Court hears more video, audio evidence in Andualem Arage case

Addis Ababa, December 24 (WIC) – Federal prosecutors on Friday presented more video as well as audio evidences obtained in phone tapping against defendants in Andualem Arage et al case.

In a half day trial yesterday the evidences, which according to prosecutors implicate Andualem Arage, Eskinder Nega and Kinfemichael Bereded to charges of terrorism, were played out in the courtroom.

The first video evidence, which was inaudible in the previous hearing, showed seventh defendant Eskinder Nega presenting a research paper on how to bring about ‘peaceful and democratic change in Ethiopia’.

The discussion was chaired by first defendant Andualem Arage and attended by several people including fifth defendant Kinfemichael who was seen voicing the need to bring about swift change.

The second piece of video evidence that run for half an hour, showed Andualem Arage talking directly to a camera. Prosecutors said this piece of evidence shows Andualem making an inciting speech for violence.

In the video, Andualem started off his speech with uprisings in Arab countries and drawing similarities to situations in Ethiopia. He is seen calling for the EPRDF to ‘peacefully hand over power to the people of Ethiopia.’ He also made a call to Ethiopian people to pay all the ‘necessary sacrifice’ to bring about change and urged opposition politicians to ‘narrow their gap for common goal.’      

Prosecutors then presented a serious of phone conversations which they said were obtained in a lawful phone interception.

In one of the audio evidence Kinfemichael calls Eskinder and says the ‘guys from Europe have admired your work’. The brief conversation ends with Eskinder thanking the caller.

In another phone conversation Kinfemichael calls Andualem and says; “I called to tell you that our people from Europe wants to thank you.” Prosecutors say this phone conversation is proof that Andualem makes contact with ‘those abroad’ through the fifth defendant (kinfemichael).   

Other phone conversations heard were between Kinfemichael and individuals brought as prosecution witnesses. Prosecutors alleged that the conversations were about activities to disseminate ‘violence inciting papers’.   

More audio evidences linking Eskinder and Andualem with ESAT television is expected to be presented during the next court adjournment.

At the conclusion of the hearing, defense lawyers raised an appeal to the court on ERTA’s (Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency) latest coverage of the trial in its news bulletin.

“We are raising this issue once again because it is happening repeatedly and this is prejudicial to a pending case,” said Deribew Temesgen, one of the defense lawyers.

In previous hearings, defense lawyers have objected and appealed to the court on ERTA’s three part program titled “Akeldama”, which they said prematurely labeled the defendants as terrorists.

“All concerned parties have sent their response to the court in relation to the allegations,” said the presiding judge Endeshaw Adane. “The court will pass a decision once evidence examination is concluded”.

The court will reconvene on December 29, 2011 to hear more audio evidence.