Yonas Abiye
30 December 2008
Addis Ababa — In what appears to be the first major incidence after the release, on Government pardon, of top opposition leaders, and the political wrangling that unfolded in the aftermath, a leading politician Birtukan Mideksa was taken to an unknown place by police, a source told The Daily Monitor late on Monday.
According to the source, a group of police officers took hold of Birtukan, a former Judge, at around 12 am local time as she was going out of the Prison Fellowship office where she went to for a visit.
Veteran politician Professor Mesfin W. Mariam and her driver, who the source said was accompanying Birtukan, were also beaten by police for protesting against mistreatment of Birtukan.
Birtukan Mideksa a former vice president of the then Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP) now heads the Unity for Democracy and Justice Party (UDJP).
UDJP Spokesman Dr.Hailu Araya confirmed the arrest, "in a not clear circumstance" of Birtukan, including the beating of Professor Mesfin.
"We know not of the reasons behind the police actions this morning, neither do we know where she was taken to," Dr. Hailu told The Daily Monitor by phone.
"We are investigating this and will let the public know the results of our investigation." Police has not until the time of filing this report disclosed anything about the arrest and the whereabouts of the politician.
Last week, the Federal police issued an order for Birtukan to deny or confirm in publish as to whether or not she had asked the government for a pardon for her release after she was found guilty of the all the charges filed by the prosecutor.
In response to the police order which was broadcasted by the state TV, Birtukan, in a statement published on local press, admitted that she had asked for pardon from the government but added that the pardon was part of the agreement reached with the government consensus as mutually agreed by either party.
She said however that after her release, along with other opposition leaders, the government made it sound like opposition leaders admitted their wrongdoing and asked mercy from the government.
The reconciliation process was initiated and finalized by the team of elders who mediated the quarrel in a way that the government was in the mediation not only in good faith but also in commitment for a peaceful ending of the wrangling, she pointed out in her open statement entitled Kale (meaning my word, my will).
She also indicated that the pardon and the release that followed were maneuvered to serve the best interest of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, and the ruling party he heads.
Monday's incidence also follows a comment she made at a public meeting with her Ethiopian Diaspora supporters in Europe.
There, she was alleged to have denied that she actually asked the government for any pardon to be released from the prison where she was to serve life sentence.
Police accused of her denying the pardon it said she had asked for the government.
This is the first major incident after the government released above 138 leaders and members of the former Coalition for Unity and Democracy Part (CUD) with pardon after 18 months in custody.
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It is very sad to learn the young inspirational politician is arrested. This is an exemplary that there is no democracy not to speak but even to live as a citizen freely in Ethiopia.