Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ADDISABABA2791
2006-10-16 14:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:
ETHIOPIA: MISSION INTERCEDES IN CASE OF ARRESTED
how-toVZCZCXRO0439 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHDS #2791/01 2891456 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 161456Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2911 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CJTF HOA PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 002791
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF FOR DAS YAMAMOTO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2016
TAGS: PHUM PGOV ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: MISSION INTERCEDES IN CASE OF ARRESTED
ETHIOPIAN BUSINESSMAN ALEMAYEHU FANTU
Classified By: Charge Vicki Huddleston for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 002791
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF FOR DAS YAMAMOTO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2016
TAGS: PHUM PGOV ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: MISSION INTERCEDES IN CASE OF ARRESTED
ETHIOPIAN BUSINESSMAN ALEMAYEHU FANTU
Classified By: Charge Vicki Huddleston for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1.(C) Summary: On October 12 poloff was approached by Dr.
Nardos, the wife of CUD detainee Berhanu Nega, who indicated
that prominent Ethiopian businessman Alemayehu Fantu was
arrested on October 5, having been charged with attempting to
incite violence. Suspecting maltreatment while he was in
prison, she appealed to the Embassy to inquire into his
wellbeing. PAO met with the Commissioner of Public Prisons to
discuss the case and appealed to Mission contact Pastor
Daniel Gebreselassie (closely protect) of the NGO Prison
Fellowship to meet with the Police Commissioner to determine
what the charges were against Alemayehu Fantu, and whether
bail would be possible. The Police Commissioner indicated
that after two weeks in which the public prosecutor would
need to do his investigation,
Alemayehu would be brought before the courts, and at that
time be allowed to ask for bail. Pastor Daniel was
personally assured by the head of Central Investigations that
Alemahehu was not abused. End Summary.
--------------
EMBASSY ACTIONS ON FANTU'S BEHALF
--------------
2. (C) According to Dr. Nardos, wife of CUD detainee Berhanu
Nega, who met with poloff on October 8, Alemayehu
Fantu, son of the owner of a prominent chain of supermarkets
in Addis Ababa, was arrested on October 5 on
charges of attempting to incite violence. She appealed to the
Embassy to ascertain his wellbeing, suspecting that he
was being beaten while in prison. The PAO contacted the
Commissioner for Public Prisons, and asked him to determine
the whereabouts of Fantu as well as whether he was being
beaten while in custody. The Commissioner promised to be
cooperative on both counts, adding that he would be held
liable if a prisoner in his care was maltreated. Pastor
Daniel Gebreselassie, head of the NGO Prison Fellowship, was
also asked by the PAO to intercede with the Police
Commissioner, to determine whether bail was possible for
Fantu, and to verify whether he was being tortured while
incarcerated.
--------------
PASTOR DANIEL INTERCEDES
--------------
3. (C) Pastor Daniel, met with the Commissioner of Prisons
and the Commissioner of Police to discuss Alemayu's case.
Pastor Daniel said he told them that there was the increasing
impression among the Addis Abba business
community that the government was using frivolous charges to
go after those they considered a threat. The Police
Commissioner confirmed that Aleymayu had indeed been arrested
for storing 5000 CUD civil disobedience calendars
in his home. (Note: The calendars were issued by the CUD on
the eve of the Ethiopian New Year, and called for a
variety of civil disobedience measures aimed at disrupting
government institutions and the economy. End note.).
Pastor Daniel heard in his conversation with other local
contacts that there might be other alleged motives leading
to Alemayu's arrest, including jealousy by a business
associate, who fingered him to the authorities. According
to Pastor Daniel, the government was contemplating locking up
Alemayu's father also, but had desisted at the last
minute. Inquiring about Alemayu's health, Pastor Daniel was
encouraged by the Police Commissioner to call the Head
of Central Investigations in his presence. According to
Pastor Daniel, the Head of Central Investigations told him
that Fantu was not beaten as alleged and that if that had
happened, he "would personally be in trouble." Fantu had a
court appearance on October 12, and the Police Commissioner
told Pastor Daniel that he would have another when the
public prosecutor finished his investigation after a two week
period, after which he would be again brought to
court, at which time he could seek bail.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
4. (C) High level prison and police authorities are now
aware of the Embassy's interest in Alemayu's arrest, as
well as that of Amnesty International. After Alemayu gets
ADDIS ABAB 00002791 002 OF 002
his day in court, the government may well release him on
bail.
