ETHIOPIA: Former Ethiopia leader Mengistu Haile Mariam has been found guilty of of genocide in absentia by a court in Addis Ababa

Ethiopia's former ruler Mengistu Haile Mariam was found guilty in absentia of genocide on Tuesday (December 12) at the end of a 12-year trial over his bloody rule. Mengistu, who now lives in Zimbabwe, was accused with top members of his military government of killing thousands during a 17-year rule which began with the toppling of Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974 and included war, purges and famine. "Members of the Derg who are present in court today and those who are being tried in absentia have conspired to destroy a political group and kill people with impunity therefore you are guilty of killing people," presiding Judge Medhen Kiros told the court. The genocide verdict, which carries a death sentence, was passed by two votes to one on the three-judge panel. Mengistu was ousted by guerrillas led by now Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and in 1991 fled to Zimbabwe, where he leads a luxurious though reclusive life. He was tried in absentia in Addis Ababa with 73 others, including former Prime Minister Fikre Selassie Wogderesse and former Vice President Fissiha Desta. All were found guilty, except for one, Corporal Begashaw Gurmesa. He was found to have opposed the Red Terror while working as a regional administrator and was set free after 16 years in jail. "I am very grad that I have been set free today, I also hope my colleagues whom I left in jail will be set free as well," said Corporal Begashaw Gurmesa while leaving the court premises. About half the accused were in court, while 14 have died since proceedings began in 1992 and the trial formally started in 1994. Some 25, including Mengistu, are in exile. In the 1977-78 "Red Terror" campaign, the most notorious purge, suspected opponents were executed by garrotting or shooting. Their bodies were then tossed into the streets. The most prominent victim Mengistu is accused of killing was Emperor Haile Selassie, said to have been strangled in bed and secretly buried under a latrine in his palace. According to prosecution charges, the former officials also killed more than 1,000 people, including the execution of 60 top officials, ministers and royal family members by firing squad. For months in 1984, Mengistu denied that famine was ravaging Ethiopia's north and aid workers have recalled how he flew in planeloads of whisky to celebrate the anniversary of his revolution. One million people starved to death. Mengistu and his former officials face sentencing later in the month. They could be given the death penalty for genocide, which Ethiopian law defines as intent to wipe out political and not just ethnic groups. Human rights groups expressed concern at the trial's length, but the prosecution says the complex nature of evidence, including signed execution orders, videos of torture sessions and personal testimonies, was what delayed the verdict. Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is unlikely to hand over Mengistu now that he has been found guilty. Mengistu's army helped train Mugabe's guerrillas in their fight against white minority rule.

ITN Source | December 13, 2006

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