Siye Abrha talks about his trial

By Solomon Bekele

In his book Freedom and Justice in Ethiopia, former Minister of Defense and ex-rebel Siye Abrha reveals in detail how he was treated at the court and ended up in the Central Police Prison, commonly known as Maekelawi. It almost sounds like fiction, when you read about how he ended up in jail in 2001, together with his comrade in arms, the Special Force Commander who has been by his side for many years but betrayed him.

“I went to Maekelawi driving along with Girmay with another car. He didn’t tell me that he would arrest me. But when I reached there I was told that I was a prisoner. That was how I ended up in solitary prison at Maekelawi.”

Siye wrote a number of articles in newspapers and magazines under his name after he was released after six years in prison. Almost all of the topics that he discussed in the short articles have been given more space in his book. Siye’s close followers therefore might come across some familiar information.

Nonetheless, Freedom and Justice in Ethiopia can be considered as a first hand historical document. Siye writes he was arrested by direct order of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi with whom he said he has many political differences. When you read about the court proceedings and the final decision of the court, it seems clear that his case was a political process, rather than a corruption case as the court suggested.

Siye also writes about the border war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Some of the presented facts are common knowledge. That Eritrea invaded Ethiopia in 1999 is evident and that there was a difference of opinion between Meles and Siye on the Eritrean issue is also widespread. But that they were not even on talking terms following the 1999 EPRDF congress is fresh information.

It is believed that to win a war it is necessary to have all heads in the same direction. If you read that one of the top men in the war council was actually not on talking terms with the commander in chief of the army, you wonder how they ever managed to win the war. Unfortunately, the book does not give a full answer to that question.

Even in highly politicized court cases there are strong and courageous judges, Siye reveals. Judge Birtukan Mideksa, who released the writer from prison on a 7,000 birr bail, is one of those strong characters. Reading about a knowledgeable judge who gives fair decision in accordance to the law, is highly refreshing.

The ego document also memorizes the way proclamation no. 239/2001 that disallows bail for corruption cases was submitted to parliament and was approved in one day right after Siye was freed on bail. The proclamation has only one page and one article. The way it was approved of, at high speed, was unprecedented in the country’s legislature. The constitution doesn’t allow a new law to apply retroactively. But this law applied to cases that appeared before the court ahead of the approval of proclamation 239/2001.

The book shows us some picture of the court procedure and how it can be motivated by politics. Remarkably missing in Siye’s writings is the struggle against the Dergue. As the author is a former rebel leader, you would expect at least a chapter about those days…

Siye Abrha’s 440-page book Freedom and Justice in Ethiopia will hit the market on Tuesday, August 27. The book has been printed in the USA and costs seventy birr.

CapitalEthiopia