Birtukan Mideksa
Encyclopedia
Birtukan Mideksa is an Ethiopia
n politician and former judge. She is the leader of the opposition Unity for Democracy and Justice
(UDJ) party. The English
equivalent of Birtukan is "orange."
, the capital city of Ethiopia. Birtukan went to Yekatit 12 secondary school (aka Etege Menen) and upon graduating from high school she joined Addis Ababa University
where she graduated from Law School with a Bachelors Degree in Law. She practiced law at the 3rd district of the federal judiciary.
, and was surprised minutes later when government authorities arrested Siye while he was walking out of the court accompanied by his family and friends. It has been reported that subsequently she received several warnings and threats from government security agents.
, and a full respect and implementation of the constitution which proved first hand not in place while serving as a judge. She joined the Rainbow Ethiopia: Movement for Democracy and Social Justice
party and later Coalition for Unity and Democracy
(CUD) after a coalition of four parties. After election or 2005, her party won over a third of the seats and believed they would have won more if not for voting and counting irregularities, and the governing party started to round up opposition party leaders (including Birtukan). Birtukan was convicted of attempting to overthrow the constitutional order and sentenced to life in prison. She was pardon
ed in 2007 after lengthy negotiations and after she, as well as other leaders of the opposition spent 18 months in prison. She later founded UDJ (Unity for Democracy and Justice
) with the same principles followed by CUD. The need for having the new party name came from the fact that the ruling party's election commission awarded to a splinter group from CUD (aka Kinijit). Birtukan was elected to be a chairperson of the UDJ, which has the goal of bringing about change in Ethiopia by peaceful means.
Merera Gudina
, leader of the opposition coalition Forum for Democratic Dialogue (FDD – Medrek), stated to an audience during a visit to the United States in November 2009, "Birtukan Medeksa is going to be the Mandela of Ethiopia". Many of her supporters refer to her as Ethiopia's Aung San Suu Kyi
, the Burmese prisoner of conscience.
In December 2009 Amnesty International
categorized Birtukan Mideksa's imprisonment as "unjust and politically motivated". It launched an international campaign demanding her release, challenging Ethiopian Government’s claim that her incarceration was a legal matter. When asked about her release at a December 2009 news conference, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who rarely refers to her by name, replied, "There will never be an agreement with anybody to release Birtukan," he said. "Ever. Full stop. That's a dead issue."
On October 6, 2010, Birtukan was released from prison. According to government spokesman Shimeles Kemal, Birtukan submitted a pardon plea in October 2010, while the justice ministry quoted a statement in which she expressed regret for denying being granted pardon in 2007. The United Kingdom
's Minister for Africa, Henry Bellingham
, welcomed her release, stating "This is an important step forward. We have always taken the view that her re-imprisonment was not in Ethiopia's interest and a solution should be found... for her to be released." Amnesty International maintained its stance that Birtukan had been a "prisoner of conscience," saying "she was imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression and association. We are delighted that she has been able to go home to her family."
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
n politician and former judge. She is the leader of the opposition Unity for Democracy and Justice
Unity for Democracy and Justice
The Unity for Democracy and Justice is an Ethiopian political party established on 20 June 2008 to contest the 2010 elections. It is mostly based on the parties which constituted the Coalition for Unity and Democracy. The party's leader is Birtukan Midekssa. It is a major component in the...
(UDJ) party. The English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
equivalent of Birtukan is "orange."
Early life
Birtukan Mideksa was born in Addis AbabaAddis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
, the capital city of Ethiopia. Birtukan went to Yekatit 12 secondary school (aka Etege Menen) and upon graduating from high school she joined Addis Ababa University
Addis Ababa University
Addis Ababa University is a university in Ethiopia. It was originally named "University College of Addis Ababa" at its founding, then renamed for the former Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie I in 1962, receiving its current name in 1975.Although the university has six of its seven campuses within...
where she graduated from Law School with a Bachelors Degree in Law. She practiced law at the 3rd district of the federal judiciary.
Career
While she was working for the federal judiciary, Birtukan was appointed to be a judge at the 3rd district court of the federal first instant court. During that time, she presided over a high profile case of the former defense minister and top ranking official of TPLF, Siye Abraha who was accused of corruption. She set the defendant free on bailBail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
, and was surprised minutes later when government authorities arrested Siye while he was walking out of the court accompanied by his family and friends. It has been reported that subsequently she received several warnings and threats from government security agents.
Politics
Later, Birtukan decided to join a political party to bring about a fast change in the country, including superiority of the rule of lawRule of law
The rule of law, sometimes called supremacy of law, is a legal maxim that says that governmental decisions should be made by applying known principles or laws with minimal discretion in their application...
