Eskinder Nega and Andualem Aragie are arrested again. Is the regime into intensifying intimidation strategy to get away with popular demands?
Source : SM
borkena
March 25,2018
Reports says Andualem Aragie, politician, and Eskinder Nega are arrested again in Lebu locality of the capital Addis Ababa.
US based Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT) report indicates that they were arrested in the residence of Journalist Temesgen Desalegne.
From the report, it appears that an event to honour Andualem Aragie and Eskinder Nega was organized in Temesgen Desalegne’s residence.
Temesgen Desalegn himself is reported to be among the detained. Fekadu Mahtemework,Addisu Getaneh,Zelalem Worqagegnehu(blloger), Mahlet Fantahun (Blogger), Befkadu Hailu( Blogger),Woynishet Molla(activist),Yidnekachew Addis, Sintayehu Chekol (activist) and Tefera Tesfaye(activist) are reportedly among the detained as well.
It is unclear at this point in time as to why the authorities made these arrests today. The location where they are detained is unknown at this writing.
A decree by the Command Post, a body that is administering the state of emergency and mostly constitutes high ranking TPLF military officers, restricted freedom of expression and assembly but a social gathering in a private residence was not listed under restricted activities in the decree.
Andualem Aragie and Eskinder Nega were released last month after executives of the ruling party declared that they want to close down the torture chamber in the capital, Maekelawi. Blogger Zelalem Workagegnehu was also released from prison recently after completing the term he got for writing critical views.
Most of bloggers and activists who are detained today along with Eskinder and Andualem were arrested in the past.
The 180 member council of the ruling coalition is still having its meeting. In what seems to be a show of power, or perhaps an effort not to look weak in the face of relentless popular demand for change, the ruling elites have been sending messages that they would return revert back to repression so as to defend “revolutionary democracy” ideology.
The measure they took in arresting politicians and bloggers they released is also possibly a signals that the council has made a decision that would rather accentuate the existing crisis and the arrest is meant to be an intimidation.
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