APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) The Ethiopian government has apprehended four coordinators who are allegedly behind a planned anti-war demonstration set to be held next Sunday in Addis Ababa and other major towns of the country.
APA has so far confirmed that the federal police had detained four coordinators involved in organising the peaceful demonstration scheduled for December 10, 2023.
Magabi Beluyi Abraham from the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party, Nathenael Mekonnen, a long-time political activist based in Addis Ababa, Kalayu Mehari, and Gedina Medhin from ethnic Tigray opposition political parties—all are confirmed in police custody.
Yishaq confirmed their current detention at the Mexico Square police headquarters in the capital, Addis Ababa..
The protest organizers had submitted a notification to the Addis Ababa City Administration Security Division twelve days prior to the planned event.
According to the current Ethiopian constitution, peaceful protests are permissible if organizers notify government authorities 48 hours before the event.
However, this week, the organizers disclosed receiving threats from both Federal and Addis Ababa City administrations.
The government cited “security concerns in the city due to the current situation in the country” as the grounds for banning the peaceful demonstration. Nevertheless, the organisers are adamant about exercising their constitutional rights to organise a peaceful protest.
Recent reports over the last two days indicate that the Ethiopian authorities have intensified crackdowns in many neighbourhoods across the capital, Addis Ababa. Confirmations have surfaced stating that hundreds of youths were detained and taken to prison facilities.
The planned demonstration aimed to voice opposition to war and demand an end to conflicts in all parts of Ethiopia. The protesters assert that Ethiopia cannot sustain another devastating war and urge the government to resort to peaceful negotiation to resolve political issues in the country.
MG/as/APA