Coverage of Daniel and Netsanet Trial in Ethiopia

2nd January
As year begins, let’s allow civil society to flourish, by Kumi Naidoo
Business Daily Africa, Kenya - 20 hours ago
In Ethiopia peaceful anti-poverty campaigners Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie are still in prison after 25 months on charges of conspiring to overthrow ...

28th December
All Africa  -   28/12/2007 (261 words)
Court Finds Netsanet, Daniel Guilty of Inciting Uprising

afrol News, Norway - Dec 28, 2007
Ethiopia jails activists - The jailed officials - Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demassie - serve as Directors of ActionAid Ethiopia [the national chapter of an international humanitarian

27th December
ENA Website , Ethiopia  -   27/12/2007 (253 words)
Ethiopia: Court charges two opposition members for "treason"

News24, South Africa - Dec 27, 2007
Jailed activists to walk free - The Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), a campaign grouping several charities that both defendants had worked for, took issue with the court ...

26th December
Nazret.com, MD - Dec 26, 2007
Ethiopia - Anti-poverty campaigners vindicated by court26 December 2007 – Ethiopian activists Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie may face brief additional time behind bars, as the court today sentenced them to ...

MWC News, Canada - Dec 26, 2007
Ethiopia sentences rights activists- Daniel Bekele worked for ActionAid, an anti-poverty group, while Netsanet Demissie ran the Organisation for Social Justice in Ethiopia. ...

Al Jazeera English  -   26/12/2007 (332 words)
Ethiopia sentences rights activists
Ethiopia: Convicted Activists to be released in three days

Jimma Times, Ethiopia - Dec 26, 2007
Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie received a two and half year jail sentence only a couple of days after their conviction for “inciting uprising.

Reuters News  -   26/12/2007 (459 words)
UPDATE 3-Ethiopia activists get 2 1/2 years but to walk free
 
Agence France Presse  -   26/12/2007 (255 words)
Ethiopian rights activists sentenced to 30 months
 
Dow Jones International News  -   26/12/2007 (271 words)
Two Ethiopian Activists Sentenced For Inciting Violence
 
Associated Press Newswires  -   26/12/2007 (276 words)
2 Ethiopian activists sentenced to time served for inciting post-election violence

Reuters AlertNet, UK - Dec 26, 2007
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 ...
Ethiopian activists hear fate

Independent Online, South Africa - Dec 26, 2007
Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie are expected to be released within a week however, having already served an equivalent term after being denied bail ...
2 Ethiopian activists sentenced to time served for inciting post ...

International Herald Tribune, France - Dec 26, 2007
Daniel Bekele was working for the international charity ActionAid, and Netsanet Demissie worked for a group supported by ActionAid when they were arrested ...

Reuters South Africa, South Africa - Dec 26, 2007
Ethiopia activists get 2 1/2-year jail sentence - Daniel Bekele worked for ActionAid, while Netsanet Demisse worked closely with the global anti-poverty campaigner through his Organisation for Social ...

25th December
The Daily Monitor (Ethiopia)  -   25/12/2007 (257 words)
AAGM: Activists Convicted of Inciting Uprising.

BBC Monitoring Africa  -   25/12/2007 (234 words)
Ethiopia: Court passes guilty verdict on two persons on treason charges
 
Nazret.com, MD - Dec 25, 2007
After more than two years in prison, anti-poverty campaigners Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie were today acquitted on treason related ...

24th December
Reuters UK, UK - Dec 24, 2007
"The court finds Netsanet Demisse and Daniel Bekele guilty of inciting uprising and distributing anti-government flyers," Judge Adil Ahmed told the court. ...
Judge sentences Ethiopian campaigners to two and a half years

Aljazeera.net, Qatar - Dec 24, 2007
Ethiopian court convicts activists - The two Ethiopians, Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie, were acquitted of the more serious charge of "outrage against the constitution", but may face up to ...