, and a full respect and implementation of the constitution which proved first hand not in place while serving as a judge. She joined the Rainbow Ethiopia: Movement for Democracy and Social Justice
Rainbow Ethiopia: Movement for Democracy and Social Justice
The Rainbow Ethiopia: Movement for Democracy and Social Justice is a political party in Ethiopia. It was founded by Professor Mesfin Woldemariam. At the last legislative elections which were held on 15 May 2005, the party was part of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy that won 109 out of 527...
party and later Coalition for Unity and Democracy
Coalition for Unity and Democracy
The Coalition for Unity and Democracy is a coalition of four existing political parties of Ethiopia which combined to compete for seats in the Ethiopian General Elections held on May 15, 2005. Its leader is Dr...
(CUD) after a coalition of four parties. After election or 2005, her party won over a third of the seats and believed they would have won more if not for voting and counting irregularities, and the governing party started to round up opposition party leaders (including Birtukan). Birtukan was convicted of attempting to overthrow the constitutional order and sentenced to life in prison. She was pardon
Pardon
Clemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves...
ed in 2007 after lengthy negotiations and after she, as well as other leaders of the opposition spent 18 months in prison. She later founded UDJ (Unity for Democracy and Justice
Unity for Democracy and Justice
The Unity for Democracy and Justice is an Ethiopian political party established on 20 June 2008 to contest the 2010 elections. It is mostly based on the parties which constituted the Coalition for Unity and Democracy. The party's leader is Birtukan Midekssa. It is a major component in the...
) with the same principles followed by CUD. The need for having the new party name came from the fact that the ruling party's election commission awarded to a splinter group from CUD (aka Kinijit). Birtukan was elected to be a chairperson of the UDJ, which has the goal of bringing about change in Ethiopia by peaceful means.
Life sentence
On December 28, 2008, Birtukan was re-arrested and imprisoned to serve a life sentence, after the pardon granted to her in 2007 was revoked. Birtukan Medeksa was among more than 100 people jailed for offences after controversial polls in 2005. A dispute over the terms caused her re-arrest. The Ethiopian government claimed that her pardon was conditional on "an apology for her crimes". It said it ordered her re-arrest over reports that she had publicly denied having apologized for her actions or asking for a pardon, and that she would now be imprisoned for life. Birtukan openly admitted to continue her "peaceful struggle for more democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law" in Ethiopia. Her problems started when she spoke to journalists abroad about the way opposition leaders were released. She mentioned negotiations which had taken place between the opposition and government, with the help of "a panel of elders", before their pardon was finally granted. The government laid emphasis on a document signed by the prisoners to be released, "regretting" any "mistakes" they had "committed", implying that the release was part of a normal judicial process, rather than part of a negotiated political deal.Merera Gudina
Merera Gudina
Dr. Merera Gudina is a professor and politician in Ethiopia. He is the leader of the Oromo People's Congress , a political party based on the Oromo people which is opposed to the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front....
, leader of the opposition coalition Forum for Democratic Dialogue (FDD – Medrek), stated to an audience during a visit to the United States in November 2009, "Birtukan Medeksa is going to be the Mandela of Ethiopia". Many of her supporters refer to her as Ethiopia's Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi, AC is a Burmese opposition politician and the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. In the 1990 general election, her National League for Democracy party won 59% of the national votes and 81% of the seats in Parliament. She had, however, already been detained...
, the Burmese prisoner of conscience.
In December 2009 Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
categorized Birtukan Mideksa's imprisonment as "unjust and politically motivated". It launched an international campaign demanding her release, challenging Ethiopian Government’s claim that her incarceration was a legal matter. When asked about her release at a December 2009 news conference, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who rarely refers to her by name, replied, "There will never be an agreement with anybody to release Birtukan," he said. "Ever. Full stop. That's a dead issue."
On October 6, 2010, Birtukan was released from prison. According to government spokesman Shimeles Kemal, Birtukan submitted a pardon plea in October 2010, while the justice ministry quoted a statement in which she expressed regret for denying being granted pardon in 2007. The United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's Minister for Africa, Henry Bellingham
Henry Bellingham
Henry Campbell Bellingham is a British Conservative politician. He was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 14 May 2010. In parliament, he represents the constituency of North West Norfolk.-Early life:...
, welcomed her release, stating "This is an important step forward. We have always taken the view that her re-imprisonment was not in Ethiopia's interest and a solution should be found... for her to be released." Amnesty International maintained its stance that Birtukan had been a "prisoner of conscience," saying "she was imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression and association. We are delighted that she has been able to go home to her family."