Update on Ato Daniel and Ato Nesanet and Remaining prisoners #3

(Aigaforum, Aug 1, 2007):- The court for the past two days has been hearing defense witness for Ato Daniel and Ato Nesanet. The latest witnesses to be heard were Ato Fikre, Dr Konjit from EHRCO, W/ro Saba Gebremedhin wife of Justice Menberetsehay and Ato Tamerat from InterAfrica Group. All of them testified in support of the defendant’s claming that they were not guilt as charged. Ato Fikre was challenged by prosecutors and was cross examined. Ato Fikre has told the court Ato Daniel and Ato Nesante were activist and member of the civic organization. They were trying to make peace and have heard them telling Kinijit leaders to join the parliament.  The prosecutor then asked Ato Fikre if the civic organization code of conduct, Ato Daniel and Ato Nesanet were part of, allows them to be a political activist? The witness replied, no it does not, but the defendants were acting as individual citizens. The court will continue to hear more witness tomorrow (8/2/07).

Mean time of the remaining 33 prisoners who are charge under the Hailu Sahwel case and other related case, 32 of them have admitted their guilt and have asked the court to sentence them. The court then passed different sentence to all but one person. Ato Adamu Tessema will know his sentence on Monday Aug 6, 2007.

The following people were sentence as follows:

From Hailu Sahwel case, Mebratu Kebede and Kidist Bekele 15 years of imprisonment, Girma Amare, 16 years and Wosenseged Gebrekidan and Dawit Kebede 4 years of imprisonment. Wosenseged and Dawit were journalist.

From Shaleqa Argaw case, a total of 11 people were charged under this case and all defendants admitted guilt and asked the court to sentence them as soon as possible. Goshu Moges, Mahteme Bukre, Amare Lemma, Legesse Hailemichael and Shewagult Yemenu were sentenced to 10 years.

Also Shaleqa Aragaw Kabtamu, Derje Ergete, Tadios Tantu, Abebe Seda, Melaku Tefera and Tesfaye Derbe were sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment.

Of the 14 defendants under the Kiflu Tegne case, except Kiflu Tegene who was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment all were sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment and Ermias Teshome to 5 years of imprisonment.

Ato Bedru Adem and Ato Alemayoh Yenehe are still defending themselves and the court will hear final argument and pass guilt or no guilt on Monday (8/6/07). It is to be recalled Bedru Adem has not admitted guilt or asked for pardon.