FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ethiopian activists refused bail as trial delayed again until November 30th

Les militants anti-pauvreté Daniel Bekele et Netsanet Demissie ont été prévenus ce matin que leurs procès est reporté à la fin du mois car l’un des trois juges de la Haute Cour est malade

Anti-poverty activists Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie were told this morning that their case will not be heard until the end of the month as one of the three Judges in Ethiopia’s High Court was unable to attend trial today due to ill health. The trial has been postponed until November 30th.

2007-11-22

Anti-poverty activists Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie were told this morning that their case will not be heard until the end of the month as one of the three Judges in Ethiopia’s High Court was unable to attend trial today due to ill health. The trial has been postponed until November 30th.

After more then 2 years imprisonment, Daniel and Netsanet, both coordinators of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) in Ethiopia, were due to hear the final verdict this morning at 9am GMT in Addis Ababa. They face charges of conspiracy to overthrow the government, specifically, “outrage against the constitution and constitutional order”.

"Given that in April a senior judge said there was no case to answer, and that both men have been imprisoned for 2 years, they should have been granted bail in the circumstances.’ said Kumi Naidoo, Sec. Gen of CIVICUS and Chair of GCAP sitting in the Addis Ababa court this morning. ‘Humanity is being deprived of two of the most committed people and in the context, their skills and participation are very much needed.” he added.

They are the last two accused in the high profile Ethiopian treason trial that originally charged 131 politicians, journalists, organisations and civil society leaders. Aside from their work with GCAP, Daniel is also head of the policy department at Action Aid International Ethiopia. Netsanet is also the founder of local human rights group Organisation for Social Justice in Ethiopia. Both Daniel and Netsanet assisted in monitoring the May 2005 election, peaceful and legitimate civil society work for which they now stand trial.

Fellow GCAP campaigners in 112 countries have been calling for their immediate release and sent messages of solidarity to the men (http://www.whiteband.org/regions/africa/eth). Amnesty International has declared both men prisoners of conscience.

ENDS

For more information or interviews, please contact:

Micha Hollestelle, CIVICUS Media Manager at +27 76 6338525,
micha.hollestelle@civicus.org

Ciara O’Sullivan, GCAP Media Coordinator at +34 679 594 809,
ciara.osullivan@civicus.org

For more information on CIVICUS: www.civicus.org
For more information on GCAP www.whiteband.org

###