Systematic and Illegal Abuse of Detainees by the Zenawi Regime

June 17, 2009
Press Release

In direct violation of international laws and its own constitution, the Ethiopian government has used abusive physical and mental torture during the interrogation of its recent political prisoners. Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights provide that “no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” However, in contravention of international laws and in total disregard to fundamental human rights, the dictatorial regime of Meles Zenawi has pitilessly tortured political prisoners under its custody.

According to Barry Malone of Reuters, “a group of men accused of plotting to topple Ethiopia's government were tortured in prison during lengthy interrogations, relatives said on Monday. One man with injuries to his penis had to be treated in hospital."
This barbaric action of the rogue regime of Meles Zenawi and its long history of conducting a systematic campaign of intimidation, detention and torture against political opponents of the increasingly autocratic government has been well documented by various human rights groups. It is obvious that the Ethiopian government officials dismiss stories of torture as lies, and past records indicate that they have expelled everyone from foreign journalists to representatives of human rights groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

Ruled by a violent, lawless, and ethnic dictatorship, the Ethiopian regime tramples its own constitution and ignores morality and international laws to enforce its brutal grip on power. In Ethiopia, arresting, torturing, and charging political prisoners with manufactured evidence and ultimately carrying their trial in kangaroo courts have become increasingly routine and normal procedure. A brutal tyrant with an ingrained assumption has become the accuser, the judge, the jury and executioner; mocking any notion of constitutional order.

Ginbot 7 vehemently condemns the recent torture and abusive treatment of prisoners by the government of Meles Zenawi, and calls on the international community to denounce these atrocities and induce this regime to respect international law and adhere to the rules and conventions of civilized societies

Ginbot 7 PR Office
Tel +44 208 1335670
pr@ginbot7.org