OCTOBER 5/2006

The full quote of Meles Zenawi’s recent declaration is as follows:

"There are no political prisoners in Ethiopia at the moment. So it is difficult to explain a situation of political prisoners because there are none. However, insurgents and militants have been imprisoned because of their militant and violent acts.

This lie, this denial has now become routine response to any query on political prisoners and the very many "disappeared". Meles Zenawi is now telling the world that being a militant of an opposition organization is by itself "criminal" whether it be accompanied by violent acts or not. The reality of Ethiopia is very different from the blatant lie and outright denial made by the strongman of the cruel and repressive regime in Addis Ababa.

Some 50,000 people are detained in prison camps because of their political views and peaceful protest against the regime that is illegally in power;

Scores of political leaders of the opposition are jailed because their organization/s defeated the ruling party in last May’s general election.

Dozens of journalists are in jail because they dared to report/write the truth.

In secret prisons all over the country, hundreds are suffering for political reasons.

Since 1991, dozens of political leaders and members of the Opposition have been "disappeared".

Ethiopia is full of political prisoners actually. Many of those in prisons did not resort to arms or to acts of violence. Allegations to the contrary are false and often made by a regime that controls the judiciary and railroads political prisoners systematically.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has lied—Ethiopia’s prisons and labour camps are full of political prisoners.

Release all political prisoners now!!!!