Al Jazeera English  -   24/12/2007 (587 words)
Ethiopian court convicts activists
 
Reuters News  -   24/12/2007 (560 words)
UPDATE 4-Two Ethiopian activists guilty of inciting uprising
 
Agence France Presse  -   24/12/2007 (230 words)
Ethiopian court convicts two activists of treason
 
Dow Jones International News  -   24/12/2007 (230 words)
Ethiopian Crt Convicts 2 Rts Activists Of Inciting Violence

Associated Press Newswires  -   24/12/2007 (229 words)
Ethiopian court convicts two rights activists of inciting violence in disputed 2005 election

BBC News, UK - Dec 24, 2007
Ethiopia activists found guilty - Daniel Bekele, who works for ActionAid International, and local charity worker Netsanet Demissie could face up to 10 years in prison. ...
Ethiopia: Prisoners of conscience unfairly convicted; face ...

ReliefWeb (press release), Switzerland - Dec 24, 2007
Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie were convicted today by a majority verdict of the Ethiopian Federal High Court after a trial of over two years. ...
Ethiopian Court Convicts Anti-Poverty Campaigners

OneWorld.net, UK - Dec 24, 2007
Today Ethiopia's Federal High Court convicted anti-poverty campaigners Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie, the last remaining defendants in a trial in ...

United Press International - Dec 24, 2007
Activists convicted in Ethiopia - Daniel Bekele, a manager for Action Aid Ethiopia, and Netsanet Demissie, a co-worker who is head of the Organization for Social Justice in Ethiopia, ...
Ethiopia convicts two activists for stirring violence in 2005 polls

Earthtimes, UK - Dec 24, 2007
Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie were being tried alongside 129 others, including prominent opposition members, for attempting to overthrow the ...

21st December
Nazret.com, MD - Dec 21, 2007
Ethiopia - NETSANET DEMESIE AND DANIEL BEKELE – MEN OF THE YEAR
It has been more than two years since young and courageous Ethiopian lawyers Netsanet Demessie and Daniel Bekele are incarcerated by the TPLF leaders for ...

19th December
AllAfrica.com, Washington - Dec 19, 2007
Ethiopia: Take Action! Bring Activists Home for the Holidays - Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie, human rights lawyers and coordinators of the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) in Ethiopia, ...

Inter Press Service (subscription), Italy - Dec 19, 2007
CIVIL SOCIETY UNDER ATTACK: In Ethiopia peaceful anti-poverty campaigners Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie are still in prison after 25 months on charges of conspiring to overthrow ...

BELOW FULL TEXT OF SOME OF THE ABOVE REPORTS

Ethiopia: Court charges two opposition members for "treason"
Text of report in English by state-owned Ethiopian news agency ENA website

Addis Ababa, 26 December: The Federal High Court on Wednesday [26 December] handed down two-and-a-half years in jail to each of two treason convicts Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demise. The prison term is to be counted from the day they were arrested.

Daniel and Netsanet were among the 131 individuals brought to court on charges of inciting violence and uprising following the 2005 parliamentary and regional elections. Following guilty verdicts and sentences of up to life in prison the other convicts including top [opposition] CUD [Coalition for Unity and Democracy] leaders were given pardon upon the pleas they submitted regretting their actions and promising to make up for it and never to engage in similar activities.

Before the Second Criminal Bench of the court handed down the sentence, the prosecution had demanded a punishment proportional to what it said was a serious crime, while the defence lawyer countered.

In its ruling, the court said the crimes Daniel and Netsanet had been convicted of committing could not be said as serious as what the prosecution claimed and "they do not appear dangerous to society". [Sentence as published]

The court then gave two-and-a-half year to each of the last two defendants.

The court reserves the right to appeal of both the prosecution and the defence lawyer, though.

