By Adane
Bikila
Addis Ababa — RIGHTS groups have
demanded the release of a prominent critic of the Ethiopian government facing a
possible death sentence over comments he posted on Facebook.
Yonatan Tesfaye, the former
spokesman of the opposition Semayawi (Blue) party, was arrested in December
2015 and held in lengthy pre-trial detention for posts criticising government's
crackdown on opponents.
Tesfaye, who is facing terrorism
charges over his opinions, is held at the Maekelawi Prison, a jail notorious
for its widespread use of torture.
The government says his posts
against a government plans to extend the capital's administrative authority to
the Oromia region were in pursuit of the objectives of the Oromo Liberation
Front (OLF), which it considers a terrorist organisation.
He has been held without charge for
months on end until last Wednesday when he was charged with "incitement,
planning, preparation, conspiracy and attempt" to commit a terrorist act.
Rights groups argued his arrest is
another example of government overreach in the application of its
anti-terrorism laws.
"He and many others held under
similar circumstances should be immediately and unconditionally released,"
said Muthoni Wanyeki, Amnesty International's Director for East Africa and the
Great Lakes.
More than 150 people have been
killed in the ongoing crackdown against protests.
Protests have peaked since the
beginning of the year as demonstrators in the Oromia region oppose government's
plans to extend the boundaries of the capital Addis Ababa.
Oromia, the largest region in
Ethiopia with some 27 million people, includes the capital.
Although the government has imposed
a near total media blackout in the capital, including confiscating satellite
dishes, protesters have been able to send videos, photos and messages to the
Diaspora about the alleged brutality.
Source: All Africa
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