On Tuesday, the Federal Attorney General charged former National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) head, Getachew Assefa and 25 other former officials allegedly for grand corruption and human rights abuses. A total of 46 criminal charges have been filed against the officers.
The new administration’s crackdown against those who have been suspected of involving in grand corruption and human rights abuses put 22 of the officials under the government’s custody, the rest are neither detained nor appeared at the court’s proceedings. At this juncture, it is so important to underline that the administration’s commitment, in bringing to justice those apparently involved in serious allegations, should further be solidified. The fugitive former NISS officials must face the justice.
Above all, states should cooperate with the federal government in handing over the rest big-guys, who are said to have masterminded or overseen the inhumane acts. The Ministry of Peace reported to parliament on Tuesday that some state officials exhibited noncompliance in the effort of arresting wrongdoers, even after arrest warrants have been issued on “culprits” of the inhumane acts.
Nobody cannot be above the law; we are all to work and live in the shade of the law. Failing to cooperate with the law enforcing body itself is a clear breach of the law of the land, if not appear to be a sign of being partner in crime. Individuals are said to have been arbitrarily detained and put even in secret prisons, tortures including pulling out nails and genitals with pliers and fatal beatings—attempting to offer to safe havens to suspected perpetrators of the heinous acts amounts to adding insult to the injuries of the victims in particular, and to humanity in general.
Government has been reforming the justice sector. Impartial individual has already taken the helm Federal Supreme Court. And due court proceedings are believed to reign in the justice area. No, inhume handling of prisoners, particularly detained due to criminal charges following the reform, has so far been reported. That’s why it is good for the suspects to be in the government’s custody than playing hide and sick with the justice enforcement body.
Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed once said suspects in the prison houses read books; do physical exercises and are protected from involving in more criminal acts, but the fugitives who turned their houses to prisons are torching themselves, in addition to involving in more criminal acts. No doubt, sooner or later, almost all architects that involved in the heinous acts surely face justice. The court process started so far, however, can have layers of purposes.
For one thing, the “culprits” will taste the bitter fruits of the weeds of crime. Yet, other criminals who plot, finance and oversee communal clashes are likely to see in their naked eyes what their own fate would become. Report of Ministry of Peace has also shown that certain government officials also harbor perpetrators of such crimes.
The Ministry boldly said it will press ahead with ensuring rule of law in the country. Now the country seems to host a two-version story—the wide array of reform being one and lawlessness in some areas resulting in the loss of innocent lives and destruction of property, the other. Hence, the measure taken last Tuesday sends clear and succinct messages both to protagonists and antagonists in the story.
The former will surely put victory in store over the latter—it is just a matter of time! Ethiopia will and must see democracy and democratic cultures. Differences are healthy and normal and citizens as well as political elites should nurture the culture of dialogue.
Resorting to intrigues, particularly today and at the dawn of democracy cannot be justified. And the people of this nation won’t tolerate atrocities anymore! The bottom line is that the government’s commitment to ensure the rule of law once again reflected by charging former intelligence officers must continue.
The Ethiopian Herald, May 10/2019
