May 3, 2013
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| Eskinder Nega (left) and Andualem Aragie - Two prominent Ethiopians condemned to life and 18 years of imprisonment over politically motivated and fabricated charges of "terrorism" |
An Ethiopian court on Thursday dismissed the appeal of blogger Eskinder Nega and opposition leader Andualem Arage who were jailed last year for terror-related offences.
One of the charges -- serving as a leader of a terrorist organisation -- was dropped, but had no affect on sentencing. After the ruling, Eskinder made an emotional appeal to the court which was crowded with family, friends and diplomats. "The truth will set us free," he said. "We want the Ethiopian public to know that the truth will reveal itself, it's only a matter of time."
Both men are accused of links to the outlawed opposition group Ginbot 7. "The walls of justice will be demolished," Andualem told AFP. Four other men also jailed for terror-related charges had their appeal quashed. One other defendant, however, Kinfe Michael, had his sentence reduced from 25 years to 16 years. Rights groups have called Ethiopia's anti-terrorism legislation vague and accuse the government of using the law to stifle peaceful dissent. "I am very sad, I am very angry, I cannot talk rationally," Eskinder's wife Serkalem Fasil told AFP after the decision. Defence lawyer Abebe Guta said that justice had not been served, and that if his clients agreed, they would appeal to court of cassation, Ethiopia's highest court. Ethiopia has one of the most restricted media in the world and the highest number of journalists living in exile, according to US-based press watchdog, the Committee to Protect Journalists. Last year Eskinder was awarded the prestigious PEN America's "Freedom to Write" annual prize. Rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch condemned the initial conviction of the Eskinder in July 2012.
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