Ethiopia: Parliament ratifies curfew, government vows to prosecute 'dissidents'

Getachew Ambaye, the Federal Attorney General of Ethiopia has said individuals who had participated in the recent violence that occurred in some areas of Amhara and Oromia Regional States will face justice.

Ethiopia’s chief law officer said that ringleaders and coordinators of the violence in particular will be brought to justice as per the emergency rule.

Getachew according to the state affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC) disclosed the latest move at a press conference on Thursday. The parliament on the same day ratified the state of emergency which was imposed on October 8 in the wake of anti-government protests.

The House of People’s Representatives (HPR) unanimously approved that the state of emergency was necessary to restore law and order.

The government has decided that persons who took part in the disturbance innocently, emotionally and with various support will be released after receiving education and counseling service.

Following the state of emergency declared two weeks back, stability and economic activities are returning back to normal in areas affected by the unrests, Getachew said.

Under Ethiopian law, the Council of Ministers, have the power under the constitution, to decree a state of emergency in the following situations:

• Should there be an external invasion
• A breakdown of law and order which endangers the Constitutional order and which cannot be controlled by the regular law enforcement agencies and personnel,
• A natural disaster, or an epidemic occur.