CANADIAN NDP MP PAUL DEWAR CONDEMNS THE IMPRISONMENT OF BERTUKAN MIDEKSSA

Minister of Foreign Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
January 15, 2009
Dear Minister Cannon,

Since December 28, 2008, Ethiopian government authorities have held opposition party leader Birtukan Mideksa without charge, in solitary confinement. Amnesty International reports that Ms. Mideksa has been on a hunger strike in protest at her detention. Her arrest for the peaceful exercise of her freedoms to expression and association make her a prisoner of conscience.

Concerns have been raised by independent international human rights organizations that she has not been provided medical assistance. This is of particular import in light of her ongoing hunger strike. Also, she has not been provided access to legal representation of her own choosing. Furthermore, I am deeply concerned that Ms. Mideksa is at risk of torture or other ill-treatment due to her confinement in isolation.
Canada’s NDP believes that the Government of Canada must call on the Ethiopian authorities to release Birtukan Mideksa immediately and unconditionally, unless she is charged with a recognizable criminal offense.
I look forward to your immediate action.

Sincerely,

Paul Dewar, MP
Ottawa Center