Ethiopian politician facing terror trial goes on hunger strike

A prominent Ethiopian opposition politician accused last year of terrorism faces “lifelong health problems” after going on hunger strike for more than a week, his lawyer told AFP on Friday.

Jawar Mohammed, member of the opposition Oromo Federalist Congress, is one of some 20 suspects prosecuted for terrorism and other crimes in connection with several days of appalling violence that killed more than 100 people in June and July.

Violence erupted after the gunshot death at the end of June of Hachalu Hundessa, a popular singer of the Oromo ethnicity, the most prominent in Ethiopia, who channeled Oromo feelings of political and economic marginalization.

Jawar and Bekele Gerba, another Oromo opposition leader, have been on hunger strike for eight days, while the other defendants “are on their sixth day now,” lawyer Tuli Bayyisa said.

Their demands include improved treatment for family and fan visits and, more broadly, an end to legal and other harassment of Oromo opposition politicians, Tuli said.

They said, ‘It’s the only option we have while we’re in jail. This is the only way we have to show our peaceful resistance to what is happening in the country, “” Tuli said.

The men appeared in court on Thursday but were too weak to stand, he said.

“They were very, very weak. They have private doctors, and their doctors … have said their condition is in dire straits now. Unless the situation turns around, they’re going to face some permanent health problems, ”he said.

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, an independent body affiliated with the government, said on Friday it had visited the defendants in Addis Ababa and confirmed that they were on hunger strike.

“Very close monitoring is necessary to avoid any serious threat to their health and life,” Chief Commissioner Daniel Bekele said in a statement, adding that “the reasonably justified demands of prisoners must be met”.

Jawar was once considered an ally of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia’s first Oromo ruler.

But he has since accused Abiy of being a poor defender of the interests of the Oromos ethnic group and of behaving like a dictator.

Jawar is one of many high-level opposition politicians behind bars as Ethiopia prepares for the long-awaited national elections currently scheduled for June.