Ethiopian
lawmakers on Thursday extended the country's six-month state of emergency for
an additional four months. The widely expected move came amid reports of
continued violence and anti-government activities in some remote, restive
areas.
The state of
emergency, called after months of sometimes deadly protests demanding wider
political freedoms, has hurt one of Africa's fastest-growing economies.
"We
still have some anti-peace elements that are active and want to capitalize on
disputes that arise among regional states in the country," Ethiopia's
defense minister, Siraj Fegessa, told lawmakers. "In addition, some
leaders of the violent acts that we witnessed before are still at large."
More than
25,000 people suspected of taking part in protests were detained under the
state of emergency. Several thousand have been released. The government has
indicated that a "few thousand" others will face justice for their
role in organizing the protests.
Hundreds
died in the protests that first ignited in the Oromia region in November 2015
and spread into the Amhara region, with people also demanding the release of
political prisoners.
Ethiopia's
security has improved but the extension of the state of emergency is needed to
bring a "lasting peace," said the defense minister, who cited a
government-conducted nationwide poll in which he said the public
"significantly" demanded the extension.
Prime
Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in a recent address to parliament said 82 percent
of Ethiopians want a partial or full continuation of the state of emergency.
However, opposition figures and parties say it is used to clamp down on their
activities, especially in rural regions.
Ethiopia's
parliament is 100 percent controlled by the ruling EPRDF party.
Some parts
of the state of emergency recently were removed, including arbitrary arrests
without court orders and restrictions on radio, television and theater.
(VOANews)
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