Witness testifies being paid to instigate riots

By Tedla Yeneakal

A witness, who claimed was a member of one of the Constituent party of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), EUDP, testified on Thursday, November 9 before the Federal High Court in Kaliti that he received 200 birr from one of the defendants, Daniel Bekele, to organize and participate in riots.

Daniel, one of the Civic Association defendants, is a lawyer and policy manager of Action Aid in Ethiopia and is amongst the more than 100, CUD members and journalists accused of crimes ranging from treason and conspiracy to overthrowing a legally instituted government and attempt to genocide. The charges emerge from the post-election disturbances in June and November 2005 over alleged fraud during the mid-May third multi- party elections.

The EUDP party member defendant told the court that he has received 200 birr from Daniel to duplicate pamphlets and distribute in town.

“I was advised to organize youngsters and overthrow the government,” the witness testified to the court. “When the violence erupted I hide in fear for sometimes and finally gave myself up to the police.”

Daniel on his part cross examined the witness informing the court that he has never seen the defendant. He asked him to clearly state where he has met him and describe in detail their conversation to the court.

The first time, the witness responded he was approached by Daniel outside a cafeteria, whose name he does not remember and the second time outside the Action Aid office, where he received the 200 birr. Explaining what he was supposed to do, “I simply stop people in the street and give them the pamphlets, explaining about our party but I don't remember the actual content of what was written,” the witness said. “I disappeared because I realized that I had done illegal things.”

Daniel's lawyer, Mengistu H. Mariam argued further that the witness first came to the court to testify against all defendants and his subpoena (a written order by the court) did not match his actual testimonial.

Meanwhile, two other witnesses of the prosecution, who appeared in the same day testified against Bedru Adem, Gezahegn Tesfaye, Abyiot Wakjira, Minale Gebre, Daniel Berhanu and Kidest Bekele.

One of the witnesses said he had seen Bedru Adem in early November 2005, inciting people to violence - burning a Kebele office and breaking windows of Anbessa bus.

Bedru grilled the witness, asking him to specify the date of these misdeeds he is accusing him of doing in November. He reminded the court that he wa s arrested on November 1.

The court adjourned the hearing for Tuesday, November 14, to listen to more witnesses.