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Ethiopia pardons abducted Briton on death row

Regime critic Andargachew Tsege was seized during stopover in Yemen in 2014 A Briton who has spent four years on death row in Ethiopia after being abducted at an airport in Yemen has been pardoned. Andargachew Tsege, an opponent

Regime critic Andargachew Tsege was seized during stopover in Yemen in 2014

A Briton who has spent four years on death row in Ethiopia after being abducted at an airport in Yemen has been pardoned.

Andargachew Tsege, an opponent of the regime in Addis Ababa, first came to the UK in 1979. He holds British citizenship and was sentenced to death in his absence nine years ago. His wife, who has not seen him in four years, told the Guardian that she expected him to be back at their home in London this week.

Tsege was abducted during a stopover in Yemen while travelling from Dubai to Eritrea and forcibly flown to the Ethiopian capital. He had previously been secretary general of Ginbot 7, an opposition party that called for democracy, free elections and civil rights in Ethiopia.

Last year the heads of both branches of the legal profession in England and Wales urged the foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, to intervene more forcefully in the case. Johnson had said he would not interfere in the legal systems of other countries and that calling for Tsege’s release would not be helpful “at this stage”.

Tsege’s partner, Yemi Hailemariam, said she hoped Tsege, 63, would be released from jail by Monday and back home in London by the end of the week. “He has been pardoned due to what are called ‘special circumstances’,” she said.

“Although he was born there, the rule is that once you take up another nationality you lose your Ethiopian nationality. He’s a British citizen and so doesn’t have a valid permit to stay there. The only obstacle would be getting a flight back to London but there’s one every day.

Hailemariam, who lives in London with the couple’s three children, said that she has not seen her husband in four years. “I wasn’t allowed to visit him,” she said. “I only spoke to him by phone once. So I’m waiting for him to call me. He’s beginning to have medical issues so it’s a good time for him to come home.”

His daughter Menabe, 18, has promised the first thing she will do is “tackle and hug” him, Hailemariam said. “They have missed him over the past four years and so much has changed. There’s been a change of prime minister in Ethiopia and he has accelerated the pardoning begun by his predecessor. They have kept their word. They are releasing a huge number of people,” Hailemariam said.

The British ambassador in Addis Ababa, she added, had been “amazing” in providing support and help.

The Foreign Office has supported Tsege’s family during his detention. The case has been raised repeatedly with the Ethiopian government. A spokeswoman said: “Foreign Office staff are assisting a British man following the announcement of a formal government pardon in Ethiopia, and are in close contact with his family.”

The human rights organisation Reprieve said Tsege’s abduction was politically motivated and welcomed the pardoning.

Maya Foa, the charity’s director, said: “After four unbelievably hard years on death row this is wonderful news for Andy, his partner and their children. The new Ethiopian government should be recognised for what they have done today. The most important thing now is that Andy is released from prison and able to reunite with his family as soon as possible.”

theguardian.com
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48 COMMENTS
  • amanuel May 28, 2018

    He was not pardoned by government of weyane, but released due tremendous pressure from the people which is bringing a lot of change against weyanes desire. That is what is missing in our country. And that is why our brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers still remain behind bar and in containers.

    • amanuel May 28, 2018

      Ps.
      Death to shabiya/hgdf.

    • Lelom May 28, 2018

      Hey Amanuel, What i understand is the Ethiopian political maturity than the the mentioned Ethiopian pressure..Any how this is away of doing something targets……

      • amanuel May 28, 2018

        Yes u are right lelom it shows the maturity of the ethiopian people who realized the divide along ethnicity and conquer poisonous tactic played by weyane and protested in unison paralysing the whole country while purging the civilian weyanes from oromia and gonder. Does weyane have any option other than find some one to save her face. Read about anole statue weyane spent 25000000 to build to pitch oromo against amara…what an irresponsible act of treason on ethiopia that they call their country.

        Any way…. We are less matured in a sense that we are still confused about our first enemy-iseyas or weyane by extension.

        • Sol May 28, 2018

          In many issues Weyane resembles Shabiya, instead of doing the right thing they strive to beautifying themselves through slogans and propaganda.

          • amanuel May 29, 2018

            They are two faces af same coin.

        • lelom May 29, 2018

          Regarding Anole, As far as my knowledge is concerned , During minilik era Amahres leaders did all bad thing to all Ethiopians nation nationality’s specially .
          for Oromia’s they treat them as slave If you know Addis Ababa you may know minilik hawelti’ it is found on center of piassa then upon Weyanes declaration for democracy and equality of nation nationality Oromia’s first Question was to ruin /destroy the Menlik hawilty ..
          the weyane leaders refused to do so and the OPDO by it self and by its annual buget did ‘anole ‘because they strongly believed that is what Menlike did for them

          • amanuel May 31, 2018

            That is totally false. State bajet is used for projects that cost less than 20 million only. Second more than 200 ethiopians were killed in one day by weyane. Should a statue be erected portraying tigrians murdering other ethiopians then?

