Executions in Ethiopia

GOAL today called on the Irish government to use its influence to prevent the execution of 38 opposition leaders and activists in Ethiopia.

Prosecutors in the capital, Addis Ababa, have called for the death penalty for the men, who were convicted of ‘outrages against the constitution' after the government of Meles Zenawi rigged elections in 2005.

GOAL's John O'Shea said, “These men, whose number includes the mayor-elect of Addis Ababa and several MPs, were charged under incitement to violence legislation after the country rose up in protest two years ago after the chance to vote freely and fairly was robbed from them.”

In a vicious effort to put down those protests, Zenawi mandated the massacre of 193 students and protestors.

Now that the men have been convicted, Zenawi has claimed that he cannot interfere with the judicial process and their fate is in the hands of the courts. But, under the constitution, he has the power to grant a pardon or amnesty after sentencing.

O'Shea concluded: “Since the Ethiopian government receives approximately €40m from the Irish Government on an annual basis, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is ideally positioned to use his influence to have the lives of these men spared.”