Liz McInnes: As a British national languishes under a death sentence in an Ethiopian jail, we demand Boris Johnson intervene

On the day he became foreign secretary, Boris Johnson made it clear that “when you leave Heathrow, when you leave Dover, a British citizen is basically the responsibility of the Foreign Office.”

These words ring hollow in the case of Andy Tsege.

Mr Tsege is a UK national who was arbitrarily detained abroad. He is a British father of three who is held under a sentence of death in Ethiopia for his political beliefs.

In June 2014, Andy was travelling through an airport in Sanaa, Yemen, when he was accosted by unknown men and put onto a plane. Two weeks later and after being given no information regarding his whereabouts, Andy’s family were finally told that he had been taken to Ethiopia under the ‘extraordinary rendition’ laws. He was held in prison, under sentence of death.

Two and a half years on Andy is still being detained, without charge, in the prison described as ‘Ethiopia’s gulag’. In all that time his family in London have been allowed to speak with him just once.

Over the past three months British consular assistance has been restricted and British staff have been unable to have any form of access to him. During this time, rumours of torture have emerged, and reports suggest Andy is in fear for his life.

The Ethiopian foreign minister has told UK officials that Andy is not permitted to appeal his death sentence. And after promising the previous Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, that Andy would be allowed to see a lawyer, the Ethiopian Government has failed to deliver on this pledge – despite repeated requests.

The Labour shadow foreign office team has been working hard to press the government into action to secure Mr Tsege’s release and to raise awareness of his case. We have regularly written and spoken to Boris Johnson urging the government to speak out on this issue but so far they have refused to demand his release.

So today, alongside Andy’s wife Yemi and other colleagues, we shall deliver to the Government a petition with tens of thousands of signatures, calling for Andy’s return home.

It is time for the foreign secretary to speak up on behalf of Mr Tsege. It is time to get him back home.

source: http: labourlist.org/