  • Danilo May 28, 2018

    In comparison Ethiopian and Eritrean prison, one gets a hearing. The other one never have a way return. A true ዳስ ሓውያ exist only in Eritrea.

    • Danilo May 28, 2018

      If there is one, Eagerly waiting an answer from Hgdef supporter in case has a belly to answer my question?

  • Wedi Hagher May 28, 2018

    What do we learn from this story:

    – Weyane released him because they want give some space to opposition forces in and outside the country.

    – They were forced to do so after years of manouvering that worsened the situation.
    But let’s give them some credit because they acted rationally. Higdef, which in many ways is an Eritrean version of Weyane, although led by the most cruel clique on planet, would have opted to kill anyone who shows dissent and even declare war on the opposition.

    – The Oromo and Amhara, have a conflict that goes back to Minilik’s era. Land grabbing, slavery, forced convertions and assimilation into Amhara culture are some the issues that still create mutual suspicion.
    But when the two big nationalities felt they both are being marginalized started to work together.
    They showed us that unity is power.

    – Weyane, most probably, still control the deep State they created in the last two decades, but as long as they are flexible, they will continue to rule that big country for some time.

    • amanuel May 31, 2018

      In the past amara and oromos had lots of conflict and animosity. They also have a history cooperation and unity against common enemy leaving their animosity behind. In contrast, we, eritreans, have been un able to unite against our termonters leaving our awrajawi atehasasba behind. Shall i say we are childish when it comes to politics?

  • k.tewolde May 28, 2018

    I am impressed by this young statesman since his inaugural speech.He is delivering his promise little by little ,give him time,he is not rushing either.Ethiopia is not Eritrea,it is bigger, more diverse,and it has been nurturing a young dynamic generation for the last 27 years,not to mention the older intellectual reserve,on the contrary,the defunct regime in Eritrea who harvests its support from the uneducated and poor peasantry along the opportunistic intellectuals abroad has been killing the brightest for decades and it has been sequestering the young generation to servitude and military camps keeping them in the dark,the only time they shine is in the painstakingly staged annual parades. Abiy is like his name GRAND and so are his ambitions,the one in adi halo is shrinking like QUANTA because of his selfish and dubious ambition and he is fading away like a pair of old blue jeans and leather sandals to go with that.

    • Simon G. May 29, 2018

      Nothing to add here, brother kt!

  • Degoli May 28, 2018

    As the Ethiopians march slowly and steadily with pride to freedom and liberty, we, the Eritreans are looking like our Arab brothers in Yemen, Libya, Syria, Somalia … while we burn and hate our own Tigre Tigrinya languages and bluff in Arabic alien language.
    Only worthy people who respect their own languages, identity and heritage live in stable, proud, respected and feasible nations.
    The first step to liberation is to respect your own self, languages and identity.

    • k.tewolde May 29, 2018

      Dog,stop ambushing the prudent discussion in this medium,instead wasting your time here,you could join the revolution south of the border and make positive contribution alongside your brothers,otherwise history will leave you in the dust repeating the same rhetoric from 1960’s.

  • Sol May 28, 2018

    Tekhlay, in this forum you are the only one who hates everything Eritrean. You are the only one praising the feudal rule of Ethiopia and defending the rule of DIA that resembles the feudal rule of Amhara dynasty. While you dreaming to restore history back Ethiopia is marching in the path of equality, justice and freedom and Eritreans are struggling to make their country a country of equality, justice and freedom.
    Down with the mafia regime of Isaacs
    Victory to justice seekers

  • Wedi Hagher May 29, 2018

    Bad news for the so-called Agazian movement.
    This week the leadership of Weyane finally spoke clearly about the fascist movement. They said they are against it because Tigray has always been truly Ethiopian and paid heavy price to defend it. Tigray cannot be other than part of Ethiopia. Attempt by the so-called Agazian to split it from Ethiopia and create a Christian nation for Tigrigna speakers only, would isolate it from its surrounding and finally would cause only damage to Tigray.
    Now Berhe and the movement of Eritreans of Tigreyan decent, who want to create Greater Tigray at the expense of Eritrea got a clear message from their cousins in Tigray.
    This could mark the end of this fascist movement.

  • lelom May 29, 2018

    hello, wedi hagere, we proud Ethiopian AGAME/TIGRAWAY would never and ever have the same political concept with you. you guys are a good prove for your self.below are some pt.(only analyze it positively)

    1) Most of you are very immature , You are arrogant and and prefer to bragg than doing something viable.
    -Even you didn’t understand what the game of politics look like
    – .You don’t know how to challenge or support your politics,
    -You are not ready for changes but you always wondering about Weyane, Weyane…or Agame,Agame even you are not ready to learn from your experience.

