Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06ADDISABABA2179, ETHIOPIA: COURT GOES ON RECESS IN CUD TRIAL,

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06ADDISABABA2179.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06ADDISABABA2179 2006-08-09 15:55 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Addis Ababa
VZCZCXRO5713
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHDS #2179/01 2211555
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 091555Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1986
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ADDIS ABABA 002179 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E AND DRL: KGILBRIDE 
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM KJUS KDEM PGOV ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: COURT GOES ON RECESS IN CUD TRIAL, 
PROSECUTION MAKES NO PROGRESS ON EVIDENCE 
 
REF: ADDIS ABABA 01987 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY.  In the case against detained opposition 
Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) leaders, independent 
journalists and civil society representatives, the court has 
been hearing arguments regarding admissibility of additional 
documentary evidence presented by the prosecution.  Once this 
final portion of documentary evidence is completed, the 
prosecution plans to move on to the witness stage of the 
trial.  However, the court has gone on summer recess, so the 
bench will not hear this evidence until October 5.  Prisoner 
conditions continue to be an issue, though Berhanu Nega was 
recently moved to a better cell following his request and at 
the suggestion of his physician.  In the final court session 
prior to recess, a number of prisoners expressed concern over 
the prison conditions during the two-month recess, requesting 
that the court continue to monitor the variety of issues they 
have raised.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (SBU) As has been the case throughout the trial, 
international observers attend each session.  Michael Ellman, 
the human rights attorney contracted by the European Union to 
observe the trial, departed on July 28.  He will be replaced 
by another EU observer, as yet unnamed.  Lawyers Without 
Borders continues to send Ethiopian attorney Semere Kassaye 
to every session; however American observers have not 
attended since July 14.  Semere later informed Poloff that 
LWOB has not sent additional American observers due to the 
recent infrequency of trial dates, as well as lack of clarity 
on when court would recess. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
BERHANU GETS MOVED, BUT OTHERS LESS FORTUNATE 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
3. (U) Defendants present in court continue to appear in good 
condition.  Defendant Getachew Mengiste, hospitalized for 
several weeks following surgery, returned to court and was 
warmly greeted by fellow defendants.  Journalist Serkalem 
Fassil also returned to court following extended 
hospitalization after premature delivery of her baby, who is 
now under the supervision of Serkalem's mother. 
 
4. (SBU) Following requests to the court by defendant Berhanu 
Nega for transfer from his current cell shared with over 250 
other inmates, as advised by his doctors, the bench ordered 
prison officials to relocate him to a cell more suitable for 
his fragile health condition.  Berhanu was moved on July 27 
to a cell with fellow defendant Mesfin Wolde-Mariam. 
Berhanu,s Amcit wife, Nardos Minassie, informed Poloff that 
his conditions are now significantly better and meet the 
guidelines of his physician. 
 
5. (U) In addition to Berhanu, a number of other defendants 
had previously raised complaints to the court regarding their 
conditions while in prison.  The bench did not respond 
individually to each case, but rather deliberated and gave a 
blanket ruling on July 19 stating that, "Judges at all levels 
(in the Ethiopian judicial system) have the obligation to 
observe the constitution and constitutional procedures, as 
well the human rights of individuals.  Different articles of 
the constitution protect prisoners, and the Commission for 
Human Rights has the right to observe prison conditions. 
However, the complaints by the defendants are numerous and 
with little evidence.  Complaints, such as living in a 
corrugated metal room with little light and ventilation, are 
not supported by objective evidence.  Therefore, regarding 
the complaints by defendants that they are living in poor 
conditions, we cannot give any ruling."  The exception to 
this was the bench's instruction to move Berhanu. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
DEFENSE PRESENTS OBJECTION TO DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
6. (U) Following the audio phase of evidence, the prosecution 
presented the original 91 documents submitted as evidence in 
January (reftel).  They then intended to present 88 
additional documents discovered since the start of the trial, 
and admitted by the bench as evidence.  However, on July 24, 
as the prosecution was preparing to begin presentation to the 
court of the 'explanation' of the these 88 documents, the 
defense attorney for the ActionAid representatives (Daniel 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00002179  002 OF 003 
 
 
Bekele and Netsanet Demissie) objected, saying that the 
defense had only that morning received a copy of the 
documents from the prosecution, and that they were entitled 
to review them prior to presentation.  Further, they 
requested to cross-check the evidence with the court 
registrar, as a number of documents lacked the official court 
seal signifying official evidence.  The bench granted a 
one-week period for review.  On July 31, the defense 
attorneys and defendants Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie 
read an extensive statement proclaiming that the 9 of the 88 
documents that pertain to them are inadmissible and asking 
that they be thrown out, asserting that this evidence: 
-- Was found illegally: the police obtained some material 
without a search warrant; 
-- Is not authentic: that the documents had been falsified; 
-- Had no court seal to show they had been cross-checked with 
the original by the court registrar; and 
-- Is based on hearsay. 
 
In addition to the 8 documents that refer specifically to 
them, they complain that the evidence: 
 
-- Is redundant to previously submitted evidence; and 
-- Contains printouts from the internet, "copies of which are 
in many homes and offices in Ethiopia, probably even the 
Prime Minister's." 
-- Contained 10 documents produced after the charges were 
filed against the defendants. 
 
In their argument, Daniel cited articles in the criminal code 
to support inadmissibility.  Additionally, they pointed out a 
number of errors that the prosecution had made in the 
'explanation' of the documentary evidence, citing a number of 
incorrect references and other administrative oversights. 
They then used the above arguments to criticize the 
prosecution for the quality of the total body of evidence 
thus far produced against them, and further argued that their 
detention in light of such evidence is a violation of their 
rights.  Despite further protests from the defense, the bench 
provided the prosecution three days to prepare a response. 
 
