Addis Ababa 27.6.12: ARTICLE 19 is saddened by the conviction of 24 Ethiopians, including Eskinder Nega, a prominent journalist and blogger, who had been charged with conspiring with rebels to overthrow the government.
Nega along with 23 others including opposition politician Andulalem Arage were charged last year, most of them in absentia, under the anti-terrorism law with six counts including conspiracy to dismantle the constitutional order, recruitment and training for terror acts and aiding Ethiopia’s arch foe, Eritrea as well as belonging to a terrorism group, ‘Ginbo 7’ that aimed at disrupting security.