    2)Most of you are illiterate , you don’t know how to maintain the bridges, the roads, and other stuffs that Italian left for you.
    -if not can you tell something new thing that you did with in 27 years?

    • Wedi Hagher May 29, 2018

      “hello, wedi hagere, we proud Ethiopian AGAME/TIGRAWAY would never and ever have the same political concept with you. ”

      Lelom

      Congratulations !
      Finally you decided to come in the open and show us who you are, instead of posing as Eritrean.

      • Lelom May 30, 2018

        @Wedi hager, u mean I hide my identity for z sake of chatting hear?lol Funny. .not only myself hear My dead body is AGAME Period!!!

      • amanuel May 31, 2018

        I had identified lelom from tigraionline and gave him/her credit for using the same name to blog same thing in both sites. I give her/ him additional credit for not hiding her nationality.

    • Danilo May 29, 2018

      Mr ለለ, let me tell you frankly.that we don’t have nesecity to use politics game. More than that we have national concept rather than politics. Maybe you right but doesn’t we are immature or arrogant. You probably right that we are not ready to know your evil / dirtiest politics because we believed you guys. We had never relaxed of you. Thus why dragged in war. Therfore how do you expect us to be as long as you. …? So, can you please leave us alone? Again, please do a favour !! to call your envoy ተምበናይ ኣፈ-ወርቅ።

      • Lelom May 29, 2018

        Danilo, Really much respect to your thought!!! & I strongly believe that people’s both side of the war zone is the victem. But regarding your Trusting staff..?
        1)where and in what way you/Hammasin es honsetly Lean on us?Dot it down if you are talking based on actual data?
        2)Where did we betrayed you ?? Give us factual data??
        3) regarding the calling staff I dont know the TEMBENAYE dude May be I can talk The military general one…lolz

        • Danilo May 29, 2018

          Lelom, I prefer to tell you why you betrayed us in short cut. i. e, when you wrongly thought that we are superior of your. example, a few years back almost 35 years ago, one of you with self complex told me that why been called ዓጋመ & ጉዋሳ ወዲያ ኢከለ።in reality, I never took it serious at that time but when seeing the actual behaviour of most of some of you choosed not to trust.

          • lelom May 30, 2018

            Dear Danilo, Your thought is much valued!!! I do believe governments come only to pass. BUT, in any circumstance those disrespected, untruthful Agame/Tigraway people and you special, Hamble and generous Hamassiens/Eritria will live as neighbore!!!( you can correct me)
            But pointing my Leading Questions,
            1) From your respected life experience, why did you call them AGAME for an insult to disrespect and degraded one’s personality first? Is it because you had in a comfort zone? is it B/c of you had a proud Italian history? if not what was that?

        • amanuel May 31, 2018

          Lelom
          Do u have any idea how many eritrean figters died in ethiopia helping your tplf march to addis? Second, what do you call your refusal to hand over badme to us? Loyalty or betrayal?

          • lelom May 31, 2018

            Dear Amanuel , I am talking about the un-trusted,the disrespected, Abused society before 35 years.AS above Mr Danilo witnessed ..
            what was that all ,Do you have any Idea ?
            Is it because you had in a comfort zone? is it B/c of you had a proud Italian history?

          • amanuel May 31, 2018

            Lelom
            You are mixing up things here. There are ignorants (do not know the thing they think they know) everywhere. They believe and repeat it not knowing that it is incorrect. Many eritreans use or misuse the name agame. They think every one from tigray is agame. They do not know it is a region in tigray like hamassien or akele. They also asociate it with poverty, backwardedness, lack of education and collecting and selling of “beles”. But many eritreans especially the educated ones know it is a region name and when they use it they use it in referrence to that only.

  • AHMED SALEH !!! May 29, 2018

    Lelom or degoli with funny nicknames
    Why do not go to your tigrai online sites than wasting your time in here ?
    We keep telling you that Eritrean issues belong to genuine Eritreans or
    in Tigrigna to DEKI -ABAT hagherawian . CAPISH !

    • Simon G. May 29, 2018

      Ahmed,
      I used to think just like that but now I am stopping saying it. You know why? How could they? The reason is the people who are leading (to the cliff, of course) Eritrea are from them. So, technically, they feel they own Eritrea.
      Just my 2 nakfa.

    • lelom May 30, 2018

      Hello Ahmed, I am discussing with a person Like Danilo with better IQ than you.

      • AHMED SALEH !!! May 30, 2018

        Good to recognize that my brother danillo has better IQ .
        But the problem is to waste his time with arrogant person.

  • Lelom May 29, 2018

    @Ahmed &Wedi-Hager…See your arrogant character Slaved you till now and may be it will!
    *Try to convince by argument ….But your Konfafe mind cannot think out of the box…

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