Source: ENA website, Addis Ababa, in English 26 Dec 07

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 From Al Jazeera English  -   26/12/2007 (332 words)

Two human rights activists have received a two-and-a-half year jail sentence in Ethiopia for inciting post-election violence in 2005.

A court in Addis Ababba on Wednesday found the pair "guilty of inciting violence and uprising against the government".

Their defence lawyer said, however, they would be freed in three days.

Mengistu Haile Mariam said: "The two activists will be released from prison in three days' time because they have already served two-thirds of their sentences."

Daniel Bekele worked for ActionAid, an anti-poverty group, while Netsanet Demissie ran the Organisation for Social Justice in Ethiopia.

The two were the last defendants out of 131 originally charged after demonstrators took to the street to protest polls they said were rigged.

A parliamentary inquiry said 30,000 people were arrested.

The government denied election fraud.

Most of those originally charged were freed earlier in the year after the government published a letter it said opposition leaders had signed admitting their guilt.

Opposition crackdown

Rights groups condemned the arrests as an attempt by the government to squelch the opposition because of gains it made in the polls, which had been considered Ethiopia's freest.

Both the activists sentenced on Wednesday were involved in deploying observers at polling stations in and around the capital Addis Ababa at the time of the election.

In announcing the sentence - considerably less than the 10-year maximum - the court said it had "taken into consideration their efforts to help the 2005 elections be conducted in a fair manner and to help the ongoing process of democracy to succeed".

ActionAid said it would appeal against the verdict in an African Union court given the Ethiopian court's acknowledgement the two had worked to aid democracy in the country.

Julian Filochowski, an ActionAid representative, said: "Praise by the court on the performances of the two activists during the election shows that what they had done was legitimate. It's a vote of confidence."

Copyright 2007 Al Jazeera English.
Date: 26/12/2007
Publication: Al Jazeera English

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 From Reuters News  -   26/12/2007 (459 words)
By Tsegaye Tadesse

(Adds aid agency reactions)

ADDIS ABABA, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Two Ethiopian rights activists received a 2 1/2-year jail sentence on Wednesday for inciting post-election violence in 2005, but will walk free within days as they have already served most of their time.

An Addis Ababa court found the pair "guilty of inciting violence and uprising against the government."

Their defence lawyer, Mengistu Haile Mariam, confirmed, however, they would be freed quickly.

"The two activists will be released from prison in three days' time because they have already served two-thirds of their sentences," he told reporters at the court.

Daniel Bekele worked for ActionAid, while Netsanet Demissie worked closely with the global anti-poverty campaigner through his Organisation for Social Justice in Ethiopia.

Rights groups have condemned their trial.

The two were the last defendants out of 131 originally charged after demonstrators took to the street to protest polls they said were rigged. A parliamentary inquiry said 199 civilians and police were killed and 30,000 people arrested.

The government denied election fraud.

Most of those originally charged were freed earlier in the year after the government published a letter it said opposition leaders had signed admitting their guilt and repenting.

Both the activists sentenced on Wednesday were involved in deploying observers at polling stations in and around the capital Addis Ababa at the time of the election.

In announcing the sentence -- considerably less than the 10-year maximum -- the court said it had "taken into consideration their efforts to help the 2005 elections be conducted in a fair manner and to help the ongoing process of democracy to succeed".

ActionAid said it was relieved the men would not face more time in prison but said it would back an appeal against their conviction in an African Union court.

"We are pleased that the court recognised the value and legitimacy of Daniel and Netsanet's work and upheld their civil rights," it said in a statement.

"However... there has been a miscarriage of justice and we will therefore support (any) appeal against their conviction."

The Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), a campaign grouping several charities that both defendants had worked for, took issue with the court praising their efforts to aid democracy.

