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http://www.thereporterethiopia.com/index.php/news-headlines/item/2840-nine-charged-for-spying-on-ethiopia%E2%80%99s-defence-force
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29 NOVEMBER 2014
WRITTEN BY TAMIRU TSIGE
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Nine charged for spying on Ethiopia’s defence force
Seven Ethiopian and two Eritrean nationals this week were charged with
espionage on Ethiopia’s defence force stationed at the Ethio-Eritrean
border.
The charge filed at the nineteenth criminal bench of the Federal High Court
alleges that the defendants maintained clandestine communications with the
Eritrean Intelligence Agency.
The suspects are accused of spying on the current status of Ethiopia’s
defence force. Federal prosecutors also accused one of the suspects of
prohibited traffic of arms including Kalashnikovs and ammunitions and
grenades.
The charge alleges that the suspects have been carrying out the espionage
from October 2011 to May 2013.
The charge accuses the suspects of transferring information regarding the
location and number of the Ethiopian defence force as well as
reinforcements in exchange for payments.
The suspects are also accused of spying on refugee camps where Eritreans
fleeing their country are taking shelter and the operation of Eritrean
opposition groups in these areas.
Following a two year border conflict that ended in 2000, Ethiopia and
Eritrea find themselves entangled in a no-peace no-war situation. With no
peace process to normalize relations in sight, Ethiopia continuously accuse
Eritrea of attempting to destabilize its internal stability through armed
insurgents operating in the region, including Al Shabaab, an Al Qaeda
affiliated terrorist group.
Ethiopia’s continued allegation led to the imposition of sanctions by the
United Nations Security Council against Eritrea in 2009 which included arms
embargo, travel bans on its leaders and freezing of assets of some of its
leaders.
A recent UN refugee agency report indicated a sharp increase in the number
of Eritrean youths fleeing to Ethiopia. More than 6,000 Eritreans had
claimed asylum in Ethiopia over the past month, the report said.
Received on Mon Dec 08 2014 - 20:31:56 EST