Former political prisoners revel in newfound freedom

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Kinfe Mickeal Debebe never thought the day would come where he would once again become a free man.

But on this Wednesday morning, he walks on Africa Avenue in downtown Addis Ababa, smiling while watching people go to their jobs.

The politician of the opposition, 47, was recently released "

" I was arrested in 2011 for organizing a peaceful rally and they have me imprisoned for my political activism, "said Kinfe, aka Aebebe Kestol, to Al Jazeera. 19659005] While North Africa was at the height of the Arab Spring, Kinfe decided that he would also try to call for political reform in Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous nation

"I organized the rally to demand better human rights, freedom of expression, a better democratic space, they saw me as a threat and used the anti-terror law to throw me in." I never thought I would be alive, "he said.

Life in prison was difficult, Kinfe, who lost hearing in one ear, said that torture was a common practice in detention. ear during interrogation. The investigators beat you until you said everything they accused you.

Reversal of Fortune
But Kinfe's luck changed unexpectedly: while he was in prison, demonstrations erupted in the Oromia region. Protesters demanded political reforms and the end of human rights violations and mbad arrests.

Addis Ababa responded by instituting emergency conditions and repressing protesters. In February, as the political crisis dragged on, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn resigned.

"The unrest and the political crisis have resulted in the loss of many lives and the displacement of many people, and I consider my resignation as vital to bringing about reforms that would lead to lasting peace and democracy," he said. Mr. Hailemariam in a televised speech while he announced his resignation.

Abiy Ahmed, the country's first prime minister Abiy, 41, announced a series of reform measures and the release of thousands of political prisoners, including Kinfe.He also ordered the lifting of the law. emergency.

In a rare and candid admission, Abiy said last month that security institutions in his country have tortured and committed "terrorist acts" against his own citizens in the past.

"I never thought that I would leave the prison as a free man.I thought the only way to leave was in a mortuary bag.I saw people die in prison because of mediocre or nonexistent medical treatment, "said Kinfe.

Kinfe, who was arrested eight times before, clearly shows who was behind his release and that of thousands of other political prisoners.

"It was not the government that liberated us, it was the demands of the people that got us out of jail, the government had no choice but to free us, thanks to our people, "he added.

Opposition Groups
Many Ethiopian opposition groups were also on the country's list of terrorist organizations, forcing many to leave the country. But the situation is changing: Addis Ababa decided last week to withdraw three major opposition groups from the country's list of terrorist organizations, to the delight of their supporters.

The groups – Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), The Ogaden Liberation Front (ONLF) and Ginbot 7 – have each been engaged in armed struggles against the government in Addis Ababa.

Brhanu Tekleyared is a member of Ginbot 7 – an outlaw opposition group formed after He was appointed after the date of the Ethiopian calendar at the time of the vote – and he has been out of jail for less than a year. A month. He is still accepting his new freedom.

In 2014, he was arrested while attempting to cross the border with Eritrea where other members of the armed opposition group are based.

He was sentenced to six years in prison for being a member of what Addis Ababa called a terrorist organization. used to beat us for fun. They have me waterboarded. I saw people who had nails pulled from their fingers. Bryanu told Al Jazeera

Shortly after taking office in April, Abiy ordered the closure of Maekelawi Prison – a notorious detention and investigation center where human rights and advocacy groups the former detainees say Kinfe and Brhanu both spent time in this prison.

Addis Ababa also promised to address protesters' demands and reform its justice system

"There have been many public demands to reform our justice sector in general. There were limits to our justice system.We agreed to examine our justice system and reform it and expand our democratic spaces, "said Ahmed Shide, Ethiopian Minister of Communications. , in Al Jazeera: "We take human rights issues and judicial reform very seriously. Opposition members released from prison recognize that the new government has started on the right track but say that we must do more.

"Abiy is young and has many ideas but his government needs to do more. They must repeal the anti-terrorism law and shake up the electoral commission before us in the opposition, trust it and stand for election, "said Kinfe, who had gone to a post before

] -Sinar Harian