Ethiopian authorities have disclosed the release of an additional 2 252 persons detained about 11 weeks ago during unrest in cities around the country to protest against alleged fraud in last May’s elections, the local press reported on Saturday.
They were released from Federal Prison in Zenawi, 130km south of Addis Ababa, where they had been kept in custody since early November for causing minor damage to property during the unrest.
The report quoted the federal police as saying their release came after a series of investigations had indicated their participation in the post-election unrest had been minimal.
It brings to nearly 3 000 the number of persons whom authorities have released this past week, involving those whose involvement in the unrest was deemed to have been minor. Altogether, the government has now released over 13 000 persons who had been detained in the unrest.
Unrest in Addis Ababa in June and then again in November claimed about 90 lives.
Police said 656 detainees now remain at the Zewai Federal Prison awaiting trial for their alleged involvement in the disturbances that followed the bitterly-contested May 15 multi-party general elections.
A total of 129 top figures of the main opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party, activists and supporters, including a score of publishers and editors of private newspapers, has been under way before a Federal High Court in Addis Ababa for two months.
The accused face seven charges, ranging from sedition, to high treason and genocide for inciting and instigating the post-election disturbances to the overthrow the government through violent street demonstrations against the alleged vote rigging when their party failed to win at the polls.
The public prosecutor holds the accused responsible for the loss of close to 90 lives during the June and November disturbances.
The trial of the 129, who claim to be political prisoners for opposing the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, resumes on February 23. – Sapa-DPA