Ethiopian Campaigners Jailed

Actionaid International Nigeria

The anti-poverty campaigners Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie, detained in Ethiopia in 2005 and convicted two days ago (24 December) after a two-year trial, were today given prison sentences of two and a half years each.

Since they have already spent more than two years in detention, there is a strong possibility that they will be freed on parole in the next ten days. Prisoners are normally paroled after serving two thirds of their sentence.

The prospect of the two men's release was welcomed with relief by ActionAid, the international anti-poverty agency which employed Daniel Bekele and supported Netsanet Demissie's Organisation for Social Justice in Ethiopia.

Dr Retta Menberu, director of ActionAid Ethiopia, said: "It is a relief to know that Daniel and Netsanet do not have years in prison ahead of them. If parole is granted in the normal way, they should be out for the Ethiopian Christmas (7 January)."

The sentence came two days after Ethiopia's Federal High Court acquitted the pair of treason but found them guilty of a lesser charge of �provocation and preparation�.

Unusually, the judge reading out the court's ruling heaped praise on the two men he was about to sentence. The ruling highlighted their efforts to solve the political impasse that followed the 2005 elections and described them as 'courageous citizens promoting peace and the rule of law�. The court dismissed a request by the prosecution that the two men's civil rights should be limited in the light of the forthcoming local election.

Dr Retta said: "We are pleased that the court recognised the value and legitimacy of Daniel and Netsanet's work and upheld their civil rights. However, we remain deeply concerned that they have been convicted of a crime; we believe there has been a miscarriage of justice and we will therefore support them if they decide to appeal against their conviction."

He added: "The outpouring of solidarity and support from individuals and civil society organisations around the world has been very important to us."

The two were the last remaining defendants in a trial in which they were charged along with 129 others, including leading members of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy. All the other defendants were acquitted, or else convicted, sentenced and pardoned, several months ago. But Daniel and Netsanet refused to sign an admission of guilt in return for a possible pardon. Instead they persisted with their legal defence.