Ethiopian court sentenced Oromo nationalists to death and long term imprisonment
Finfinnee (April 2, 2010) - On March 19, 2010 sixteen (16) Oromo nationals were arraigned before an Ethiopian court in Finfinne/Addis Ababa. The federal prosecutor accused these 16 Oromo nationalists of being members of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), a popular political organization among Oromo public, and freedom fighters, even though some of these individuals are known businessmen who have no membership in the OLF. The prosecutor asked the court to hand down death sentence on some of the individuals and lengthy prison sentences on the rest. On this day, the court passed a collective guilty verdict against the sixteen defendants.
Even though the court ordered the defendants to re-appear in court on April 1st, for reasons unknown to the relatives and friends of the defendants, the hearing date was brought forward and took place on March 31, 2010. It is widely suspected that the government is trying to evade publicity changed the date of the hearing. On this day, the court sentenced two of Oromo nationalists to death and the rest of the defendants were sentenced to lengthy prison terms ranging from 10 years to life imprisonments. Judges Sa'adii Huseen and Tahaliit Yimasil pronounced the verdict from the bench. The following is the list of Oromo nationals and the verdict against them.
- Mesfin Abebe Abdisaa death sentence
- Masfi Ittaanaa life imprisonment
- Tasfahuun Camada life imprisonment
- Abarash Yadata (f) 10 years imprisonment
- Lalisee Wadajo (f) 10 years imprisonment (mother of three young children)
- Kol. Olaanii Jabeesa 12 years imprisonment
- Roba Degefa 10 years imprisonment
- Dejene Dhaba 10 years imprisonment
- Bakele Negeri 10 years imprisonment
- Bayisa Hussen 10 years imprisonment
- Hailu Delessa 10 years imprisonment
- Dejene Boranaa 13 years imprisonment (in abstention)
- Bakele Jiraata 13 years imprisonment (in abstention)
- Kabade Borana 12 years imprisonment
- Isheetu Kitil 12 years imprisonment
- Wabee Hajii 12 years imprisonment
Note: Mr. Mesfin Abebe and Mr. Tasfahun Chamada Gurmessa were once legal refugees in Kenya and carried UNHCR ID and lived in Nairobi for a number of years. About two years ago, they were abducted by joint Kenyan and Ethiopian security forces from their residences and detained. They were visited by the UNHCR representatives while in detention and the Kenyan authorities promised to release them. However, soon the Kenyan authorities handed these individuals over to Ethiopian authorities, who transported the victims to Addis Ababa and tortured them. As far as we know, the UNHCR didn’t raise any concern nor did it voice any opposition against this crime. The UNHCR has, thus, failed to carry out its responsibility to protect these political refugees. Now, after over two years in prison, under harsh conditions, their fate was decided; while Mr. Mesfin Abebe awaits his final hour on death row, Mr. Tesfahun Gurmessa will be in prison for life. |
