Advocacy group demand British prosecutors to drop charges against Ethiopian pro-democracy activist

Dr. Tadesse Biru Kersmo

ESAT News (August 9, 2017)

The Ethiopian Advocacy Network (EAN) demand British prosecutors to drop what it called politically motivated charges against Dr. Tadesse Biru Kersmo, well-known dissident and pro-democracy activist who was briefly detained by UK authorities on terrorism charges.

“Dr. Kersmo, a scholar, researcher, and God-fearing Christian believes only a genuine democratic system will bring peace and stability in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. Dr. Kersmo is a passionate defender of human rights and a dedicated advocate for social justice. His well-known activism has made him an implacable enemy and a prime target of the Ethiopian regime,” said EAN in an open letter to Alison Saunders,
Director Public Prosecution with Crown Prosecution Service.

Last month Dr. Kersmo, a leading voice of dissent against the Ethiopian tyrannical regime who lives in exile in U.K. was granted bail after Scotland Yard charged him with terrorism offenses. Released on bail, his case was declared not suitable for a magistrate and was sent to a jury trial.

British authorities found articles about security, intelligence and urban guerrilla tactics on the computer of Dr. Kersmo, who is a researcher and frequent media analyst on the issues. He argues those articles were solely for research purposes.

A judge concluded the case not suitable for trial before a magistrate and sent it to a jury trial.

Tadesse Biru Kersmo is a pro-democracy advocate who writes and speaks against the Ethiopian brutal regime and teaches his people about how to stand up against tyranny. His computer was found to have been hacked by the Ethiopian regime, which led to a legal case against a regime known for using spyware, wiretapping and surveillance against pro-democracy activists and critical journalists.

“We strongly believe that the charges brought against Dr. Kersmo by UK government, a very strong supporter and major financier of the Ethiopian regime, is a politically motivated witch hunt that charts a frightening future for freedom of speech and privacy in the UK,” said EAN

Kersmo escaped persecution by the Ethiopian regime and has lived in U.K. since 2009.

The Network also used the opportunity to “urge the UK to use its leverage to pressure the Ethiopian regime to open the political space, respect universally guaranteed human rights and release all political prisoners including Mr. Andargachew Tsege, a British citizen who was secretly kidnapped in Yemen and renditioned to Ethiopia where he had been sentenced to death, in absentia, in 2009.”