Re: economist under death penalty - Ethiopia

[Thomas Lepeardo <thomaslepeardo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I wonder whether anyone on the list with a background in African or third world issues could advise on how best to handle an issue like this.  As I understand the facts:

1)      No one should be arrested simply for non-violent political activities...but the government argues that these opposition party activists helped organize a violent demonstration.  The opposition in turn replies that the violence came from the government forces.  Treason certainly seems like an unjust charge.  How fair of a trial will they get in Ethiopia?

2)      It seems like the protesters represent pro-neoliberal forces from the urban elite (plus some ethnic nationalists from the dominant Amharic group) determined to force regime change.  (Are they like the Venezuela protesters, some of whom went past constitutional limits?  Can one make the analogy: the Venezuelan government has more of a democratic base, no? Is the analogy more with Zimbabwe and what does that mean?)

        Although his background is the New School, apparently this economist went on to become head of the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce, write papers for the World Bank calling for land privatization , and become head of the pro-business political party (the Rainbow Coalition which is part of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, the principal opposition coalition).  It seems his Party and the Coalition stand for: privatization of land (see below), privatization of business, financial liberalization, less ethnic decentralization (a strong point with many Amharic nationalists).

((See, for example, interview with the head of coalition in Les Nouvelles d'Addis
http://www.lesnouvelles.org/P10_magazine/16_analyse03/16152_electionseth/032_hailu_eng.html , see also "Tenure Security and Land Related Investment" co-authored by Berhanu Nega, Policy Research Paper 2991 World Bank))

How does one approach these issues?  How does one assess the Ethiopian Goverment?  The the people at the New School make support for this economist/political leader an international priority?

Thanks for any advice
Thomas Lepeardo


Michael Perelman wrote:
Jerry Levy posted this to OPE-L

More information about the arrest of, and campaign to free,
Berhanu Nega,  who received his  PhD in Economics from
the New School:

< http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/2005/12/61821.html >

The current situation is described at:

< http://www.savenega.org/situation.htm >
.......