Thousands receive prison sentences on trumped-up “terrorism” offenses

ESAT News (March 28, 2017)

The federal high court in Addis Ababa on Tuesday sentenced sixteen people who were allegedly plotting to carry out “acts of terrorism” were with prison terms ranging from four to thirteen years. The accused were alleged to be members of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF).

The charge by the prosecutor reads the accused, among others, were promoting an agenda to secede the Oromo region from the federation.

They were also accused of recruiting members for the OLF and providing logistical support to the Front.

Tens of thousands of protesters in the Oromo region were detained in the two year anti-government protest, most of whom accused of being members of the OLF.

The Ethiopian regime routinely and falsely accuse protesters and dissidents of “terrorism,” a move seen by rights groups as a draconian measure to silence its critics.