| Home | Politics | Human Rights | Water | Economy | Education | Sci & Tech | Culture | Sport |
27 June, 2007
50 more detained low ranking leadership members of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) party have requested pardon, sources disclosed.
As the government’s decision is being awaited on their release, which most people say will bring about a peaceful political resolution; other members of opposition parties are forwarding their opinion on the latest development.
“It used to be foreign diplomats who mediated between us and the government, it is encouraging to see now that role is being played by our own people,” Professor Beyene Petros of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) said.
Professor Ephraim Isaac and an Ethiopian lawyer Tamiru Wondimagegn are said to have acted as mediators between the government and detained CUD leaders.
Beyene said that even though this should have been done earlier, it is still a big step forward and Ethiopians should continue to mediate when ever such situations arise in the future.
Ethiopian Democratic Union Party- Medhin’s Lidetu Ayalew on his part said that though there are no official statements being made about the current development he would be the happiest man to see the detained opposition leaders being pardoned.
“If the government genuinely decides to pardon the detained opposition leaders, there is high benefit to the people and the government. The decision to resolve the situation by asking for pardon, even though it is late, is also a best alternative,” Lidetu said.
Lidetu who declined to comment on the implication of the current effort on the future of Ethiopian politics called on both the government and the detained CUD leaders to persistently work for positive results.
“We are not aware of the mediation efforts being talked about but we take it as good news,” Temesgen Zewdie, a MP and CUD representative of the House of Peoples Representatives said.
Temesgen said it should be taken as a priority always that political misunderstandings and differences are resolved through dialogue and mediation, and added that he was looking forward to see the release of the detained opposition party members.
The court which convicted the CUD leaders had set the date June 27, 2007 to hear the respective opinion of the both extenuating and or aggravating circumstances regarding the sentence.
The court had set the date on July 9, 2007 to pass sentence.
By A Staff Reporter - Ethiopian Reporter