"The judges' statement today read more like a citation for the Nobel Peace Prize than justification for a single day they have spent in prison," said Kumi Naidoo, co-chairman of GCAP. (Additional reporting by Tim Cocks in Nairobi; Editing by Ibon Villelabeitia)

(c) 2007 Reuters Limited
Date: 26/12/2007
Publication: Reuters News


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 From Agence France Presse  -   26/12/2007 (255 words)

ADDIS ABABA, Dec 26, 2007 (AFP) -

Ethiopia's high court on Wednesday sentenced two human rights activists to two and a half years in prison for inciting violence following disputed elections in 2005.

Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie are expected to be released within a week however, having already served an equivalent term after being denied bail seven times.

"The court has sentenced the defendants to two and a half years in jail to set an example and prevent similar actions in the future," judge Mohammed Aminsani announced.

Prosecutors had requested a 10-year sentence and revocation of the defendants' civil liberties, citing civilian casualties and property damage that resulted from the chaos caused by the disputed 2005 polls.

The two activists were acquitted of "outrage against the constitution" two days ago, a charge which can be punished with the death sentence or life imprisonment, but found guilty on the lesser incitement charges.

"Civil societies will be relieved in the country as their actions were entirely legitimate. I have little doubt that the prosecution will appeal the decision to the supreme court," said Julian Filochowski, representative of Bekele's agency ActionAid International.

Bekele and Demissie were the only remaining defendants out of more than 100 opposition figures and journalists put on trial following 2005 polls which the ruling party won but the opposition claimed were rigged.

At least 193 civilians and six police officers died in the capital Addis Ababa in post-election violence.

str/jmm/ar

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2007 All reproduction and presentation rights reserved.
Date: 26/12/2007
Publication: Agence France Presse

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 From Dow Jones International News  -   26/12/2007 (271 words)

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP)--Two human right activists were sentenced Wednesday to two years in prison for inciting post-election violence in 2005, but they will go free in days because they have already served the time.

"Even though the charge is a very serious one, which would have led them to serve life time maximum, the court has considered the good conduct of the two defendants," Judge Ahmed Aminsani said.

Daniel Bekele was working for the international charity ActionAid, and Netsanet Demissie worked for a group supported by ActionAid when they were arrested in 2005.

"I do not want to talk about the overall judicial process in the country," said Julian Filochowski, ActionAid manager in Ethiopia. But he said he was relieved and expected the men to be freed next week.

The opposition won an unprecedented number of parliamentary seats in the 2005 election, but not enough to topple Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. The opposition claimed the voting was rigged, and EU observers said it was marred by irregularities.

Violence in the election's aftermath led to a government crackdown on the opposition. Last year, Ethiopia acknowledged its security forces killed 193 civilians protesting the disputed election, but insisted excessive force wasn't used.

In August, the government pardoned and freed 32 opposition supporters who were arrested and held without charge following the outbreak of postelection violence. Their release came nearly a month after 38 other opposition members were freed following appeals from the U.S. and other nations to Ethiopia, a key U.S. ally in eastern Africa. [ 26-12-07 0951GMT ]

(c) 2007 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Date: 26/12/2007
Publication: Dow Jones International News

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 From Associated Press Newswires  -   26/12/2007 (276 words)

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) - Two human right activists were sentenced Wednesday to 2 1/2 years in prison for inciting post-election violence in 2005, but they will go free in days because they have already served the time.

"Even though the charge is a very serious one, which would have led them to serve life time maximum, the court has considered the good conduct of the two defendants," Judge Ahmed Aminsani said.

Daniel Bekele was working for the international charity ActionAid, and Netsanet Demissie worked for a group supported by ActionAid when they were arrested in 2005.

"I do not want to talk about the overall judicial process in the country," said Julian Filochowski, ActionAid manager in Ethiopia. But he said he was relieved and expected the men to be freed next week.

The opposition won an unprecedented number of parliamentary seats in the 2005 election, but not enough to topple Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. The opposition claimed the voting was rigged, and EU observers said it was marred by irregularities.

Violence in the election's aftermath led to a government crackdown on the opposition. Last year, Ethiopia acknowledged its security forces killed 193 civilians protesting the disputed election, but insisted excessive force was not used.

