controlled media we can turn to an interview that he gave in 2013.

He recalled a conversation he had with the journalists:

I asked those journalists hired by the state media how they differ from the privately hired ones, and the difference was visible. 'Since we are in the government media we have to promote developmental polices, and that is all about what to do,' they replied.

So, it looks pretty paralysed, and they tend to be a mouth piece for the government, or like a spokesperson for the government, since their editorial policy is to carry out state policies and strategies."

The state dominates the media scene in Ethiopia, it controls the only domestic TV channel, all but one of the radio stations and most of the newspapers.

Under the current state of emergency, the viewing of certain TV channels broadcast from abroad has been banned.

Ethiopia shake up after protests, BBC News

Ethiopia's new information minister: 'State media is paralysed'

Posted at12:46

In the discussions about Ethiopia's new ministers some of the focus has been on the ethnic make up of the cabinet.

At the forefront of the recent wave of protests has been the complaint that some ethnic groups - the Oromos and the Amharas- have been excluded from the political and economic developments in the country.

Two key posts have been given to ethnic Oromos: Workneh Gebeyehu is now foreign minister and Negeri Lencho heads the communications ministry.

As part of the job Mr Negeri, who up to now ran Addis Ababa university's school of journalism, will be running the state media outlets.

For an insight into his views on the state-controlled media we can turn to an interview that he gave in 2013.

He recalled a conversation he had with the journalists:

I asked those journalists hired by the state media how they differ from the privately hired ones, and the difference was visible. 'Since we are in the government media we have to promote developmental polices, and that is all about what to do,' they replied.

So, it looks pretty paralysed, and they tend to be a mouth piece for the government, or like a spokesperson for the government, since their editorial policy is to carry out state policies and strategies."

The state dominates the media scene in Ethiopia, it controls the only domestic TV channel, all but one of the radio stations and most of the newspapers.

Under the current state of emergency, the viewing of certain TV channels broadcast from abroad has been banned.

Ethiopia frees 2,000 protesters as hundreds seek amnesty - Sudan Tribune

Ethiopia frees 2,000 protesters as hundreds seek amnesty - Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan: "Ethiopia frees 2,000 protesters as hundreds seek amnesty ArticleComments (0) EmailPrintSave By Tesfa-Alem Tekle October 31, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – More than 2,000 individuals who were in jail following the recent violence have now been freed after taking the necessary corrective lessons, Ethiopia’s defence minister, Siraj Fegesa disclosed. Siraj, who also sits at the Secretariat of the Command Post, said people believed to have been behind the recent unrest have peacefully surrendered to the government. The suspects could be granted amnesty depending on the level of crimes they have committed. Soon after the Horn of African country declared a state of emergency, its authorities called on suspects behind the deadly violence to turn themselves in. The Ethiopian government imposed a six-month state of emergency on 8 October to restore order and contain violent protests in many parts of Oromiya and Amhara region. While briefing journalists on Sunday the defence minster, said calm had been restored after the implementation of the state of emergency measure. The suspects arrested, Fegesa said, had roles in the violence that hit the nation weeks back. Some of the suspects, added the minister, had began surrendering to the Ethiopian government. According to the official, at least 400 individuals peacefully surrendered to the command post before the 10-day amnesty ultimatum set the authorities. He further said 1,500 illegal weapons were recovered from violence-prone areas after they collaborates with the public. The suspects still in jail are taking corrective lessons in different training centers in Amhara and Oromia region. Government officials and those at the state of emergency command post secretariat said the violence and unrest in parts of the nation have calmed down. “Violence has been contained and we have created a situation where people can go about their lives without the fear of being attacked”, the communications minister, Getachew Reda, said. He stressed that several investments and factories in the country were back to business and people are doing their normal activities safely. Meanwhile, the State of Emergency Inquiry Board tasked to follow up and report the human rights handling by government while implementing the state of emergency decree has commenced its work. The chairperson and members of the board said the inquiry board began exercising its authorization in accordance with the constitutional provision that sets out the specific duties and responsibilities. Members of the board pledged to carry out their duties and responsibilities in a neutral way. The declaration of a state of emergency imposed was in response to the series of protests in the two sensitive regions in which violence claimed hundreds of lives. Directives of the decree among others, include authorising police to arrest individuals without a warrant, blocking internet access, prohibiting public gatherings and imposing curfews. Diplomats in the country were not permitted to travel beyond 40 kilometres of the radius outside the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. Following the state of emergency decree, the United Nations urged government to ensure the protection of fundamental human rights when imposing the measure. (ST)"



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