Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ADDISABABA898
2009-04-21 10:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:
COURT ORDERS VISITATION RIGHTS FOR BIRTUKAN;
how-toVZCZCXRO4957 RR RUEHROV DE RUEHDS #0898 1111029 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 211029Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4450 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 3346 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1876 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEPADJ/CJTF HOA RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUZEFAA/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 000898
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2019
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PHUM ET
SUBJECT: COURT ORDERS VISITATION RIGHTS FOR BIRTUKAN;
PRISON REFUSES ACCESS
REF: A. ADDIS 594 (AND PREVIOUS)
B. ADDIS 877
Classified By: Ambassador Donald Yamamoto. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 000898
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2019
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PHUM ET
SUBJECT: COURT ORDERS VISITATION RIGHTS FOR BIRTUKAN;
PRISON REFUSES ACCESS
REF: A. ADDIS 594 (AND PREVIOUS)
B. ADDIS 877
Classified By: Ambassador Donald Yamamoto. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On Wednesday April 15 the Federal First Instance Court
ordered the Kaliti prison administration to respect
Birtukan's constitutional right to be visited by family
members, friends, religious figures, and her laywer.
However, when Deputy Chairman of Unity for Democracy and
Justice (UDJ) Yacob Hailemariam and other members of the UDJ
executive committee attempted to visit Birtukan on Saturday
April 18, they were denied access. Prison officials said
that they had not yet received a court order granting visitor
access. The court rejected Birtukan's lawyer's request to
release her from solitary confinement. The lawyer plans to
appeal.
2. (C) The Ambassador and Pol/Econ Chief met with Ms. Almaz
Gebre-Egzabhier, mother of incarcerated
opposition leader Birtukan Midekssa, for a second time on
April 15 (Ref. A). Ms. Almaz reported that Birtukan
continues to be held in solitary confinement, and that she is
only allowed to see her mother and four year old daughter.
Birtukan's brother attempted to visit her last month, but was
repeatedly denied access. Prison guards continue to
supervise Ms. Almaz's visits and allow the two only to
exchange greetings. Ms. Almaz said that her daughter is in
good health, and that she is allowed to read some censored
reading materials. Ms. Almaz is unsure whether Birtukan will
be moved to Zewai prison, whose distance several hours from
Addis Ababa would make it difficult to continue her frequent
visits.
3. (C) Embassy staff has recently raised the issue of
Birtukan's release with the Prime Minister, the Director
General for Europe and the Americas within the Foreign
Ministry, and the Minister of Justice. While we continue to
push for her release, we are also encouraging visitation
rights for her lawyer and others, release from solitary
confinement, and keeping Birtukan at Kaliti prison instead of
moving her to the more distant Zewai prison. UDJ staged a
peaceful public demonstration in Addis Ababa on April 16,
calling for the release of Birtukan (Ref. B). While it is
encouraging that this marked the first political
demonstration since the aftermath of the 2005 elections, the
government holds firm in its decision to not release
Birtukan. In light of the recent court order allowing
visitation rights, EmbOff will attempt to visit Birtukan soon.
YAMAMOTO
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2019
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PHUM ET
SUBJECT: COURT ORDERS VISITATION RIGHTS FOR BIRTUKAN;
PRISON REFUSES ACCESS
REF: A. ADDIS 594 (AND PREVIOUS)
B. ADDIS 877
Classified By: Ambassador Donald Yamamoto. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On Wednesday April 15 the Federal First Instance Court
ordered the Kaliti prison administration to respect
Birtukan's constitutional right to be visited by family
members, friends, religious figures, and her laywer.
However, when Deputy Chairman of Unity for Democracy and
Justice (UDJ) Yacob Hailemariam and other members of the UDJ
executive committee attempted to visit Birtukan on Saturday
April 18, they were denied access. Prison officials said
that they had not yet received a court order granting visitor
access. The court rejected Birtukan's lawyer's request to
release her from solitary confinement. The lawyer plans to
appeal.
2. (C) The Ambassador and Pol/Econ Chief met with Ms. Almaz
Gebre-Egzabhier, mother of incarcerated
opposition leader Birtukan Midekssa, for a second time on
April 15 (Ref. A). Ms. Almaz reported that Birtukan
continues to be held in solitary confinement, and that she is
only allowed to see her mother and four year old daughter.
Birtukan's brother attempted to visit her last month, but was
repeatedly denied access. Prison guards continue to
supervise Ms. Almaz's visits and allow the two only to
exchange greetings. Ms. Almaz said that her daughter is in
good health, and that she is allowed to read some censored
reading materials. Ms. Almaz is unsure whether Birtukan will
be moved to Zewai prison, whose distance several hours from
Addis Ababa would make it difficult to continue her frequent
visits.
3. (C) Embassy staff has recently raised the issue of
Birtukan's release with the Prime Minister, the Director
General for Europe and the Americas within the Foreign
Ministry, and the Minister of Justice. While we continue to
push for her release, we are also encouraging visitation
rights for her lawyer and others, release from solitary
confinement, and keeping Birtukan at Kaliti prison instead of
moving her to the more distant Zewai prison. UDJ staged a
peaceful public demonstration in Addis Ababa on April 16,
calling for the release of Birtukan (Ref. B). While it is
encouraging that this marked the first political
demonstration since the aftermath of the 2005 elections, the
government holds firm in its decision to not release
Birtukan. In light of the recent court order allowing
visitation rights, EmbOff will attempt to visit Birtukan soon.
YAMAMOTO