The Secretariat of the Command Post and Minister of Defense Siraj Fegessa during a discussion forum with members of the Ethiopian opposition political parties on Thursday (Dec. 01, 2016) reassured the gathering that the state of emergency is not up for threatening opposition party members.
The Secretariat of the Command Post further said the state of emergency was established to ensure that stability and calm is restored in the country.
It is to be recalled that Chairman of the Oromo Federalist Party, Dr Merera Gudina has been detained for violating the directive issued for the implementation of the state of emergency.
According to a statement issued earlier on Thursday (Dec 01, 2016) by the Secretariat of the Command Post, Merera was arrested for violating the directive stated under article 2.
As stipulated under Article 2 of the directive for the implementation of the state of emergency, it is prohibited to communicate with organizations proscribed as terrorist, anti-peace groups; to bear and disseminate writings of terrorist organizations, to bear or promote their logos, to watch and listen to television and radio broadcastings, to broadcast, watch, and report ESAT, OMN and other media outlets used by organizations proscribed as terrorist.
The statement by the Secretariat of the Command Post further said, “Merera is under investigation for violating this article.” Dr Merera met and held discussion with Berhanu Nega, leader of the outlawed Ginbot 7, in Brussels, Belgium recently,” the statement added.
