Ethiopia passes law despite rights group protests

Tue Jul 7, 2009 7:52am EDT

ADDIS ABABA, July 7 (Reuters) - Ethiopia passed a new "anti-terrorism" law on Tuesday despite criticism from rights groups it could be used to crack down on opposition.

The draft "anti-terrorism proclamation" was drawn up after Africa's second-most populous country said it faced threats from several internal rebel groups.

A group of 32 mostly former and serving military officers are on trial, accused of planning to topple the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

Human Rights Watch said last week the law as drafted could be used to define criticism of the government as a "terrorist act". [ID:nLU630546]

The rights group called on legislators to redraft the bill, but parliament passed it unchanged.

The government said the New York-based group had misinterpreted the law and that it fully recognised the right of Ethiopians to engage in peaceful political activity.

The law classifies acts that cause serious damage to property or disruption of a public service as "terrorism."

It also criminalises speech that may be interpreted as "encouraging terrorism".

Ethiopia will hold national elections in 2010 and the opposition routinely accuses the government of harassment, closing down their offices and intimidating their candidates.

Meles denies that, and says the opposition parties are trying to ruin the government's image.

Elections in 2005 -- billed as Ethiopia's first truly democratic poll -- ended in violence when the government claimed victory and the opposition said the vote had been fixed. (Reporting by Barry Malone; Editing by David Clarke and Sophie Hares)




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