In August, the government pardoned and freed 32 opposition supporters who had been arrested and held without charge following the outbreak of postelection violence. Their release came nearly a month after 38 other opposition members were freed following appeals from the U.S. and other nations to Ethiopia, a key U.S. ally in eastern Africa.

(c) 2007. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Date: 26/12/2007
Publication: Associated Press Newswires

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 From The Daily Monitor (Ethiopia)  -   25/12/2007 (257 words)

After more than two years in prison, Netsanet Demissie and Daniel Bekele - both coordinators of Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) in Ethiopia - were on Monday found guilty of inciting the violence that followed the May 2005 election the opposition said was rigged.

Daniel and Netsanet are the last two accused in the high profile Ethiopian trial that originally charged 131 politicians, journalists, organisations and civil society leaders.

The dios have been detained since November 2005 on charges of conspiracy and "outrage against the constitution and constitutional order." "The court finds Netsanet Demisse and Daniel Bekele guilty of inciting uprising and distributing anti-government flyers," Judge Adil Ahmed told the court.

They face up to 10 years jail in sentencing set to take place on Wednesday.

The prosecution said on Monday it would push for the stiffest punishment because the defendants were educated and knew what they were doing.

Their verdict has been delayed four times since final statements were presented in August. Daniel and Netsanet have been denied bail throughout their trial.

The defendants were involved in deploying observers at polling stations in and around the capital Addis Ababa.

But the two activists had refused to sign a formal apology, preferring to fight their case in court.

In a statement following the court verdict, Netsanet said: "Whatever we did during the election, we did with the good and honest intention of respecting the constitution of our country."

Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media. (allafrica.com)

The Financial Times Limited. Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. All material subject to copyright. The Daily Monitor (Ethiopia) (c) 2007 All rights reserved
Date: 25/12/2007
Publication: The Daily Monitor (Ethiopia)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 From BBC Monitoring Africa  -   25/12/2007 (234 words)

Text of report in English by state-owned Ethiopian news agency ENA website

Addis Ababa, 25 December: The Second Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court passed guilty verdict over two persons [presumably opposition members] convicted of attempting to forcefully dismantle the constitutional order following the May 2005 national election.

The two persons were charged along with those who were convicted of treason but latter freed after signing a letter of pardon. The two convicts choose not to ask pardon and to pursue in defending their cases.

The court passed the guilty verdict on Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demise after changing the accusation on attempting to change the constitution and the constitutional order forcefully to a lesser charge of incitement.

The court passed the decision since the defendants were unable to refute testimonies of the three witnesses counted by the prosecutor.

It is to be recalled that the government pardoned leaders of the [opposition] Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) and other defendants convicted of treason after they were given life time sentences by the court.

The prosecutor charged the two defendants for engaging their respective associations in anti constitutional acts, passing criminal decisions under the banner of the associations and agitating members of the association to carry out violence, among others.

Source: ENA website, Addis Ababa, in English 25 Dec 07

(c) 2007 The British Broadcasting Corporation. All Rights Reserved. No material may be reproduced except with the express permission of The British Broadcasting Corporation.
Date: 25/12/2007
Publication: BBC Monitoring Africa

----------------------------------------------------------------------
BBC News ONLINE ( also filed for radio bulletins)
Last Updated: Monday, 24 December 2007, 14:37 GMT

Ethiopia activists found guilty

An Ethiopian court has convicted two anti-poverty activists of inciting violence after the elections in 2005.

Daniel Bekele, who works for ActionAid International, and local charity worker Netsanet Demissie could face up to 10 years in prison.

The men were acquitted of more serious charges of violating the constitution.

They were the last of more than 130 defendants charged in relation to the protests complaining of fraud in polls won by the prime minister's party.

ActionAid spokesman Tony Durham said the group were dismayed by the verdict.

