One of Ethiopia’s newest opposition movement,National Movement of Amhara (NaMA), is experiencing government harassment and repression. Its spokesperson is arrested for a second time in less than two weeks. The party also says that hundreds of members are arrested across the country.
borkena
July 12, 2019
National Movement of Amhara (NaMA) spokesperson, Christian Tadele, reportedly appeared at Arada Court, in the capital Addis Ababa, on Friday, July 13, 2019, the movement announced on its social media page.
Without giving further details as to what happened in the first court appearance, the movement disclosed that Christian will appear in court again on July 18, 2019, and he is still in custody.
He was arrested on Thursday in the capital Addis Ababa while visiting arrested members of the movement, as disclosed by his party. According to the movement, Christian was arrested by intelligence officers who were on site while he was visiting detained NaMA members.
Chairman of the movement, Desalegn Chane, was on the scene when the intelligence officers told Christian Tadele to stay behind as they were leaving the premises of Third Police Station in the capital, according to a report by BBC Amharic.
NaMA has also disclosed that over 500 members of the movement, including Christain Tadele, are arrested in different parts of Ethiopia. Most of the arrests are made in Addis Ababa, Benishangul Gumuz region and Oromia region.
“The arrest is illegal. I think the intention is to intimidate and weaken NaMA so that it will retreat. Such political arrests will make NaMA stronger and do not intimidate or make it back off,” BBC Amharic quotes Desalegne Chane as saying.
Christian Tadele was arrested late last month in Gojam, Amhara regional state, and released the following day.
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