President Mulatu Teshome (PhD) said that no formal communication has been forwarded from the executive branch regarding Andargachew Tsige, former secretary general of Ginbot 7, an organization labeled as a terrorist by the Ethiopian Parliament.Andargachew was extradited from Yemen two months ago.
Mulatu has key role to play in the fate of the Andargachew who has been sentenced to death after he was found guilty of terrorism related charges instituted by government prosecutors on two different occasions – 2009 and 2012. According to Ethiopian law, the President has to approve death sentence before it is executed. Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on his most recent interview with the media also said that what happens to Andargachew is not up his administration. He said that Adargachew has already been sentenced and that it is the Office of the President that decides if the sentence is to be executed.
However, asked about Adargachew, the president said nothing formal has come to his office regarding the person. Asked if he would be pardoned (since the president office is one of parties involved in this process), Mulatu reiterated that so far nothing of significance surfaced regarding this case but said that since it is guaranteed by the constitution, the government has responsibility to entertain any legal plea or request that is lodged following formal procedures.
Furthermor
e, Mulatu also noted that government is discharging its responsibilities in affording all the necessary protection to Andargachew which he deserves as legal detainee. "He is being treated well and receiving necessary protection," the President said at a press briefing that was held at his office for New Year on Wednesday afternoon.
Furthermor
e, Mulatu also noted that government is discharging its responsibilities in affording all the necessary protection to Andargachew which he deserves as legal detainee. "He is being treated well and receiving necessary protection," the President said at a press briefing that was held at his office for New Year on Wednesday afternoon.
The President also said that he sees nothing wrong with one political party staying in power for many years as long as it has acceptance of the people verified through periodic election, citing the incumbent Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) tenure in power for the past 23 years.
The President also highlighted that if a party wanted to assume power it should get first the consent of the public, a political party should not work without receiving the consent, competition and vote of the public and the President said this is a taboo, not to do; however if a party is accepted by the public it does not matter how long the party stays in power, he argued.
The President was also asked about the grievance by different members of the society in relation to the 23 years of administration by the EPRDF and its controls of most of the power in country. The President replied by stating that the constitution provides for the citizens to elect its leaders and hence the EPRDF is leading the country by securing majority vote in the Parliament and that is not something wrong. The president also emphasized that a party to lead a country should work in all corners of the country and covers all nations and nationalities of the country and receive their consent. He also said that the political parties should also work together with other parties to build democracy in the country.
In spirit of the New Year, the president also announced that he has granted pardon to some 995 prisoners from federal prisons on the occasion.
Source-Reporter
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