The men will be sentenced on Wednesday.

Pardons

"Despite the lack of evidence proving their involvement in leadership and participation during the unrest, no evidence could be found to refute accusations of incitement," judge Mohammed Aminsani told the court, AFP news agency reports.

"As a result, the court has found them guilty on this respect."

Hundreds of thousands of people took part in demonstrations at alleged vote-rigging and some 193 people were killed.

Most of the dead were protesters, killed by security forces.

In August, the authorities pardoned more than 30 opposition members detained after the protest march two years ago.

Their release came a month after 38 senior opposition members were freed after signing a letter of pardon acknowledging a role in the disorder after the polls.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 From Al Jazeera English  -   24/12/2007 (587 words)

An Ethiopian court has convicted two rights activists of inciting an uprising against the government.

Judge Mohammed Aminsani, said on Monday: "Despite the lack of evidence proving their involvement in leadership and participation during the unrest, no evidence could be found to refute accusations of incitement."

The two Ethiopians, Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie, were acquitted of the more serious charge of "outrage against the constitution", but may face up to 10 years in prison when sentenced on Wednesday, according to the country's penal code.

Bekele and Demissie are the last defendants of 131 people originally charged following street protests that started after an election was disputed in 2005. More than 193 people died in the ensuing conflict with the authorities.

Bekele, who worked for ActionAid, and Netsanet, who worked for an aid group supported by ActionAid, were involved in deploying observers at polling stations in and around the capital, Addis Ababa.

Julian Filochowski, an official with ActionAid International, said: "We are shocked and dismayed by the verdict as they were acquitted from the major charges and found guilty on lesser ones.

"They belong to civil societies and are just trying to defend their activities," he said.

Election violence

Prosecutors in the trial called for a revocation of the defendants' civil liberties, citing civilian casualties and property damage which resulted from the chaos that followed the polls.

At least 193 civilians and six police officers died in Addis Ababa during post-election violence in June and November 2005.

In August, the court freed 31 members of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), also held since the polls.

Another 38 opposition members, including Hailu Shawel, the CUD chairman, were pardoned and released in July after the government said they signed a letter admitting their guilt and pledging to respect the law.

No apology

More than 130 people, including opposition

figures and activists, were charged [EPA]

But the two activists had refused to sign a formal apology, preferring to fight their case in court.

Kumi Naidoo, secretary-general of Civicus, a network of civic rights campaigners, told Al Jazeera that Bekele and Demissie took a principled decision not to sign the admission.

"They thought that doing this would criminalise the work of civil society in Ethiopia," he said.

"In April, when the prosecution presented evidence in April against them, the presiding judge at that time said they didn't have a case to answer.

"Unfortunately, the associate judges took a different view. As was the case today.

"The presiding judge again took the view that they were not guilty of the lesser charges."

The case was strongly criticised by rights groups and donors who saw it as an attempt to dismantle the opposition after it made strong gains in the election.

Naidoo said: "Given that Daniel and Netsanet had appealed at least seven times for bail in the last two years and three months, it would be fair to assume that they would exhaust all legal options available to them.

"To them, it's not simply about walking out of prison, as they could have done six months ago. They want to ensure that they do not undermine the work of human rights campaigners, anti-poverty campaigners and other civil society groups."

Following the court's verdict on Monday, Demissie said: "Whatever we did during the election, we did with the good and honest intention of respecting the constitution of our country."

Copyright 2007 Al Jazeera English.
Date: 24/12/2007
Publication: Al Jazeera English


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 From Reuters News  -   24/12/2007 (560 words)
By Tsegaye Tadesse

ADDIS ABABA, Dec 24 (Reuters) - An Ethiopian court on Monday convicted two rights activists, held since a disputed 2005 election, of inciting an uprising against the government in a ruling that drew condemnation from rights groups.

