PRESS RELEASE
ANDINET NORTH AMERICA ASSOCIATION OF SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS

Call for Immediate and Unconditional Release of Judge Birtukan Mediksa: Chairwoman of the main opposition party (UDJP) in Ethiopia
Press Release

December 29, 2008
We just learned that Mrs. Bitrukan Medekasa has been arrested and taken to prison by Ethiopian security forces from her party�s headquarter. Her colleague, Professor Mesfin Woldemariam and her driver who were with her at the time were physically assaulted by the security officers. It is reported that the elder Professor Mesfin is taken to  the hospital.

Mrs. Birtukan Mediksa  has endured a barrage of intimidation propaganda campaign by the Ethiopian government controlled media and has been under constant security surveillance restricting her movement since last week. The harassments and now the arrest of Judge Birtukan Medekas is all aimed at preventing her from doing her activity as a leader of the most popular and opposition party.

Her arrest is a powerful reminder of the unrelenting repression in Ethiopia and we call upon all Human Rights Organizations, Democratic Governments to pressure the government of Ethiopia to release judge Birtukan Medikas immediately and with out any condition.

ANDINET NORTH AMERICA ASSOCIATION OF SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS (ANAASO)
1334 9th Street, NW. Suite # 1  Washington DC. 20001.
Tel: (202) 462 0556 Fax: (202) 462 0557 Email: [email protected]