JULY 20/2007

RELEASE DANIEL BEKELE, NETSANET DEMISSIE

AND ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS

As SOCEPP had repeatedly stated, the political prisoners released today were forced to sign a humiliating letter asking for pardon for crimes they never did commit. As we observe the release of 35 of the prisoners, it is important that the world at large remembers that many others, including Daniel Bekele of Action Aid and Netsanet Demissie of the Organization for Social Justice in Ethiopia, are still in prison for refusing to sign the paper asking for pardon.

 Following the May 2005 election and the massive repression unleashed by the regime of Meles Zenawi thousands of people were sent to labor camps and prisons all over the country. It was reported that as many as 50,000 were jailed and now the number of those in prison is still above 35,000. Moreover, in the last weeks many people have been rounded up in the capital and major towns on the grounds that they should be behind bars till the Millennium festivities of the regime. Even before June 2005, thousands were languishing in secret and known prisons accused as dissidents.Dozens like EPRP leaders Tsegaye G.Medhin,Yishak Debretsion,Sitotaw Hussein, Amha Belete, journalists like Berhanu Ijigu, trade unionists like Abebe Ainekulu, teachers like Tesfaye Tekeba, etc   had been disappeared by the regime. As we write this, the troops of the regime are engaged in committing atrocities against the people in the Ogaden to follow up on the massacre they committed in Gameball and other places. All over Ethiopia, the repression is rife and relentless. This is why the regime's drive to project a softer image by rleasing the handful of political prisoners should not be allowed to succeed. The grim reality of repression and violation of right perisists.

Release Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie!!

Release all political prisoners!!!!!

SOCEPP