ESAT News (April 24, 2017)
Dr. Merera Gudina, chairman of the Oromo Federalist Congress, who is detained on cooked up charges of terrorism presented his defence on Monday.
In an 11 page argument against the charges by the regime, Dr. Merera said his trip to Belgium and the subsequent speeches he gave at the European Parliament should not be reasons to his arrest and detention by the regime. He said his trip has nothing to do with trespassing the state of emergency, which is one of the charges brought by regime prosecutors.
Regime authorities use the martial law as an excuse to arrest and intimidate dissents.
Dr. Merera denied charges that he gave interviews to Ethiopian independent media abroad which regime prosecutors say have sparked the uprising in the Oromo region last year.
Regime prosecutors accused that Merera and co defendants have acted to overthrow the “constitutionally formed government.”
Rights groups say charges against Merera and co were politically motivated.
The court is adjourned till May 4, 2017.