Opposition party leaders and members including the deputy chair for the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) party are charged of Terrorism at the federal High court 19th criminal bench. The 22 defendants were brought before the court and their charges were read for them.
Their criminal charge is opened by led defendant Guremesa Ayanawe and Mr Bekele Gerba is the 4th defendant, according to the charge sheet. The charge says they have committed a crime violating the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation 621/ 2009 and criminal code articles 32, 35, 38. It is also mentioned that they were responsible for the damage on 122 people, infrastructure and education process interruptions.
The defendants are also accused of being in leadership and member of Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and inciting and coordinating/ inciting the protest on the Addis Abeba master plan.
The lists of defendants are
- Guremesa Ayanaw
- Dejene Taffa
- Addisu Bulala
- Bekele Girba
- Abdeta Naggasa
- Gelana Negera
- Chemsa Abdisa
- Getu Girma
- Feraol Tola
- Getachew Dereje
- Beyene Rudo
- Tesfaye Liben
- Ashebir Desalage
- Dereje Merga
- Yessuf Alemayehu
- Hika Tekelu
- Gemechu Shinko
- Megessa Asefaw
- Lami Adeto
- Abdi Tamerat
- Abdela Kemsa
- Harakono Koncheraw
No lawyer represented the defendants on this hearing. Seven (7) of the defendants requested translation to Afan Oromo language because they are not able to listen or speak Amharic. The 22nd defendant also requested translation to Kiswahili because he cannot speak both Amharic and Afaan Oromo. The defendants were seen singing while they were walking to car after the hearing.
The next hearing is adjourned for April 26th to get translators and listen to another petitions they might have.
