ESAT News (June 5, 2018)
Ethiopia’s parliament, the House of People’s Representatives today lifted the state of emergency imposed in February.
On Saturday, the cabinet of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent a draft law that lifts the State of Emergency to the Parliament for approval.
Ethiopia imposed a state of emergency in February, the second martial law in two years, after a nationwide and deady anti government protest in which security forces killed hundreds of protesters and tens of thousand detained.
The just lifted state of emergency was declared on February 16, a day after the former Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn abruptly resigned and way before the new Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, was appointed – putting into question the legitimacy of the decree.
On Wednesday, the ruling EPRDF and opposition political parties began talks to amend the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation. The regime used the law’s broad interpretations to muzzle the press and stifle dissent. A number of journalists and opposition political figures have been thrown to jail allegedly for trespassing the law.