- Ethiopian government has revoked a pardon granted to a prominent opposition official, Bertukan Midekssa, after she failed to refute the foreign media reports that she never pleaded for a pardon.
Ms Midekssa who was released in July 2007 was accused of attempting to overthrow the Constitution and the constitutional system by force.
The Ethiopia Minister of Justice, Berhan Hailu told national news agency, ENA, that the pardon granted to Ms Midekssa was lifted in accordance with legal procedures after she failed to refute her briefing given to foreign media. Ethiopian government gave Ms Midekssa 3-days late December to deny statements she has allegedly made to media.
National news agency reported that the Board of Pardon recommended to lift the pardon given to Ms Midekssa for failing to use the opportunity at hand to discard reports. “The board investigated the matter based on legal procedures and the rule of law,” the Minister said.
He said Ms Midekssa's arrest was not politically motivated though locals feared that the government was violating the official’s rights.
However, the opposition Unity for Democracy and Justice Party (UDJ) statement has rejected the accusation by the state that Ms Midekssa violated the preconditions to which she had committed herself while granted the pardon in 2007.
Pardon was granted to the leader of Unity for Democracy and Justice party under conditions that she remains committed to act in compliance to supreme law of the land and in due respect to the constitutional system.
UDJ said accusations leveled against Ms Midekssa who currently leads the party are designed to hinder the activities of the party.
“UDJ calls upon the Ethiopian people to take note of what is behind the measures taken against Ms Midekssa, to stand behind UDJ and to redouble its efforts to strengthen the peaceful struggle to bring about democracy and the rule of law in Ethiopia,” the statement said.
The party further called upon governments and other international institutions dedicated to the cause of human rights, democracy and the rule of law to condemn Ms Midekssa arrest and call for her release.
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