Ginbot 7 Lodingen Branch held a meeting Saturday. Elisabeth Tadesse, Belay Zeleke, Daniel Tesem and Michy Gizaw are among the prominent figures in the organization Lodingen. Photo: Svein Shake
- Ethiopia continues repression
LØDINGEN: - The Ethiopian government continues with clear violations of human rights, infringement of speech and freedom of the press and the right to organize and to hold open meetings.
Published 10/27/2014 at 24:28 Updated 27/10/2014 at 24:31
It says members of the freedom movement Ginbot 7 Lodingen Branch.
Saturday, members gathered to get information about the relationship of Ethiopia, as well as adding strategy for the continued freedom of work governed by Lodingen.
Splitter population
According Belay Zeleke has the Ethiopian government for 23 years pursued policies that have divided the population in the country.
-The Ethiopian government, led by the TPLF (Tigray People Liberation Front) continues to divide people in terms of religion, ethnicity and ethnic groups. This split creates major problems for the nation. Internal disagreements allows for TPLF to retain power, maintains Zeleke.
During Saturday's meeting in Lodingen it was claimed that the government of Ethiopia oppress the population by introducing a number of restrictions.
-Etiopiske Government continues with very severe restrictions on the most basic human rights, freedom of expression, freedom of association, and freedom to hold meetings. This is why Ethiopians - both at home and outside - protests and campaigning against the incumbent government, says Michy Gizaw.
Arbitrary detention
Arbitrary detention and abduction, according to Elisabeth Tadesse methods the leading party in Ethiopia uses.
-In Advance of the last election made it the leading party many difficulties and much unrest. Among other things, by arresting journalists and political activists. Several were also forced to leave the country. People who use facebook, blogs and other social media to show the world the true face of the government also risk imprisonment and persecution, said Tadesse.
Pursued also abroad
During Saturday's meeting in Lodingen revealed that there currently is no freedom of expression in Ethiopia.
Media is under great pressure because very few journalists left in the country.
-They Are either imprisoned or forced to leave the country. Ethiopian authorities also go to other countries, where the outright kidnapping political activists. This has happened countless times, says Daniel Tesem, and cites a couple of examples.
-Okello Akuay Ochalla is from Ethiopia, but has Norwegian citizenship. He traveled earlier this year to Sudan. He was picked up by Ethiopian authorities, led over the border and imprisoned. He may face the death penalty for his work in a political organization, says Tesem.
-Also Andargachew Tsigas, with English citizenship and one of the leaders of Ginbot 7, was kidnapped from Yemen by Ethiopian security forces and is currently in prison in Ethiopia. Neither Ochalla or TSIG is criminal. The only political activists who want a democratic Ethiopia with a good judiciary, freedom of expression and human rights in general, concludes Daniel Tesem.
Ginbot 7 Lodingen Branch wants to focus on human rights violations and abuses of political opponents in Ethiopia, as well as being a mouthpiece for the millions of
