Ethiopia: Birtukan arrested and Prof. Mesfin severely beaten

Ethiopia: Birtukan arrested and Prof. Mesfin severely beaten

Ethioguardian: The leader of UDJ (Andenet) Party, Judge Birtukan Midekisa, has been arrested today early in the moring around 8:20 Ethiopian local time. She was arrested this morning when she came out of Pastor Danile's office. As they took Birtukan, the EPRDF forces have severely beaten Prof. Mesfin Woldemariam, who was walking along with her. Until now, it is not known where Birtukan is held. The EPRDF forces are also rounding up other UDJ members and activists. Prof. Mesfin is taken to hospital because of the serious injuries. The Zenawi forces also arrested Birtukan's driver; they are also asking and trying to find the UDJ party structure to arrest other members of UDJ. The UDJ office was also searched without any court warrant.

On 23-12-2008, the Zenawi's EPRDF government asked Birtikan to distance herself from the speech she gave while she was on a work trip in Europe. On this meetings, Birtukan told Ethiopians that she signed more an agreement letter than a guilt acceptance letter before being released from the EPRDF prison last year. On 22 12-2008,her party ,UDJ, backed her position in a written statement. On 23-12-2008, Zenawi's government gave Birtukan three days to distance herself from her speech and accept the guilt apology.

In a letter written yesterday, Birtukan explained the content of her speech, her understanding about the whole negotiation and signing procedure. In her letter Birtukan also explained that she was granted a presidential pardon, which can not be taken back without any procedure.