Addis Ababa, Jan 3 (Prensa Latina) Ethiopia''s Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, announced today that his government will release all political prisoners and close its Maekelawi detention center in this capital.
The decision responds to accusations by human rights groups that the detainees were allegedly tortured for opposing the current administration.
Some of the prominent politicians currently in custody include opposition leaders Bekele Gerba and Merara Gudina, and several journalists also remain in detention.
In this regard, Desalegn reported that the charges against political prisoners facing trial will be eliminated, a measure that in his opinion will 'expand the democratic space for all.'
The complainants accused the government of resorting to mass arrests to repress the opposition, as the inmates arrived there after making protests across the country to demand political and economic reforms.
The total number of people detained has not been specified, but according to some sources there are thousands of prisoners since 2015, and specifically in Maekelawi illegal interrogations were held.
The majority of the inmates come from the regions of Oromia and Amhara, where many companies, universities, and transport networks have been paralyzed in recent months.
Hailemariam promised that Maekelawi will be closed and turned into a museum, and according to the Ethiopian newspaper Addis Standard a new detention center that would meet international standards will be opened.
sgl/lrp/rc/lp/gdc
Some of the prominent politicians currently in custody include opposition leaders Bekele Gerba and Merara Gudina, and several journalists also remain in detention.
In this regard, Desalegn reported that the charges against political prisoners facing trial will be eliminated, a measure that in his opinion will 'expand the democratic space for all.'
The complainants accused the government of resorting to mass arrests to repress the opposition, as the inmates arrived there after making protests across the country to demand political and economic reforms.
The total number of people detained has not been specified, but according to some sources there are thousands of prisoners since 2015, and specifically in Maekelawi illegal interrogations were held.
The majority of the inmates come from the regions of Oromia and Amhara, where many companies, universities, and transport networks have been paralyzed in recent months.
Hailemariam promised that Maekelawi will be closed and turned into a museum, and according to the Ethiopian newspaper Addis Standard a new detention center that would meet international standards will be opened.
sgl/lrp/rc/lp/gdc
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