The two are the last defendants out of 131 originally charged after demonstrators took to the street to protest polls they said were rigged. A parliamentary inquiry said 199 civilians and police were killed and 30,000 people arrested.

The government denies election fraud.

"The court finds Netsanet Demisse and Daniel Bekele guilty of inciting uprising and distributing anti-government flyers," Judge Adil Ahmed told the court.

They are due to be sentenced on Wednesday and face up to 10 years in jail.

Daniel worked for ActionAid, while Netsanet worked closely with the global anti-poverty campaigner through his Organisation for Social Justice in Ethiopia.

Both were involved in deploying observers at polling stations in and around the capital Addis Ababa.

ActionAid expressed "shock and dismay" at the verdict.

"This is a terrible ... disappointment to me," ActionAid chief executive Ramesh Singh said in a statement. "We will continue to stand by our two brave colleagues ... we remain hopeful that they will ultimately establish their innocence."

Amnesty International condemned the decision saying the two men were "prisoners of conscience arrested solely for their peaceful human rights work".

"Their trial was not fair, and the charges against them were no more than the criminalization of free speech," said Erwin van der Borght, director of Amnesty's Africa Programme in a statement.

"The trial has already had a chilling effect on civil society activism."

The two were acquitted of a more serious "outrage against the constitution" charge.

The larger trial was criticised by rights groups and donors who saw it as an attempt to dismantle the opposition which won its largest ever showing in the 2005 parliamentary vote, regarded as Ethiopia's most open election.

But a post-poll crackdown to quash unrest raised concerns about Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's democratic credentials.

In August, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill linking aid to Ethiopia, a major ally in Washington's war on terror, to democratic reforms.

Pressure on the government eased somewhat with the release of 38 opposition Coalition of Unity and Democracy (CUD) members in July, including CUD Chairman Hailu Shawel.

They were pardoned and freed days after being given jail terms for trying to overthrow the government.

A month later, 31 others held since the disputed polls were also freed. In both cases, the government said the defendants had signed a letter admitting their guilt.

But the two activists had refused to sign a formal apology, preferring the fight their case in court.

The prosecution said on Monday it would push for the stiffest punishment because the defendants were educated and knew what they were doing.

In a statement following the court verdict, Netsanet said: "Whatever we did during the election, we did with the good and honest intention of respecting the constitution of our country." (Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Katie Nguyen and Mary Gabriel)

(c) 2007 Reuters Limited
Date: 24/12/2007
Publication: Reuters News


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 From Dow Jones International News  -   24/12/2007 (230 words)

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP)--An Ethiopian court convicted two Ethiopian rights activists Monday of inciting violence stemming from the disputed 2005 election, according to an international charity for which one of the two worked.

Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie, who have been held since 2005, were acquitted of the more serious charge of "outrage against the constitution and the constitutional order," ActionAid said in a statement.

The men will be sentenced Wednesday.

Bekele worked for ActionAid and Netsanet worked for an aid group supported by ActionAid

The opposition won an unprecedented number of parliamentary seats in the 2005 election, but not enough to topple Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. The opposition claimed the voting was rigged, and European Union observers said it was marred by irregularities.

Violence in the election's aftermath led to a government crackdown on the opposition. Last year, Ethiopia acknowledged its security forces killed 193 civilians protesting the disputed election, but insisted excessive force wasn't used.

In August, the government pardoned and freed 32 opposition supporters who had been arrested and held without charge following the outbreak of post-election violence. Their release came nearly a month after 38 other opposition members were freed following appeals from the U.S. and other nations to Ethiopia, a key U.S. ally in eastern Africa. [ 24-12-07 1109GMT ]

(c) 2007 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Date: 24/12/2007
Publication: Dow Jones International News

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 From Associated Press Newswires  -   24/12/2007 (229 words)

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) - An Ethiopian court convicted two Ethiopian rights activists Monday of inciting violence stemming from the disputed 2005 election, according to an international charity for which one of the two worked.

Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie, who have been held since 2005, were acquitted of the more serious charge of "outrage against the constitution and the constitutional order," ActionAid said in a statement.

The men will be sentenced Wednesday.

Bekele worked for ActionAid and Netsanet worked for an aid group supported by ActionAid

The opposition won an unprecedented number of parliamentary seats in the 2005 election, but not enough to topple Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. The opposition claimed the voting was rigged, and EU observers said it was marred by irregularities.

Violence in the election's aftermath led to a government crackdown on the opposition. Last year, Ethiopia acknowledged its security forces killed 193 civilians protesting the disputed election, but insisted excessive force was not used.

In August, the government pardoned and freed 32 opposition supporters who had been arrested and held without charge following the outbreak of postelection violence. Their release came nearly a month after 38 other opposition members were freed following appeals from the U.S. and other nations to Ethiopia, a key U.S. ally in eastern Africa.

(c) 2007. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Date: 24/12/2007
Publication: Associated Press Newswires
--------------------------------------------------------------------

 From All Africa  -   19/12/2007 (242 words)

Dec 19, 2007 (International Freedom of Expression Exchange Clearing House/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie, human rights lawyers and coordinators of the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) in Ethiopia, have been in detention for more than two years for treason-related charges. If found guilty, they could face life in jail or the death sentence.

Take action by sending a message of hope to Bekele and Demissie and their families, and/or a letter of appeal to the Ethiopian authorities, urging them to bring the lawyers home for the holidays.

According to GCAP and CIVICUS, an international alliance of civil society organisations, Demissie and Bekele "have been arrested solely on the basis of their legitimate critique of the government during their anti-poverty and human rights work." They both monitored the controversial 15 May 2005 election, which critics say were rigged.

Sixty-one out of 131 political opposition members and journalists have been reportedly sentenced and then pardoned, allegedly after signing a statement admitting they tried to undermine the government. Demissie and Bekele declined to sign such a statement, and presented their defence in July. The verdict has been continually delayed by the court and is now set for 24 December.

Send a message of hope or a letter of appeal here: http://www.civicus.org/csw/CIVICUS.GCAP.Appeal.24.12.07.asp

(c) 2007 AllAfrica, All Rights Reserved
Date: 19/12/2007
Publication: All Africa

-------------------------
Ethiopian activists hear fate
Independent Online, IOL, South Africa - Dec 26, 2007

Addis Ababa - Ethiopia's high court on Wednesday sentenced two human rights activists to two and a half years in prison for inciting violence following disputed elections in 2005.

Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie are expected to be released within a week however, having already served an equivalent term after being denied bail seven times.

"The court has sentenced the defendants to two and a half years in jail to set an example and prevent similar actions in the future," judge Mohammed Aminsani announced.

Prosecutors had requested a 10-year sentence and revocation of the defendants' civil liberties, citing civilian casualties and property damage that resulted from the chaos caused by the disputed 2005 polls.

'...to set an example and prevent similar actions in the future'
The two activists were acquitted of "outrage against the constitution" two days ago, a charge which can be punished with the death sentence or life imprisonment, but found guilty on the lesser incitement charges.

"Civil societies will be relieved in the country as their actions were entirely legitimate. I have little doubt that the prosecution will appeal the decision to the supreme court," said Julian Filochowski, representative of Bekele's agency ActionAid International.

Bekele and Demissie were the only remaining defendants out of more than 100 opposition figures and journalists put on trial following 2005 polls which the ruling party won but the opposition claimed were rigged.

At least 193 civilians and six police officers died in the capital Addis Ababa in post-election violence. - Sapa-AFP

ENDS


For more information:
Ciara O'Sullivan
Media Coordinator
Global Call to Action Against Poverty - GCAP
www.whiteband.org
Spain Cel: +34 679 594 809
Spain office (CONGDE): + 34 915 23 98 65
Skype name: cmosullivan