'Coup' arrest chronicle and twists

By T Lemma ǀ May 8, 2009

During the last week of April, the Ethiopian government arrested 40 (real figure is disputed) individuals including former and current army personnel and members of a disbanded opposition group from a "terror network" called Ginbot7 movement it said was formed by Dr. Berhanu Nega, an opposition leader now living in the United States.

Although at first government spokesperson Bereket Simon claimed the individuals were ‘plotting’ to overthrow the government, he later retrieved the allegation and said they “Were incapable of overthrowing the government but were preparing to assassinate government officials and provoke street violence.”

The identities of the arrested individuals have not been officially made public yet but newspaper reports revealed that former army officer Brigadier General Asamnew Tsige and the father of Mrs. Ayne Tsige, wife of Tefera Walwa, Minister of Capacity Building are among them. Spokesperson Bereket could only say that six of those arrested are serving army officials. Newspaper reports claimed all the serving army officials were top level army officials and members of the Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM),  one of the four parties belonging to the ruling EPRDF.  

On Monday this week, police have shortly detained Mrs. Ayne Tsige, the wife of Tefera Walwa, in connection with her father’s alleged involvement with the 40 individuals.

Latest twists show that Andargachew Tsige, Ginbot7 movement’s general secretary who is currently living in London is also the brother of Tefera Walwa’s wife Ayne Tsige. Also according to media reports today, her other brother Zerihun Tsige, a citizen of the United Kingdom who was visiting his father during the arrest, is arrested alongside his 80 year old father Tsige Habtemariam. Other reports are suggesting that Brigadier General Asamnew Tsige is also the other brother-in- law of Capacity building Minister Tefera Walwa.   

Yesterday, rights group Amnesty International asked the Ethiopian government to disclose the identities of 35 of those arrested.