7. (U) On August 4, lead prosecutor Shemelis Kemal read a 
40-minute statement addressing the criticisms made by the 
defense.  He began by stating that it is not only these 9 
documents that refer to the ActionAid defendants (as they 
claimed), but in fact all of the 88 newly introduced 
documents should be considered as evidence against them.  His 
reasoning was that since the prosecution considers all the 
defendants to be acting in "conspiracy in unison," then all 
the evidence that is presented is against all defendants.  He 
went on to say, "The defendants involved in this conspiracy 
are equally responsible and should be held equally 
accountable."  Regarding the complaint that some evidence was 
found illegally, the prosecution stated that under Ethiopian 
law, unless the evidence was collected by force (for which he 
said there is no proof in this case), then the evidence 
cannot be considered "illegally collected" if there was 
indeed a search warrant.  In response to the claim that some 
evidence was not authentic, the prosecution said some 
documents are from the internet and that information on the 
internet "cannot be manipulated without permission from the 
webmaster of a site" or "without a password," and therefore 
it is impossible that the evidence was forged.  Regarding the 
accusation that some evidence is hearsay, the prosecution 
said the disputed evidence are letters written by fellow 
defendant Elias Kifle (being tried in absentia) and that, 
furthermore, there is no specific law in Ethiopia that 
prohibits the use of hearsay as evidence.  In addressing the 
ten documents produced after charges were filed against the 
defendants, the prosecution said, "This does not matter. 
What matters is that they support the charges." 
 
8. (SBU) The bench announced it would rule on the 
admissibility of the additional documents until October.  At 
the end of the August 4 session, the bench announced a recess 
until October 5, observing the traditional summer break by 
the High Court of Ethiopia.  Shemelis privately informed 
Poloff that once the documentary evidence has been presented, 
the prosecution will call witnesses, but could not say how 
many (the original list suggested approximately 300).  One of 
the other prosecutors separately acknowledged that the list 
of witnesses would be "shortened a bit." 
 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00002179  003 OF 003 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
DEFENDANTS CONCERNED ABOUT CONDITIONS DURING RECESS 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
9. (U) The August 4 announcement that the court would be on 
recess sparked a number of protests by defendants, as the 
only channel for their complaints will be through prison 
officials.  The series of issues began with defendant 
Andualem Arage complained that he and fellow defendant 
Eskinder Nega had recently been put into solitary confinement 
for three days, with no reason provided.  He further 
complained that he has been suffering a heart condition and 
has not received treatment. Upon being asked what he knew of 
the matter, the Director of Kaliti prison (who attends each 
session) answered simply, "Nothing."  Defendant Birtukan 
Mideksa then stood and began shouting at the judges, stating, 
"These two defendants have complained about their treatment, 
but we all have these problems.  We all face the same threat 
of being put in solitary!"  She went on to say, &When the 
court goes on recess for 2-3 months, we will continue to be 
treated like this.  Our suffering will be the responsibility 
of the bench.  If the courts are concerned with human rights, 
they must look into this issue during the rainy season." 
Defendant Netsanet Demissie followed with a request for a 
list of anticipated prosecution witnesses so defendants could 
prepare their defense during the recess.  Shemelis 
interjected that the bench previously ruled that witnesses 
would not be disclosed.  He continued by saying, "If the 
defense wants to prepare their case for the witness, they 
will be allowed some time (at that point)."  The judge did 
not issue a ruling or opinion on the matter.  Several 
defendants reminded the court that they have thus far been in 
prison for 9 months, and would now be held for two more while 
the judges are on leave. 
 
10. (U) The lead judge responded that the court has been in 
session "very frequently" and had planned to proceed quickly 
with the case.  "We think we have been moving fast, but we 
can't make the schedule for the courts," he said.  The bench 
concluded the session by ruling that the corrections 
department of Kaliti should provide an explanation to the 
court about the complaints of the prisoners, and that prison 
officials should inform prisoners why they are being 
punished.  He also stated that if defendants have a complaint 
regarding their treatment during the recess, they could file 
a grievance with the appropriate department with the prison. 
 
------------------------------------- 
COMMENT: TWO-MONTH RECESS STALLS CASE 
------------------------------------- 
 
11. (SBU) Since mid-July (reftel), no new evidence has been 
presented in court.  Instead the bench has heard arguments by 
the prosecution and defense regarding the large amount of 
additional documentary evidence introduced by the 
prosecution.  The arguments by defendants Daniel Bekele and 
Netsanet Demissie and their defense attorney on this matter 
were very thorough, fluent, and well articulated.  Their line 
of reasoning was the most well-substantiated and 
comprehensive of any legal argument heard in the trial for 
some time.  The prosecution, however, seemed somewhat 
flustered by the barrage of criticisms (which were both 
procedural and substantive in nature) against the evidence 
they introduced.  In contrast, the prosecution's rebuttal 
seemed disjointed.  The treatment of prisoners continues to 
be a matter of concern.  Though Berhanu Nega has received 
better treatment following his plea, other less well-known 
prisoners have not had their complaints fully addressed by 
the court.  During the two-month recess, which takes place 
during the rainy season in Ethiopia, conditions at the prison 
could worsen.  Post will maintain close contact with detainee 
family members who regularly visit the prison in order to 
monitor conditions or issues that may arise. 
HUDDLESTON