Ethiopia: EPRDF government claimed to have arrested 35 members of Ginbot7 Movement for Justice, Freedom and Democracy

Ethioguardian(25-04-2009):An EPRDF government,Ethiopia’s ruling dictatorial regime, spokesman says police have arrested 35 members of Ginbot7 Movement for Justice, Freedom and Democracy.According to EPRDF spokesman Ermias Legesse, the group was arrested Friday with weapons, communication equipment, military uniforms and written plans. He says it calls itself the "May 15" or “Ginbot7” group after controversial 2005 elections held on that date.

In another news, Ginbot7, the accused group, dismissed this information saying baseless and far from truth. In a written press release, Ginbot7 said that, this kind of news is released to create confusion and frustration among the army and public. This is a tactic used by EPRDF to get out of the increasing criticisms from its own army and civil servants. In the same press release, Ginbt7 focused on the fact that it is a movement for Justice freedom and democracy with clear vision for Ethiopia’s future.

Ermias said Saturday the group was established by former opposition leader Berhanu Nega. Berhanu was elected mayor of Addis Ababa in 2005 but arrested afterward with more than 100 other opposition politicians and tried for treason. He and the others were freed by a pardon in 2007.
He's now assistant professor of economics at Bucknell University in Lewisberg, Pa., the university's Web site says.
Some texts were taken from AP