HUDDLESTON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF FOR DAS YAMAMOTO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2016
TAGS: PHUM PGOV ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: MISSION INTERCEDES IN CASE OF ARRESTED
ETHIOPIAN BUSINESSMAN ALEMAYEHU FANTU
Classified By: Charge Vicki Huddleston for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1.(C) Summary: On October 12 poloff was approached by Dr.
Nardos, the wife of CUD detainee Berhanu Nega, who indicated
that prominent Ethiopian businessman Alemayehu Fantu was
arrested on October 5, having been charged with attempting to
incite violence. Suspecting maltreatment while he was in
prison, she appealed to the Embassy to inquire into his
wellbeing. PAO met with the Commissioner of Public Prisons to
discuss the case and appealed to Mission contact Pastor
Daniel Gebreselassie (closely protect) of the NGO Prison
Fellowship to meet with the Police Commissioner to determine
what the charges were against Alemayehu Fantu, and whether
bail would be possible. The Police Commissioner indicated
that after two weeks in which the public prosecutor would
need to do his investigation,
Alemayehu would be brought before the courts, and at that
time be allowed to ask for bail. Pastor Daniel was
personally assured by the head of Central Investigations that
Alemahehu was not abused. End Summary.
--------------
EMBASSY ACTIONS ON FANTU'S BEHALF
--------------
2. (C) According to Dr. Nardos, wife of CUD detainee Berhanu
Nega, who met with poloff on October 8, Alemayehu
Fantu, son of the owner of a prominent chain of supermarkets
in Addis Ababa, was arrested on October 5 on
charges of attempting to incite violence. She appealed to the
Embassy to ascertain his wellbeing, suspecting that he
was being beaten while in prison. The PAO contacted the
Commissioner for Public Prisons, and asked him to determine
the whereabouts of Fantu as well as whether he was being
beaten while in custody. The Commissioner promised to be
cooperative on both counts, adding that he would be held
liable if a prisoner in his care was maltreated. Pastor
Daniel Gebreselassie, head of the NGO Prison Fellowship, was
also asked by the PAO to intercede with the Police
Commissioner, to determine whether bail was possible for
Fantu, and to verify whether he was being tortured while
incarcerated.
--------------
PASTOR DANIEL INTERCEDES
--------------
3. (C) Pastor Daniel, met with the Commissioner of Prisons
and the Commissioner of Police to discuss Alemayu's case.
Pastor Daniel said he told them that there was the increasing
impression among the Addis Abba business
community that the government was using frivolous charges to
go after those they considered a threat. The Police
Commissioner confirmed that Aleymayu had indeed been arrested
for storing 5000 CUD civil disobedience calendars
in his home. (Note: The calendars were issued by the CUD on
the eve of the Ethiopian New Year, and called for a
variety of civil disobedience measures aimed at disrupting
government institutions and the economy. End note.).
Pastor Daniel heard in his conversation with other local
contacts that there might be other alleged motives leading
to Alemayu's arrest, including jealousy by a business
associate, who fingered him to the authorities. According
to Pastor Daniel, the government was contemplating locking up
Alemayu's father also, but had desisted at the last
minute. Inquiring about Alemayu's health, Pastor Daniel was
encouraged by the Police Commissioner to call the Head
of Central Investigations in his presence. According to
Pastor Daniel, the Head of Central Investigations told him
that Fantu was not beaten as alleged and that if that had
happened, he "would personally be in trouble." Fantu had a
court appearance on October 12, and the Police Commissioner
told Pastor Daniel that he would have another when the
public prosecutor finished his investigation after a two week
period, after which he would be again brought to
court, at which time he could seek bail.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
4. (C) High level prison and police authorities are now
aware of the Embassy's interest in Alemayu's arrest, as
well as that of Amnesty International. After Alemayu gets
ADDIS ABAB 00002791 002 OF 002
his day in court, the government may well release him on
bail.
HUDDLESTON