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Ethiopians in Facebook protest
By Mark Tran (The Guardian) —Activists have urged people to change
their Facebook profile to that of Birtukan Mideksa, 35, Ethiopa’s most prominent political prisoner, for the Ethiopian new year, which starts on 11 September.
The opposition party leader is an Amnesty International prisoner of conscience, serving a life sentence in Kaliti prison in Addis Ababa. A single mother and former judge, she was among dozens arrested after the disputed 2005 elections, freed, and then re-arrested for saying her release had been due to opposition pressure on the government rather than a request by her for pardon.
Mideksa and others arrested in 2005 were pardoned after spending nearly two years in jail. In November 2008 she spoke at a public meeting in Sweden about her pardon, attributing her release and that of others to political negotiations between the opposition and the government rather than an official request made through legal channels.
While people who were in jail with her the first time say this reflected the truth, the government said it equated to denying asking for a pardon. When she returned to Ethiopia, authorities asked her to retract her statement, failing which she would be re-arrested. She refused and was re-arrested in December 2008, when the ministry of justice revoked her pardon and re-imposed her life sentence.
Since a court ruling on a complaint she filed against the prison, Mideksa – the only female leader of a main opposition party in Africa – has been allowed more regular visits from her immediate family, including her mother and her five-year-old daughter. However, she has reportedly had only intermittent access to legal representation.
Mideksa’s imprisonment has garnered increasing public attention. Her supporters are planning a run for her in Turbingen, Germany on 19 September.
In its annual report on human rights around the world, the US state department’s section on Ethiopia said: “Human rights abuses reported during the year included unlawful killings, torture, beating, abuse and mistreatment of detainees and opposition supporters by security forces, often acting with evident impunity; poor prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention, particularly of suspected sympathisers or members of opposition or insurgent groups…”
Opposition parties and human rights groups say Mideksa’s case is stark evidence of the authoritarian tendencies of Meles Zenawi, the prime minister, a major recipient of western aid.
This is wonderful. Please share this story on facebook and ask friends to do the same. This is the least we can do.
leave her alon pleace legese zenawi
Its So amazing and unfair World, While the mass murderer and Genocider Meles Zenawi walks freely in broad day lights .the young best educated and human right advocates suffering in his dungeons for just speaking the truth <We peace loving people round the world should stand together until; the mass murderer and genocider meles Zenawi face justice for his heinous crime against Humanity.
We Should always remember the human rights pionner, Martin Luther Kings Jr.quoates "To ignore Evil is to become an accomplaince to it " To Ignore Zenawi's Crime is to become an accomplaince of his crime .
The least thing what we can do is this. Please we Ethiopians should perform in a better way to shaw the world that we care for her. I don,t get it. people, what is wrong with us. Let,s think, she is paying a price so that the future will be bright for our kids. we should think. It is a good investment to stand with Birtukan. an investment for a better Ethiopia and our kids.
Free Birtukan and all other prisnors!!
no mercy at all:)
good job meles,u hav said there is no any negotiations about this talkative women.u r absolutley rt.
mercy for other prisoners not for the son of devil:(
I am fine with this as long as some body doesn’t make it sound like Birtucan is going to give a cigaret to her
five your old when she coms out of prizson.
Bunan bejacheu tenkulewu yemiakemsu enatochem alu. Not that buna (coffee) is good to any kid.
I am not saying that Birtukan has the right to give her five old kind a makiato but you have to undrstand that it is not a big deal . Not that it is wright, but it is not a big deal.
We all Have To think for future ethiopia and ethiopians, that is what Birtukan did, we specialy live in democratic counteries must go out on strettes and show the world an innocent true ethiopian daughter , form Democrasy Law, & equality , is in prison, Please “Qale” DISCUSSION FORUME STOP UESING HER NAME AND PICTUR TO >> PROMOTE >> iSEYA ABEREHA, Birtukan, you a great Lady Keep upp, in time you will be our leader