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| Ethiopian opposition leader testifies to EU over lack of political freedoms – and is immediately arrested upon his return | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An opposition leader from Ethiopia’s Oromo ethnic group has been arrested by the authorities after returning from a trip to Europe to discuss his country’s crackdown on political freedoms. | An opposition leader from Ethiopia’s Oromo ethnic group has been arrested by the authorities after returning from a trip to Europe to discuss his country’s crackdown on political freedoms. |
| Merera Gudina is the leader of the Oromo People’s Congress, and met with members of the European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday. | Merera Gudina is the leader of the Oromo People’s Congress, and met with members of the European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday. |
| Ethiopia’s Oromiya region has been the centre of protests for more than a year, with the Oromo people angry at alleged land grabs, brutal police responses and a lack of political recognition by the government in Addis Ababa. | Ethiopia’s Oromiya region has been the centre of protests for more than a year, with the Oromo people angry at alleged land grabs, brutal police responses and a lack of political recognition by the government in Addis Ababa. |
| And the unrest has led the government to declare a six-month state of emergency, which was violated when Mr Gudina left the country for Brussels. | And the unrest has led the government to declare a six-month state of emergency, which was violated when Mr Gudina left the country for Brussels. |
| A government secretariat, chaired by the prime minister and in charge of implementing emergency rule, said Mr Gudina violated guidelines "by making contact with terrorist groups". | A government secretariat, chaired by the prime minister and in charge of implementing emergency rule, said Mr Gudina violated guidelines "by making contact with terrorist groups". |
| "Given this violation, Merera is in custody and an investigation is currently taking place," the Amharic-language statement said. | "Given this violation, Merera is in custody and an investigation is currently taking place," the Amharic-language statement said. |
| Gebru Gebremariam, of the Oromo Federalist Congress, told Reuters: “Merera arrived in Addis Ababa on Wednesday morning from a trip to Brussels, where he met members of the European Parliament. | Gebru Gebremariam, of the Oromo Federalist Congress, told Reuters: “Merera arrived in Addis Ababa on Wednesday morning from a trip to Brussels, where he met members of the European Parliament. |
| “Police arrested him in his house the same day in the evening. We haven't been given reasons behind his arrest.” | “Police arrested him in his house the same day in the evening. We haven't been given reasons behind his arrest.” |
| The MEP Ana Gomes said Mr Gudina appeared at the hearing alongside exiled opposition leader Berhanu Nega and the marathon runner Feyisa Lilesa, who staged a protest against the treatment of the Oromo people at the Rio Olympics. | The MEP Ana Gomes said Mr Gudina appeared at the hearing alongside exiled opposition leader Berhanu Nega and the marathon runner Feyisa Lilesa, who staged a protest against the treatment of the Oromo people at the Rio Olympics. |
| She said reports that Mr Gudina was allegedly “beaten and physically abused” upon his arrest were “appalling”, and called on the EU to intervene, tweeting: “What is the problem in Ethiopia?” | She said reports that Mr Gudina was allegedly “beaten and physically abused” upon his arrest were “appalling”, and called on the EU to intervene, tweeting: “What is the problem in Ethiopia?” |
| Rights groups say more than 500 people have been killed since last year in protests, though clashes between police and demonstrators have subsided during the state of emergency. | Rights groups say more than 500 people have been killed since last year in protests, though clashes between police and demonstrators have subsided during the state of emergency. |
| The opposition says foreign firms have been leased land in Oromiya that rightfully belongs to locals, and was seized for little or no compensation. Foreign-owned businesses have been attacked during the unrest. | The opposition says foreign firms have been leased land in Oromiya that rightfully belongs to locals, and was seized for little or no compensation. Foreign-owned businesses have been attacked during the unrest. |
| The Ethiopian government denies the accusations of illegally taking land or imposing political restrictions, as well as the numbers reported to have died. It considers the state of emergency a success, saying day-to-day life in the country has been normalised in the two months it has been in force. | The Ethiopian government denies the accusations of illegally taking land or imposing political restrictions, as well as the numbers reported to have died. It considers the state of emergency a success, saying day-to-day life in the country has been normalised in the two months it has been in force. |