From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Wed Nov 25 2009 - 10:47:25 EST
Ethiopia Asks Death Penalty For Coup Plotters
Prosecutors in Ethiopia are seeking the death penalty for 40 people found
guilty of conspiring to overthrow the government
Peter Heinlein | Addis Ababa 24 November 2009
the death penalty for 40 people found guilty of conspiring to overthrow
the government. Twenty-seven of the defendants were tried and convicted last
week. Thirteen others, most of them living in exile, were earlier found
guilty in absentia. This VOA correspondent was in the courtroom as the 27 in
custody pleaded for reduced sentences.
One by one, the 27 convicted conspirators were given a chance to explain to
a three-judge panel why they should not be executed for planning a campaign
of violence aimed at bringing down Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's government.
The group was convicted of five charges. Among them were trying to incite
rebellion within the army, plotting to kill senior government officials and
destroy strategic facilities.
All were said to be members of the outlawed May 15th movement led by exiled
political leader Berhanu Nega. Berhanu, now a university professor in the
United States, was among the 13 convicted in absentia. He has denied the
existence of a plot, but has repeatedly called Prime Minister Meles's
government 'illegitimate' and said it should be removed by any means.
Many of 27 convicted last week are current or former military officers.
Speaking to the court, they pointed to their decades of decorated service.
Some spoke of fighting with the forces that overthrew the previous Marxist
regime. Several listed the medals they had won and the wounds they suffered
fighting for Ethiopia in its war against Eritrea a decade ago, or serving in
Somalia, or in the counterinsurgency campaign against rebels in the
independence-minded Ogaden region.
Two defendants, both former army majors, admitted their guilt and threw
themselves on the mercy of the court.
Ethiopia's Justice Ministry spokesman Mekonnen Bezadeih says while the death
penalty is being sought for all 40, the two who pleaded guilty would get
special consideration.
"We asked the court for the death penalty, but we also asked the court to
minimize the penalty for two persons who told to the court their
activities," Bezadeih said.
The other defendants, including the lone woman among the 40, maintained
their innocence throughout the trial, though some said they respect the
court's decision.
Several defendants, including the few represented by attorneys, questioned
whether the death penalty is appropriate in a case where the charge is
simply planning a coup, not carrying it out. Presiding judge Adem Ibrahim
was silent on the matter, but Justice Ministry spokesman Mekonnen said the
cumulative weight of all the charges calls for the maximum punishment.
"According to our procedure law, if there are so many charges, each penalty
will be added and they will be penalized the sum of the penalties, so when
we see their convictions, by acting contradiction with the constitution, and
also they conspired to make a crisis between army forces, the penalty would
be the highest penalty point, which is the death penalty," Bezadeih said.
Those facing the maximum penalty include Melaku Teferra, a senior member of
Ethiopia's opposition UDJ, or Unity for Democracy and Justice Party. Melaku
was among the scores of political leaders convicted of inciting
post-election violence in 2005, then later pardoned.
In outlining the charges Tuesday, Chief Prosecutor Berihu Toldeberhan
singled out Melaku, saying he should have learned from his past mistakes.
Melaku is one of two top UDJ officials in prison as next May's elections
approach. The party's main leader, Birtukan Mideksa, was also among those
jailed after the 2005 election and then pardoned. But she was sent back to
prison last December and ordered to finish serving a life sentence after
denying that she had asked for the pardon.
----[This List to be used for Eritrea Related News Only]----