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Ethiopians rally in rare protest | Ethiopians rally in rare protest |
(2 days later) | |
The main opposition parties in Ethiopia have held a march in Addis Ababa to call for the release of their imprisoned leader, Birtukan Medeksa. | The main opposition parties in Ethiopia have held a march in Addis Ababa to call for the release of their imprisoned leader, Birtukan Medeksa. |
The demonstrators handed in a petition to the authorities about Ms Birtukan. | The demonstrators handed in a petition to the authorities about Ms Birtukan. |
She is serving a life sentence, after officials revoked a pardon which had previously seen her set free. | She is serving a life sentence, after officials revoked a pardon which had previously seen her set free. |
Ethiopia has very little tradition of public protest, the BBC's Elizabeth Blunt in Addis Ababa says, and passers-by stopped and stared in amazement. | Ethiopia has very little tradition of public protest, the BBC's Elizabeth Blunt in Addis Ababa says, and passers-by stopped and stared in amazement. |
Almaz GebreEgziabher, Ms Birtukan's mother, hopes the demonstration may help her daughter be released in time for the Ethiopian Easter this weekend. | Almaz GebreEgziabher, Ms Birtukan's mother, hopes the demonstration may help her daughter be released in time for the Ethiopian Easter this weekend. |
"I am happy. I saw her last Saturday, and she is quite well. But I am praying that, with the help of God, she might be released tomorrow or the day after so that she can spend Easter with me and her daughter," she said. | "I am happy. I saw her last Saturday, and she is quite well. But I am praying that, with the help of God, she might be released tomorrow or the day after so that she can spend Easter with me and her daughter," she said. |
Ms Birtukan's five-year-old daughter and mother are the only people who are being allowed to visit her in jail. | Ms Birtukan's five-year-old daughter and mother are the only people who are being allowed to visit her in jail. |
She was among more than 100 people jailed for political offences after Ethiopia's election in 2005, most of whom have since been pardoned. | She was among more than 100 people jailed for political offences after Ethiopia's election in 2005, most of whom have since been pardoned. |
At the time of her re-arrest her colleague Berhanu Nega, who was also pardoned and now lives in exile, told the BBC it showed the government "was hell-bent on staying in power". | At the time of her re-arrest her colleague Berhanu Nega, who was also pardoned and now lives in exile, told the BBC it showed the government "was hell-bent on staying in power". |
Ms Birtukan is a former judge and was one of the younger and more charismatic leaders of the coalition which did well against the ruling party in the 2005 elections. | Ms Birtukan is a former judge and was one of the younger and more charismatic leaders of the coalition which did well against the ruling party in the 2005 elections. |
Our correspondent says that while in jail facing charges of treason, she became even more of a heroine, attracting widespread sympathy as a single mother separated from her baby daughter. | Our correspondent says that while in jail facing charges of treason, she became even more of a heroine, attracting widespread sympathy as a single mother separated from her baby daughter. |
Mistakes | Mistakes |
After the opposition leaders were pardoned and released last year, she emerged as the leader of a new coalition, the Union for Democracy and Justice (UDJ), painstakingly stitched together from various opposition groupings to contest elections in 2010. | After the opposition leaders were pardoned and released last year, she emerged as the leader of a new coalition, the Union for Democracy and Justice (UDJ), painstakingly stitched together from various opposition groupings to contest elections in 2010. |
The government news agency, quoting the ministry of justice, said her pardon had been revoked because she had denied requesting her pardon. | The government news agency, quoting the ministry of justice, said her pardon had been revoked because she had denied requesting her pardon. |
Ms Birtukan's problems started when she spoke to journalists abroad about the way the opposition leaders were released, our correspondent says. | Ms Birtukan's problems started when she spoke to journalists abroad about the way the opposition leaders were released, our correspondent says. |
She talked about negotiations which had taken place between the opposition and government, with the help of a panel of elders, before their pardon was granted. | She talked about negotiations which had taken place between the opposition and government, with the help of a panel of elders, before their pardon was granted. |
The government prefers to lay emphasis on a document signed by the prisoners, regretting any mistakes they had committed and asking for pardon. | The government prefers to lay emphasis on a document signed by the prisoners, regretting any mistakes they had committed and asking for pardon. |
This implies that their release was part of a normal judicial process, rather than in any way part of a negotiated political deal. | This implies that their release was part of a normal judicial process, rather than in any way part of a negotiated political deal. |
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