Birtukan Midekesa beaten...and more
Pyjama-clad, with enigmatic expression and forced to sit away from the other defendants, It was quite clear, at the start of today's court proceeding, that something terrible had happened to Birtukan Midekesa and the other female co-defendants. Court attendants had to bite their nails until the proceeding's final minutes to learn the truth. The CUDP senior vice-president stood up and told the court that the female defendants had been beaten by prison security men before they were brought before that court. The jittery presiding judge declined to listen to Birtukan's complaint. "The court is adjourned," he shouted and left the room in a hurry. My prison sources confirmed the story later.
Today's proceeding was loaded with more drama. A new addition to the prosecutorial team, former Tigray state prosecutor, Michael, was the unfortunate star of the show. "The man," a fellow attendant quipped, "does neither speak Amharic nor the language of the law." Every time this prosecutor stood and struggled to make a point, the court cascaded into laughter.
And the Meles Zenawi written and directed usual theatrics was also on show. The prosecutors asked the court to give them permission to drop all charges against 18 defendants. 14 years old Biniam Tadesse was one of the eighteen. It was a relief for most that the kid was through with this heartless opera. When the names of the other defendants were revealed, however, attendants were muttering with amusement as the list included the five VOA journalists. There was a sense of..."you see what the American can do when they want to do"... What would the state department officials who argued that they couldn't change the course of this fake trial say?
The prosecutors also asked the court to change the genocide charge to "attempted genocide" and dropped the forth charged for all of the defendants though the court declined the first request.
Today's show seemed to be an attempt to soothe western hearts. Meles Zenawi will now tell donors that he has given them what they wanted and they should give him what he wannts. Another court appearance...another stage show.