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Bertukan to be presented with 90 thousand birr Toyota
By Tedla Desta - Capital
28 August, 2007
In tribute to Bertukan Mideksa and other individuals released from prison with her, the Ferensaye Legasion neighborhood is to award Bertukan with a car valued at 90 thousand birr, a member of the committee formed for the purpose told Capital.
According to the member of the committee, the Addis Ababa City Provisional Administration Mayor, Berhane Deressa and other Sub-City officials have been invited to attend the ceremony.
The Committee, which has been active with 20 members preparing 10,000 ten birr lottery tickets, has managed to collect 85 thousand birr.
"In addition to the gift we are giving Birtukan, we have also prepared awards for three members of the party, which is to be unofficial until the award is granted" the member said.
Speaking on the contributions made by the Ferensaye Legasion neighborhood, the member said, "The residents have been participating in organizing the ceremony. There were individuals who contributed a kilo of rice, sugar and anything else that they can give."
The security of the event which is expected to be attended by around 650 participants is to be ensured by the police force in cooperation with the residents and the Committee.
Birtukan Mideksa was the First Vice Chairperson of the four parties that combined to form the CUD: Ethiopian Democratic League, All Ethiopian Unity Party, United Ethiopian Democratic Party-Medhin and Rainbow Ethiopia: Movement for Democracy and Social Justice. She was elected representing Rainbow Ethiopia: Movement for Democracy and Social Justice.
At the legislative elections, 15 May 2005, the party won 89 out of 527 seats in the House of People's Representatives, representing the Regions of Amhara, Oromia, and of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples (SNNPR), as well as in the chartered cities of Dire Dawa and Addis Ababa.
The CUD leaders were finally released in July 20, 2007, after spending 20 months in jail, being convicted by the court and after being reviewed by the amnesty board. According to the government and the mediating elders, the CUD prisoners signed an apology letter admitting partial responsibility for the post election violence and promising not to use unconstitutional means for any political aims. In addition to their release, their rights to vote and seek public office have also been restored.
In a related development, the Ad Hoc Coordinating Committee for Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) Leadership Delegation's Visit to the United States expects the arrival in the U.S. of six top leaders on August 29, 2007.
The Delegation to the U.S. will include Hailu Shawul, Chairman of CUD, W/T Birtukan Midekssa, Vice Chair, Dr. Berhanu Nega, former Addis Ababa Mayor-Elect and member Dr. Hailu Araya (Spokesperson), and members Brook Kebede and Ato Gizachew Shiferaw.
"The Leadership Delegation is visiting the United States and Canada at the special request of numerous CUD support groups. The Delegation will travel to various locations in the U.S. A separate delegation will head for Canada," Sources told Capital.