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DECEMBER 2003 ABERA YEMANE-AB—10 YEARS OF ILLEGAL DETENTION On December 16,1993, Abera Yemane-Ab, the foreign relations of head the opposition Coalition of Ethiopian Democratic Forces (COEDF) joined other delegates to fly from the USA to Addis Ababa to take part in a "peace and Reconciliation Conference. He and several others were arrested on arrival at the Bole International airport. While the others were released within months, Abera is still illegally kept in the central prison (Kerchiele) of Addis Ababa. Ten years of illegal imprisonment. The ruling EPRDF has ignored an April 1994 court order to release Abera from detention and has presented a number of charges against Abera so as to justify his incarceration. Yet, Abera has not been brought to a speedy trial, not has he been convicted. The practice of keeping accused behind bars for years in a drawn out and protracted court case is a favorite of those in power who have conveniently and deliberately exposed the prisoners to fatal maladies (often untreated). Many political prisoners have died in prison in this way especially in the Kerchiele and in the notorious Kaliti prison. Abera Yemane-Ab is a political prisoner detained because of his political convictions and he should be release without any further delay. SOCEPP has designated the month of DECEMBER 2003 as ABERA's Month and is calling on all justice loving people who oppose the violation of rights to write to (1) the EPRDF authorities calling for the immediate release of Abera Yemane-Ab, and (2) to Amnesty International and other human rights bodies to take up the case of Abera in earnest by designating him a prisoner of conscience. send appeals to:
p.o. box 1031 Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA. fax: 251-1 55 20 20
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